In five days, Beaufort County’s grandstands will come to life, as three teams prepare to apply a summer’s worth of offseason conditioning and preparation to their respective gridiron. The lines are unscuffed, a chalky fluorescent white, and every team begins their season on an even keel.

Football is back.

State championship runs, come-from-behind victories and inexplicable program turnarounds are now nothing but a distant memory. Teams enter the 2015 slate with rewritten expectations and dreams of postseason football.

Last season, Washington stole the local fans’ attention with a 14-2 record, including a historic postseason run, one that reshaped a program’s conviction. Now, the mission is to replace the leadership and contributions of 26 seniors, develop a young but athletic roster and return to the championship.

On the back of running back Rockne Butler, Northside became playoff eligible for the third-consecutive year. Now, fielding just a couple of seniors with varsity experience, the program will look to build around its young playmakers in hopes of competing for a conference championship down the road.

All eyes will be on Northside’s rival, Southside, a team hungry for a conference title and worthy of being considered among the most complete teams in 1-A. The weapons are there, work ethic ingrained and desire unquestioned. The coaching staff refuses to release its internal goals, but expectations are openly high.

On Friday at 7:30 p.m., Washington opens its season at home against Havelock, a loaded 3-A roster that perennial finds itself playing December football. Northside hosts Creswell at 7 p.m., while Southside will look to start its season off strong against North Duplin in Chocowinity at 7 p.m.

 

EASTERN PLAINS CONFERENCE

1. Washington (8-3, 5-0 EPC)

Returning starters: 4 offense, 3 defense

Having yet to drop a conference game, Washington is once again the favorite to take the title, but it won’t be easy. Despite key losses at quarterback and running back, the Pam Pack have reloaded with an arsenal of capable backs and Sharwon Staton has made for a solid field general this offseason.

Outside of returners Lexroy Brown, Brandon Jackson and Hassan Credle, the defense still has questions marks at D-line and outside linebacker. It’s Washington’s sheer depth that gives them an edge this season.

 

2. Southwest Edgecombe Cougars (9-2, 4-1 EPC)

Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense

The Cougars proved just how good this table was last season, making it to the third round of the state tournament. Like Washington, the team lost its feature back to graduation — Devontrell Hyman, arguably the top talent in the conference. But the Cougars return Keanan Williams and Marcus Williams Jr., who rushed for 11 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards in 2014.

On defense, with Quantellas Norwoord’s return, the linebacking corps will be improved and the D-line brings back three starters. Southwest Edgecombe should be the greatest threat to Washington’s two-year conference supremacy.

 

3. Farmville Central (9-2, 3-2 EPC)

Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 defense

If not for a dynamic 89-yard run by Markel Spencer in the final minutes, Farmville Central would have handed Washington its second loss of the season. In fact, the last two matchups between the teams have come down to the wire. The Jaguars enter the season having lost some size on the defensive end, including Appalachian State linebacker Edward Davis, but they’ll still be in the running for a conference championship.

Running back Kashon Baker and quarterback Shaft Parker are now the senior leaders behind a crafty offense built around the run, but with a limited roster, depth concerns at skill positions is Farmville’s top disadvantage.

 

4. Beddingfield (5-6, 2-3 EPC)

Returning starters: 8 offense, 8 defense

If anything, the Bruins bring the most experience to the table. Last year, after a promising 2-0 start, depth issues brought on by injuries sunk their season, resulting in a fifth-place finish. But outside of the Power 3, Beddingfield is a lock for fourth place.

Still, like 2014, a small roster means health is paramount for Beddingfield. Lamont Morgan isn’t exactly a mobile quarterback, but he has one of the better arms in the conference. Senior running backs Keshai Lindsey and Jovonte Farmer, the projected starter, are two athletes to watch this season.

