Chris Hughes of Carolina Preps. com has become sort of the next-generation version of Arnold Solomon, the original North Carolina prep football guru.
Hughes, who like Solomon has southern Rowan roots, must spend every waking hour researching, discussing and dissecting high school football, and he compiled a fascinating stack of information on NCHSAA football coaches earlier this week.
That information is out there in 200 different places, but Hughes took the time to bring it all together in one comprehensive list — the coaching records and tenures of every active NCHSAA coach from Charlotte Catholic’s Jim Oddo on down.
Oddo tops the active wins list at 352-144-2, which tells us at least two things. One, he’s beaten other people besides A.L. Brown. Two, he’s a lot smarter than the Common Sense columnist, who will never come close to 352-144-2.
There are three 300-game winners on the list, including Oddo (no relation to West Rowan fullback Kacey Otto), Murphy’s David Gentry, dean of N.C. coaches with 511 games under his belt, and a fellow who will visit Salisbury’s Ludwig Stadium tonight. That fellow is Allen Brown, 330-98-2 and the coach of the Thomasville Bulldogs.
And by the way, any coach with ties next to his name has been to more than a few rodeos. They’ve been playing overtime to break ties for more than 30 years.
Salisbury coach Ryan Crowder is 329 wins behind Brown, but last week’s first one had to feel pretty good. There will be some more.
With that initial success, Crowder surged into a 12-way tie for 349th in wins by active NCSHAA coaches.
There are 373 members of that fraternity — with 13 still looking for win No. 1.
As far as the local coaches, West coach Scott Young is 29th on the active NCHSAA list. The impressive thing about Young is he’s accumulated his 163 wins in just 209 games.
Notable guys ahead of Young include Piedmont coach Ron Massey (216-94-3), who is tied for 12th on the list. Massey was a stellar 120-32 at A.L. Brown.
Also high on the list are Central Cabarrus’ Donnie Kiefer (15th, 213-131) and Mooresville’s Hal Capps (20th, 192-91, both of whom got one of those wins this season against West Rowan.
Moving down the list, there’s A.L. Brown coach Mike Newsome (47th, 121-25) and Concord’s Glen Padgett (50th, 119-80).
Carson’s Joe Pinyan (105-39) is tied for 57th, one game behind Hickory’s Mike Helms (106-74), the former NWC coach.
South’s Jason Rollins (25-60) is 191st on the wins list. North’s Joe Nixon (16-4) is tied for 236th but rising fast.
East’s Danny Misenheimer (tied for 255th, 11-10) rounds out Rowan. The list is as congested as the SPC soccer standings in the 11-win area. Misenheimer could jump 10 spots if East wins tonight.
The Common Sense picks were 12-1 last week, with Crowder and the Hornets spoiling a perfect record. Not that Common Sense minded.
The Common Sense picks are 66-15. Not one of the 373 NCHSAA head coaches owns exactly 66 wins, although Northwest’s Rich Williams (68-71, tied for 94th) is close.
Carson 24, Northwest 17
The Cougars are only 1-4 against the Trojans, but they should win at home.
Concord 21, West 14
West hasn’t lost a home game to a NCHSAA team since 2007, but the Spiders look like the superior team.
Hick. Ridge 49, South 14
Rebuilding Ragin’ Bulls starting to put it together.
East 28, Ledford 21
It’s a tossup, but East actually has played better away.
North 42, E. Davidson 20
Cavs are a freight train headed for 11-0.
Thomasville 35, SHS 21
Hornets could make Common Sense look silly again.
Mall. Creek 28, Brown 7
Wonders won’t get embarrassed by the state’s best.
Davie 42, Parkland 7
Parkland is good medicine for every ailing team.
Also: Lexington 28, W. Davidson 21; Central Cabarrus 42, Cox Mill 14; Hough 49, W. Charlotte 7; Vance 42, North Meck 28; Hopewell 27, Robinson 14; Reagan 28, W. Forsyth 24; N. Davidson 52, RJR 14