By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
MOUNT ULLA — Statesville could be one of the top 10 teams in 3A, but it goes without saying that three-time state champ West Rowan remains the team to beat in the North Piedmont Conference until proven otherwise.
The Falcons graduated a record-setting quarterback, a secondary that was one of the best in county history, and the receivers have had a tough time staying healthy.
Still, West’s control of the NPC — seven straight championships — has been total.
As far as the league’s current membership, no one’s beaten the Falcons in the last seven seasons except West Iredell, which nipped West Rowan 20-18 in Mount Ulla in 2007.
In 2004, West Rowan lost 14-7 at home to A.L. Brown, which was in the NPC then, before running off a string of 21 straight conference victories.
West Iredell finally stopped that streak when the Falcons failed on a late two-point conversion, but West Rowan immediately launched another spree of league wins that now stands at 26.
That’s 47 out of 48. Remarkably, West Rowan hasn’t dropped a road conference game since 2003 when it fell at A.L. Brown 34-28 in overtime.
Having said all that, Statesville, which last beat the Falcons in 2003, looks awfully imposing on paper with 10 returning starters on defense, stud junior quarterback Carlis Parker, athletic junior receiver Josh Gaither and rugged junior running back Tristan Mumford, who is also receiving Division I offers.
Statesville may well be the NPC favorite in 2012. It gets it shot at West Rowan this year in Mount Ulla on Sept. 16.
West Iredell, 7-5 in 2010, could be a 10-win, third-place team.
The Warriors, who have 12 starters back, have tremendous skill guys in Kam Summers and Vincent Davidson, a pair of combination wide receiver/DBs.
Experienced QB Sayer Robinson returns, along with speedy targets C.J. Gibbs and Jaylen Gray. Gibbs, an elusive kick returner, was NPC Special Teams Player of the Year.
Coming off a 10-win season, Carson graduated a potent senior class that included record-breaking offensive players Shaun Warren, Zack Gragg and Cody Clanton, but the Cougars have 13 starters back and should be right in the middle of the seven-team NPC.
Standouts will include linebackers T.J. Smith and Chris Barnhardt, receiver K.J. Pressley and defensive lineman Jeremiah Smith.
Carson is still seeking its first victory against West Rowan.
South Rowan played a lot of sophomores as it chugged to a 2-9 season in 2010. They’re juniors now, and that should mean several more wins.
Running back Ricky Sherrill, defensive lineman Josh Medlin, linebacker Bubba McLaughlin and quarterback Nathan Lambert are potential standouts.
There’s a lot of room to improve, especially on defense where South allowed 36.7 points per game last season.
South has had six losing seasons in the last seven years and the lone league win in 2010 came at North Iredell’s expense.
South’s last win against West Rowan was a non-conference overtime decision in 2000.
East Rowan picked up its only wins last season against county foes North Rowan and South Rowan and brings back nine starters.
DB Wesley LeRoy is a player the Mustangs will count on, along with linebackers Dalton Bost and Tyler L’Hommedieu.
East’s last win against West Rowan came in 1998.
North Iredell only has six starters back from a 2-9 team, but one of them is quarterback Jacob Queen.
North Iredell earned its lone NPC victory last season against East Rowan. NI last beat West Rowan in 2002.