Local Opinion: Teams seek answers, first victory
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on September 10, 2010 1:46 PM
The first three weeks of the high school football season have brought optimism to some, anxiety to others and given fans plenty to talk about while waiting for Friday night to roll around.
The following are observations from the first three weeks of the season:
Born to run: Seven different running backs in the News-Argus readership area have eclipsed the 200-yard mark. Eastern Wayne's Lamar Best is the area's leading rusher with 330 yards. Best has compiled 402 yards of total offense.
Area running backs have rushed for more than 100 yards in a game 11 times this season. James Kenan tailback Devon Best turned in the area's best single-game rushing performance last Friday -- 201 yards on 20 carries in a loss at East Bladen.
Slow start: The 11 teams in the News-Argus readership area have combined to go 7-23 through the first three weeks of the season.
Goldsboro, Spring Creek, North Duplin, Southern Wayne and North Lenoir are all seeking their first victory this week. Princeton, Rosewood, Eastern Wayne and Greene Central are all 1-2. James Kenan currently boasts the area's best record at 2-1.
Area teams have been outscored 832 to 450 and have been held to seven points or fewer 14 times in a combined 32 games.
Well Suited: Greene Central quarterback Brandon Suit threw for just 521 yards with eight interceptions and four touchdowns as a junior in 2009.
Suit has already thrown for 230 yards with five touchdown passes through three games this season. He has also rushed for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Suit engineered the Rams' triple-option with precision in a 42-13 win at Charles B. Aycock last week. He threw for 107 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions and added 51 yards a two scores on the ground. Suit averaged 21 yards a completion against the Golden Falcons and 4.6 yards per carry.
Passing the torch: Princeton quarterback Brad Williamson has put to rest any doubt Bulldawgs' fans may have had about filling the void former signal-caller David Gurganus left behind.
Williamson has compiled 423 passing yards and three touchdowns while averaging 141 yards a game. Although Gurganus racked up 984 yards and 11 touchdowns through the first three games a year ago, Williamson has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes.
A sophomore thrust into the role of replacing a 4,000-plus yard passer, Williamson has both the offensive scheme and plenty of time to potentially develop into the prolific passer that Gurganus was.