CAP 8A Conference Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Happy July, also known as conference and team preview time here at Prep Redzone. The 2025 season is intriguing as the state of North Carolina moves from a four-class to an eight-class system. We're previewing some of the state's most-intriguing conferences this month, starting with CAP 8A in the Raleigh area. Here's everything you need to know about one of the best conferences in North Carolina high school football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">CAP 8A Conference Preview: The Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Athens Drive</strong> (2-8 in 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Broughton</strong> (5-6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Corinth Holders</strong> (6-5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Enloe</strong> (6-5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leesville Road</strong> (10-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Millbrook</strong> (11-2)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rolesville</strong> (14-2, State runners-up)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wakefield</strong> (1-9)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Player of the Year Candidates</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll start our preview with the must-see guys: the players who have a real shot at offensive or defensive player of the year. Who could run the conference in 2025?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Offense</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771299' first='Kaleb' last='Williams']</strong>, QB, Rolesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The former Holly Springs quarterback transferred into Rolesville this season and is a threat with both his arm and legs. He elevates the talent around him, which should help at a school as loaded on offense as Rolesville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='485965' first='Bryson' last='Gray'], </strong>QB, Millbrook</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray has elite arm talent and is a year older. That experience could help him take over full-time at Millbrook and compete for a player of the year award in the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1658600' first='Akshar' last='Barnes'], </strong>RB, Leesville Road</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In just 111 carries last season, Barnes eclipsed the 750 rushing yard mark on a team loaded with receiving talent. Leesville Road replaces its quarterback and several pass-catchers, so the rising junior back will be the key to a great offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defense</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1553113' first='Rashad' last='Streets']</strong>, Edge, Millbrook</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year's national leader in sacks among sophomores, Streets exploded onto the scene, both as a player and a recruit. It'll be no surprise when the No. 1 player in our 2027 rankings is also a top player in the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651173' first='Quinton' last='Cypher']</strong>, LB, Millbrook</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Streets' 2027 teammate, Cypher is our top linebacker in the class, a physically-imposing thumper who has excellent speed and game-changing ability at linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='662372' first='Zavion' last='Griffin-Haynes']</strong>, Edge, Rolesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffin-Haynes is one of the top recruits in the 2026 class, and I think he'll break out on the field in terms of sacks this season. He's a smart player who impacts the game in ways that don't always show up on the stat sheet, but I expect the numbers to improve this year too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Breakout Candidates</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651120' first='Cooper' last='Pleasants']</strong>, QB, Wakefield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wakefield was young last season and significantly better than its record suggested. Pleasants can really spin it but didn't get many opportunities last season. I expect him to be the starter this season and a guy the coaching staff can rely on to push the ball down the field. That should give opportunities for his receivers to make plays. He's fearless and should inspire confidence from his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1658606' first='Xavier' last='Howard'], </strong>RB, Broughton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Howard had a strong junior season but is now the guy and should turn things up as a senior. He's a bulldozer of a runner who excels at picking up tough yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1665473' first='Carter' last='Lawson']</strong>, WR, Corinth Holders</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawson operated mostly underneath last season, but should have more opportunities to produce plays down the field in his second season in head coach Carl Smith's system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1666240' first='Jacob' last='Bowen']</strong>, Edge, Athens Drive</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowen is just a rising sophomore, but he impressed at our Prep Redzone North Carolina combine. Can he make enough of an impact to put up big sack numbers?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Storylines to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Quarterback Battles</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of these teams had intriguing quarterback situations last season while a third has multiple former starters on the roster. Millbrook rotated <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1654275' first='Austin' last='Battle']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='485965' first='Bryson' last='Gray'] </strong>last season, with each attempting over 140 passes. They're very different quarterbacks and I'm wondering whether we see them switch off or whether one grabs the job.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At Enloe, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1646740' first='Leo' last='Gorga']</strong> was the presumed starter before an early injury ended his season. As a backup, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jonah-el-amin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616112' first='Jonah' last='El-Amin']</strong></a> exceeded expectations. Now, they're both healthy and I'm interested to see how they divide reps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At Corinth Holders, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1655127' first='David' last='Jarman']</strong> was the starter last season, but dual-threat <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='352671' first='Camden' last='Minter']</strong> has started games before. Will Jarman be the guy once again, or will Minter apply pressure?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Third (Or Fourth) Challenger?</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In recent years, Millbrook and Rolesville have been the teams to beat, but realignment brings Leesville Road into the fray. All three teams have reloaded with talent, though Leesville Road seems to have lost a bit more -- especially at the skill positions -- than Millbrook and Rolesville have. The latter two teams return multiple starters at receivers and top quarterbacks, guys like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832422' first='Davis' last='Brown']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832437' first='Gavin' last='Waddell']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378957' first='Amir' last='Brown']</strong> for Rolesville and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473833' first='Brilison' last='McCullers']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='423992' first='Malachi' last='Gilchrist']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1252939' first='Hayes' last='Brawner']</strong> at Millbrook</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enloe is a young team that returns a ton on offense. In addition to multiple quarterbacks, the Eagles return three of four leading rushers, their top receiver, and multiple top offensive linemen, headlined by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1649251' first='Noah' last='Nelson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1649248' first='Sam' last='Offor']</strong>. Defensively, there are more question marks, but there might be enough talent to challenge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">What To Make of Broughton and Athens Drive</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm not quite sure what to make of Broughton and Athens Drive, two teams with some talent, good coaching, but little recent success. It's a brutal conference, one of the best in the state, so there are some tough games on the schedule, but do these teams have the ability to make some noise?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Broughton returns two of four leading rushers and the defense is loaded, with seven of 11 leading tacklers and half of the sack and turnover production returning. The receiving corps is gutted and there's not much starting experience in the quarterback room, but there are some pieces there to compete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm a huge fan of Athens Drive quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1654257' first='Jack' last='Danjczek']</strong> and think he could turn some heads this year, especially as an electric runner. He'll need some new targets at receiver, but Athens Drive also returns leading RB <strong>Tyrese Madry</strong> and a host of solid defenders. They could be a team hurt by the bigger conference (and thus fewer non-conference games) but don't be surprised if they enter conference play undefeated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>I try to be as accurate as possible, but keeping up with transfers, injuries, and depth charts across the state can be difficult. The easiest way to get your team or conference featured is to DM me on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>) with up-to-date info. Want to send this to someone who isn't a subscriber? Promo code Helms30 will get them 30% off their first billing cycle.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->