By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
SPENCER — Forfeit losses to two teams they clobbered on the field cost Albemarle a Yadkin Valley Conference championship in 2010, but the Bulldogs still won the big prize — repeating as state 1AA champs.
The offensive backfield, including QB Nate Dunlap, MVP of the title game, is gone, but most of the defense returns, led by All-State DB Tevin Collins and end Trenton Stanback (10 sacks).
The offensive line returns almost intact, and receiver Desi Dockery is still on board, so there’s no reason to believe the Bulldogs won’t win the league.
South Stanly stumbled to 3-9 last season after back-to-back 8-5s, but the Rowdy Rebel Bulls, who have 20 returning starters, should challenge for second place this season.
The big names are running backs Jevonde Gramling and Devonte Hamilton, who combined for 2,300 rushing yards, 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive lineman Wes Cole and athlete Jalen Holt (6-4, 220) who is getting a lot of Division I attention.
West Montgomery may have the league’s top individual in QB Jaquil Capel, who rushed for 1,500 yards and passed for 1,440.
Linebackers Quincey Bradley and Jay McIntyre will lead the defense.
West Montgomery’s had six straight winning seasons, and this will be No. 7.
Aided by Albemarle’s forfeits last season, North Rowan was the 2010 league champion, and the Cavaliers expect to be good again, even without stars such as Javon Hargrave and Sam Starks.
North has 14 starters back, and QB T.J. Allen and receiver Pierre Givens should make the Cavaliers exciting.
East Montgomery, despite three straight losing seasons, clearly looks to be the best of the rest.
The Eagles have 14 returning starters, including running back Chris Everett, who rushed for 1,300 yards — 291 in a single game — and 16 TDs. Tackle Juwhann Evans, safety Daniel Harman and linebacker Adam Galloway are defensive standouts.
South Davidson hasn’t broken even since 2003, but give the Wildcats the nod for sixth because they beat Chatham Central and North Moore last season.
Chatham Central hasn’t had a winning season in recent memory, but returning QB Josh Edwards and two-way standout Wyatt Grillo could keep the Bears out of the basement.
North Moore hasn’t had a winning season since 2005 and is going to be overmatched a lot of nights numbers-wise in a very strong 1A league. The Mustangs will miss explosive Xavier Scotton, who helped keep them competitive.