Sports Talk - North Moore Football August 23
Sports Talk - North Moore Football.
The North Moore Mustangs will have a different-looking schedule this season. I sat down with coach Carrouth, head coach of the mustangs, to talk about the added teams to the conference, jamboree, and the upcoming season.
The Mustangs are used to seeing four non-conference games at the beginning of the season. This year they added two teams to the 1A/2A - Mid Carolina conference, adding Northwood and a new school Southeast Alamance. This brings the conference to 9 teams, giving the Mustangs only two non-conference games and a Jamboree game.
“It will definitely be an adjustment for us. The last couple of years, we played four non-conference games and then had a bye week. Those two non-conference games are going to be very important to figure out who we are, what we do well and what we don’t do well and be able to walk into Northwood our first conference game,” said Carrouth.
Northwood won four games last season, two of them being against now conference rivals. Teams cannot sleep on Northwood, they have a 5- star tight end. “The kid is a stud, and they have a new coaching staff, and the fact that they played in a very tough 3A conference and now bumping down to 2A they have been through fire, and i believe they are going to come in and be a big time threat,” said Carrouth.
Southeast Alamance is pulling from South Alamance and East Alamance. “Once those kids figure out the mix and come together, the coach over there does a tremendous job,” said Carrouth. “It will be a challenge with those two teams coming in and it will be a challenge with the teams already there.”
Several key O-line players graduated last year. There will be some youth on the line this season, but coach feels good. Sawyer Nall is a four-year starter, “We expect a good year from him this year, he was good for us last year,” said Carrouth. Dawson Garner is coming into his junior year as a second year starter. Coach describes him as bigger and stronger than he has ever been. “He has really looked good so far in the summer,” said Carrouth. The team was hoping to utilize Dustin Chriscoe last season, but he was out with a torn ACL. “He has come back healthy, he has looked great, he has done a great job in the weight room,” said Carrouth. Carson Green has moved up from JV this year. “He was a reak stud for us in JV last year. We are looking forward to having him as a guard and the same for Jeremy Atkinson,” said Carrouth.
The team is excited to get back at it after coming off a 13-1 season. The Mustangs are now known around the county, conference, and the state as a serious football program. With them being noticed, it puts a target on their back. Teams will show up and expect a hard fought game from the Mustangs this season.
“One thing we are teaching our guys is everything that happened last year is phenomenal. What we have done in the past doesn’t matter. One thing this year’s team has to understand what those guys have done the last two years has made it harder for this year’s team. No team is going to overlook us on the schedule. It’s important for our guys not to go in complacent,” said Carrouth.
The Mustangs will officially open their season on the 18th at Carver. You can get a preview of them on Friday night at Pinecrest when they play in the Jamboree hosted by the Pinecrest Patriots. The Mustangs will kick-off at 6 p.m. against Western Harnett. Following the Mustangs will be the Union Pines Vikings and Anson at 7 p.m. followed by Pinecrest and Willow Springs at 8 p.m.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity. were excited. Having all three schools in the county together is outstanding. We are all three so different. I know Union Pines and Pinecrest are in the same conference. They see a lot of each other, but we don’t get to see either one. A chance to go down there and compete and be on a beautiful turf facility. We are really excited,” said Carrouth.
