Hunts RB Josh Joyner #28 during to nights game.Hunt defeats Cardinal Gibbons 31-17 in Wilson North Carolina.
Jul 30, 2012
The Big East has the potential to be one of the most competitive 3-A conferences in the East this season, but Hunt is the favorite to repeat as conference champions.
The Warriors return five offensive starters and seven defensive starters off of last year's 13-1 team, including defensive end Lewis Neal who has committed to play football at LSU. Neal posted 88 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, six sacks and five fumble recoveries last season.
The opposite side defensive end is Javis Neal-Hill, who posted 52 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two fumble recoveries last season, earning all-area honors.
Backing up the line will be linebacker Alvin Artis who had 111 tackles last season. Fellow linebacker Ky'teri Wiggins posted 63 tackles last year.
On offense, Hunt returns running back Josh Joyner who ran 280 times for 1,819 yards and 25 touchdowns.
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Nash Central hopes to overtake Hunt this year as the conference champion though. The Bulldogs return just two starters on what was a very potent offense, but have eight defensive starters back this year.
Jarod Richardson will play both sides of the ball at running back and linebacker this season, as will Collin Staton. Richardson was an all-conference performer last year for the Bulldogs.
Junior Khalil Macklin is back this year, and could take over quarterback responsibilities for Nash Central. As a sophomore last year, Macklin was an all-conference performer. Macklin also has responsibilities on defense as a defensive back.
Southern Nash could also make a run this year. The Firebirds return five starters on both sides of the ball after going 7-4 last season. Junior quarterback Deon Lavender, a two-year starter, returns this season, and he will have a strong offensive line in front of him, led by Wake Forest recruit Cameron Gardner at offensive tackle.
Replacing names like Tracey Coppedge and Terron Huffman won't be easy though.
Perhaps one of the biggest off-season wins was for Rocky Mount. After a 3-6-1 season last year, the Gryphons will move into their new facility this season.
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