By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
Davie County and Mount Tabor shared the 2007 CPC title, and their clash in Mocksville on Oct. 17 will probably determine this season’s champion.
That’s not necessarily good news for Davie, which has lost four straight games in the rivalry and hasn’t tasted victory against the Spartans since 2000.
Davie was 11-3 in 2005 and 12-2 in 2006, but it lost to Mount Tabor both years.
Last season, the Spartans outscored the War Eagles 36-35, but there’s been an interesting dynamic at work in the league in recent seasons.
While Mount Tabor has handled Davie, Davie has owned West Forsyth. The Titans, in turn, have been knocking off Mount Tabor.
Give Mount Tabor a slight nod this year since it has 10 starters, including standout running back Hunter Furr, a North Carolina commitment, back from a 12-4 team that lost in the 4A championship game.
Davie County has stud running back James Mayfield and is very experienced on defense. Back from shoulder surgery, Davie cornerback Perry James could be the CPC’s top defender. Davie DB Quinton Faulkner won that award last season.
West Forsyth could finish first if it can beat Mount Tabor again.
The Titans return 18 starters, including nine on an offensive unit that averaged 30 points a game, from a 7-5 team
Junior QB Patrick Midkiff passed for more than 1,000 yards and rushed for more than 500, and kicker Landon Thayer is one of the state’s best.
R.J. Reynolds may be relegated to fourth place, but the Demons should improve on last year’s 3-8 overall mark.
Quarterback Jeremy Peterson, the CPC Offensive Player of the Year, threw for 2,560 yards and 26 TDs. Garrett Hedrick is one of the state’s top offensive linemen.
Mark Holcomb, who stepped down as head coach to become an assistant principal two years ago, has taken the reins again at North Davidson, which was 7-5 overall but only 1-4 in the CPC last year.
The Black Knights have big-play threats in backs L.J. Scott and Landon Powell, and they could move up if defensive linemen can be found and a a quarterback emerges.
Brennen Dodd, a stellar DB last year, might be the new QB.
North Forsyth went 1-10 last season, graduated eight defensive starters and will be very young.
It will be an upset if the Vikings knock off anyone in the league.