Based on last week’s miserable picks, no one is likely to ask Common Sense to predict Tuesday’s election.
Common Sense was 5-1 in games involving Rowan teams, but limped home 9-7. Porter Ridge beat Parkwood. Providence Grove beat East Davidson. Yada, yada, yada.
With the picks down to a scruffy 76-30 for the season, let’s change the subject and offer a 50-man honor roll of Cavaliers to celebrate the school’s first 50 football seasons from 1958-2007.
Your list is different, and that’s OK. North’s had hundreds of great players.
The chronological list is heavy on QBs and receivers and light on linemen, but Eagle Stadium was “The Airport” a long time. There’s no kicker, although we note North’s Tracy Maynor booted a county-record 53-yard field goal in 1988. Kelly Everhart was good too.
Among others, North, 316-222-50 in its first 50 seasons, beat an unbeatable Salisbury team in 1977, an unbeatable Thomasville team in 1982 and an unbeatable A.L. Brown team in 1992.
He was Rowan’s leading scorer in 1960, but we’ll tab Larry Thomason (125-69-3 in 19 seasons) to serve as North’s all-time coach. Burt Barger can motivate the linemen and Roger Secreast can draw up pass plays.
1. Sammy Miller ó An original Cav, he was county back of the year in 1958.
2. Mike Steele ó An all-county horse for North’s first championship team in 1961, he scored five TDs in one game.
3. Don Grubb ó North’s first great end was all-county in 1961-62.
4. Robert “Hoss” Myers ó lineman was the first Cavalier named to play in the East-West game in 1962.
5. Grey Medinger ó County’s top scorer in 1963.
6. Charles Love ó All-county end in 1964.
7. Leland Peacock ó All-county lineman in 1965-66.
8. Ken “The End” Beck ó His 19 receptions in a 1966 game with Davie stood as a state record for nearly 40 years. Tip a cap also to Beck’s QB Melvin Brinkley.
9. Walter Whitley ó Linebacker was 1968 county defensive player of the year.
10. Kenny Stoner ó Shattered the barrier of 1,000 rushing yards in 1969.
11. Jimmy Heggins ó Back was county offensive player of the year in 1973.
12. Mark Sturgis ó North’s all-time rushing leader was a county player of the year in 1975-76.
13. Steve Thacker ó Lineman was county co-defensive player of the year and a 1976 Shrine Bowler.
14. Brent Chambers ó Linebacker was county defensive player two years in a row, the only Cav so honored. That was 1976-77.
15. Kenny Brown ó All-county back on North team that ended Salisbury’s decade of dominance in 1977.16. Mark Lowery ó Center was 1978 East-West All-Star selection.
17. Kendall Alley ó End was Rowan’s representative in the 1978 Shrine Bowl.
18. Bobby Myers ó QB was twice county player of the year and a 1979 Shrine Bowler.
19. Tony Myers ó County’s leading passer in 1980. All-county linebacker in 1982. That’s versatile.20. Jeff Holshouser ó QB was county co-player of the year in 1982.
21. Terry Cureton ó All-county lineman both ways for North’s great 1982 team.
22. Brent Barker ó The county’s top receiver in 1982 and an East-West choice.
23. Sam Miller ó Linebacker was county’s top defender in 1983 ó and an all-county running back.
24. Darryl Jackson ó County player of the year in 1985-86 and second on North’s career rushing list.
25. Antione Sifford ó A star on North’s state-champion basketball team, he picked off seven passes in 1985 and was named the county’s top defender.
26. Deric Sims ó Standout RB/linebacker played in the 1986 East-West Game.
27. Chris Sifford ó Three-time all-county DB pick from 1986-88. Also was all-county QB in 1987.
28. Shannon Myers ó Receiver was county offensive player of the year in 1990, plus an all-county DB.
29. Mike White ó The 6-foot-6 beast was all-county both ways in 1990.
30. Jeff Roof ó Center was chosen for the 1992 East-West game.
31. Carvie Kepley ó Four-year starting QB was named county’s top offensive player in 1992.
32. Fred Lewis ó With six picks, linebacker was county’s top defender in 1992.
33. Nathanial Hyde ó He rolled for 1,768 yards and 21 TDs for 3A state runner-up squad in 1992.
34. Mitch Ellis ó In 1993-94, two-time player of the year set county passing marks that still stand.
35. Adrian Davis ó Had a county-record 22 picks in 1993-94. Thirteen in 1994.
36. Nick White ó Receiver was selected for the 1994 East-West game.
37. Ed Suber ó Racked up 901 receiving yards in 11 games in 1994.
38. Bennie Geter ó North’s No. 3 career rusher finished up in 1995.
39. Jeff Chambers ó First freshman to make all-county and repeated next three seasons. Shrine Bowl lineman and county defensive player of the year in 1996.
40. Craig Powers ó QB was county offensive player of the year in 1996.
41. Greg Yeldell ó Three-time all-county LB and county’s top defender in 1997.
42. Omar Robertson ó had 941 receiving yards in 1997. Teammate J.R. Neely, who had a five-TD game that season, was right on his heels.
43. Mario Sturdivant ó Three-time all-county QB was player of the year in 1998-99.
44. Jarrett Wishon ó Shrine Bowl O-lineman in 2000.
45. Dre Byrd ó School-record 142 receptions from 1997-2000.
46. Alfonzo Miller ó Versatile 2001 Shrine Bowl pick was a great receiver before he became unstoppable QB.
47. Kenny Brown ó Lineman was county’s top defender in 2002 and a Shrine Bowl selection.
48. Ronald Foxx ó Offensive lineman was picked for the 2003 Shrine Bowl.
49. Daniel Griffith ó East-West QB set county regular-season mark in 2006.
50. Bryson Gaymon ó Set school record for career receiving yards in 2007.
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The pick for the greatest Cav of all is Jimmy Heggins, who starred at Florida State.
Wish Common Sense could pick the Cavs tonight, but the guys they’re playing are 9-0.
CCCó Salisbury 34, North 8; West Davidson 21, East Davidson 7; Lexington 35, Central Davidson 14; Ledford 21, Providence Grove 14
NPC ó West 28, South 13; NW Cabarrus 21, East 7; Statesville 20, Carson 7; Mooresville 27, West Iredell 14; Lake Norman 17, North Iredell 10
SPC ó A.L. Brown 28, Porter Ridge 10; Parkwood 27, Concord 21; Hickory Ridge 17, Piedmont 13; Sun Valley 24, Marvin Ridge 21
CPC ó Davie 27, North Forsyth 20; West Forsyth 28, Reynolds 13; Mount Tabor 34, North Davidson 14