Douglas Byrd players get pumped up before the game.
Aug 19, 2009
RALEIGH — Cumberland County schools were well-represented in the state championship games last year, as the county sent three teams to state championship games.
They came away with one state championship after Jack Britt lost a fourth quarter lead to fall at the hands of Richmond County.
But the Cumberland County teams are still receiving the respect they earned last season in area polls. For the second year, Tom Suiter's Fabulous 15 rankings have featured preseason rankings, and this preseason Douglas Byrd leads the WRAL-TV viewing area at the top.
Byrd finished last season as the 4-A state runner-up, losing to county rival Seventy-First in the state championship game. The team gained a lot of experience last season with their playoff run, and they return eight starters on both sides of the ball this year.
The Eagles will look to senior running back Rasheem Bronson for leadership on offense. Bronson ran for over 500 yards last season, scoring five touchdowns. He's also a stellar defensive back for Byrd.
Junior quarterback Delvon Taylor led the junior varsity team to a 7-2 record last season, and he will be joined by sophomore running back Loreno Pooler who scored 23 touchdowns for the junior varsity team.
Junior Williams will be able to play quarterback for Byrd as well. The 5-foot-9 junior ran for over 800 yards last season, and recorded 50 tackles in six games as a safety.
The No. 2 team in Suiter's poll is also from Cumberland County - South View.
The Tigers return eight starters on offense and seven starters on defense from last year's 9-5 team. South View is a very deep team this season, and they bring back talented quarterback Deshean Townsend for his senior season.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Townsend was the Offensive Player of the Year for their conference, passing for over 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. Junior running back Trey Booker also returns after running for 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Southern Durham finds themselves in third place in the preseason Fabulous 15 after a great performance against Southeast Raleigh at the HighSchoolOT.com Jamboree on Saturday.
The Spartans return a talented group of players, including four-year starter Alan Lea at quarterback. Last season, Lea completed 119 of 221 passes for over 1,800 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also ran 24 times for 187 yards and three scores.
Lea's favorite target will likely be N.C. State commit Tony Creecy. The 6-foot, 190-pound wide receiver caught 48 passes for 862 yards and five touchdowns last season.
A.J. Marshall, who has committed to Wake Forest, will lead the defense at the defensive back position. Last year, Marshall recorded five interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered another pair of fumbles for touchdowns. He also had 20 pass break-ups.
Southeast Raleigh and Tarboro round out the top five of the preseason Fabulous 15. Here is the complete preseason Fabulous 15:
1. Douglas Byrd
2. South View
3. Southern Durham
4. Southeast Raleigh
5. Tarboro
6. Rocky Mount
7. Leesville Road
8. SouthWest Edgecombe
9. Northwood
10. Wake Forest-Rolesville
11. Jack Britt
12. Fuquay-Varina
13. James Kenan
14. South Granville
15. Seventy-First
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