 

5. North Pitt (4-7, 1-4 EPC)

Returning: 5 offense, 5 defense

At times, North Pitt looked like one of the top teams in the conference last season. Then again, at times, it also looked like the worst. Offensive consistency and health were this team’s primary issues last year. In 2014, the main concern will be depth, but quarterback Nyrell Chapman, who threw for 475 yards last season, returns.

With the graduation of their four leading rushers, the Panthers will also need to entirely restock their backfield, not good news for an offense that had its fair share of struggles. For North Pitt to be formidable, it’ll need to establish some kind of ground game around guys like Chapman and Tiras Smith.

 

6. North Johnston (3-8, 0-5 EPC)

Returning starters: 5 offense, 5 defense

Head coach Ashley Ennis knows his team is in the midst of a rebuilding process, but he returns a collection of key playmakers on both sides of the ball, including at quarterback, O-line, tight end, linebacker and in the secondary.

Without a doubt, North Johnston is the smallest team in the table up front entering the season. If the offense can improve marginally, the Panthers should be able to be a little more competitive than last season.

 

COASTAL PLAINS CONFERENCE
1. Southside (10-1, 5-0 CPC)

With a stockpile of skilled and capable athletes, the Seahawks control their own destiny in conference play this season. There are still questions on both sides of the ball, but they’re hardly widespread. This team has the depth and talent to make a run at an eastern regional championship this season.

Seniors Lawrence Brown, Matt Baxter and Dylan Lewis make up a veteran backfield, while senior Johnny Sullivan, coming off an arm injury, is back in full form. Southside is solid at linebacker and quick in the secondary. A big question, however, is the size of the offensive line (Donshae Tatum aside).

 

2. East Carteret (7-4, 4-1 CPC)

With the acquisition of head coach Caleb King, the Mariners are primed to flip the script on a 5-8 finish last year. King brings seven years of coaching experience at Havelock that resulted in three state titles and his new team returns most of its playmakers from last season.

Brennan Lewis, who threw for 1651 yards and 17 touchdowns, is bound to improve in the new offense, while running back Dominic Carter is also back. Receiver is a big question mark for King, but tight end is set.

 

3. Pamlico County (6-5, 3-2 CPC)

With new faces, as well as a first-year coach, the defending conference champions have an uphill battle to repeat this season, but the Hurricanes certainly have the athleticism to make a run at it. Pamlico County returns a slew of talented linebackers, a couple linemen and senior quarterback Josiah Simmons, who threw for 1730 yards and 22 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He will be the team’s biggest asset moving forward.

Like the Eastern Plains Conference, the Coastal Plains is top heavy with Pamlico County in the mix. If they can find a couple new playmakers on offense, another title is within reach.

 

4. Lejeune (4-7, 2-3 CPC)

Throw away last season’s winless campaign. Under first-year head coach Simon Dorsey, the Devil Pups have a different swagger about them this preseason. They also have sizable offensive and defensive lines that should provide a nice foundation to build upon.

Senior quarterback Drake Bodine is back, but without much in terms of weapons. The Devil Pups do, in fact, have experience, along with a couple senior leaders from that impressive 13-2 finish in 2013.

 

5. Northside (3-8, 1-4 CPC)

The Panthers may be young, undersized and without a go-to playmaker on offense, but they certainly have heart. After a couple surprising showings in preseason scrimmages, the offensive and defensive lines, led by senior Tyler Dugger, have looking formidable. On offensive, Chris Slade has been a surprise and James Barrow has also looked great in the double-wing.

That being said, the Panthers need more standouts on both sides of the ball to be competitive and that might take a season or two. This roster is young, but with a great foundation to build upon. And for head coach Keith Boyd, development is the ultimate goal in 2015.

 

6. Jones Senior (0-11, 0-5 CPC)

The Trojans have come a long way since the days of competing for a state championship. They enter the 2015 season with the smallest roster in the conference, just 18 players, half being seniors. They have some athleticism, including quarterback Javon Andrews and fullback Josh Jones, but it won’t be enough to compete this season.