Mid-South 7A/8A Conference Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've really enjoyed doing this type of conference preview this season. We've already looked at some other conferences in higher classifications (<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-central-piedmont-7a-8a/">Central Piedmont 7A/8A</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mip-greater-neuse-river-7a-conference/">Greater Neuse River 7A</a>,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/cap-8a-conference-preview/">CAP 8A</a>) and I looked at some intriguing conferences on the eastern part of the state (<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-eastern-sandhills-5a-6a/">Eastern Sandhills 5A/6A</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-eastern-plains-2a-3a/">Eastern Plains 2A/3A</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-coastal-5a-6a-conference/">Coastal 5A/6A</a>). Matt Morrow has previewed several Charlotte area conferences like the&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/meck-power-6-conference-preview/">Meck Power 6</a> and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/greater-metro-athletic-6a-7a-conference-preview/">Greater Metro Athletic 6A/7A</a> Conferences. I also dipped into the area to cover the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-catawba-shores-2a-3a-4a/">Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A</a> charter school Conference</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here, I'm moving back down to the southeast to cover an excellent Mid-South 7A/8A Conference. Which players are the most important to their teams? Plus, I have other thoughts and a predicted order of finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Potential Mid-South 7A/8A Conference MVPs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is an interesting conference with no truly bad teams. While the conference itself is somewhat unique compared to past seasons, the teams are all familiar with one another as they often used to play in the non-conference. The two favorites will once again be Pinecrest and Richmond. Each team is undefeated in-conference against all but each other the last two seasons, splitting the last two meetings, and thus the last two conference titles in the old Sandhills conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pinecrest and Hoke County will compete in 8A this season, while Richmond, Pine Forest, Jack Britt, and Overhills round out the conference as 7A teams. Can Jack Britt provide a third big threat, or can one of these other traditionally solid teams throw a wrench in things?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a reminder, these team MVPs are not necessarily the <em>best</em> players on their teams, but the most important in terms of helping each team reach its ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Jack Britt Buccaneers (7A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1034840' first='Jaleel' last='Parker']</strong>, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Britt returns more than almost any team in the state, including almost all of its top skill position guys and most of its defense. The exception is the back end of the defense, where the Buccaneers will lose a couple of difference-makers. Parker, Jack Britt's leading tackler last year, provides stability at one of the only position groups that isn't loaded with proven depth. If he can continue to elevate his game, he raises the ceiling of a strong team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm interested to see how Jack Britt performs in a loaded non-conference slate, something they've had often in previous years. Can they start off with some momentum and challenge in the conference?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1720252' first='Xavier' last='Johnson']</strong> (Edge), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402288' first='Javonte' last='Brooks']</strong> (WR)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Overhills Jaguars (7A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1703195' first='Lavontae' last='McNeill']</strong>, DL/Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overhills was one of the better pass-rushing teams in the area last year, with 36 sacks in 11 games. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, the defense loses several of its best pass-rushers. So now, it's up to the versatile McNeill to lead the charge. The offensive line and skill positions are also young, making veteran gadget guy <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607055' first='Ryyan' last='Coley']</strong> and high-upside blocker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1669833' first='Lincoln' last='Wedderburn']</strong> key cogs in that unit's potential success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607055' first='Ryyan' last='Coley']</strong> (WR), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1669833' first='Lincoln' last='Wedderburn']</strong> (OL)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pine Forest Trojans (7A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1720274' first='Uriah' last='Riggins']</strong>, DB/LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans are decimated by graduation, losing their leaders in almost every statistical category. Riggins is the only one of last year's top six leading tacklers to return, and that's part of the reason why he's so crucial to the team's success. Pine Forest needs a vocal leader defensively and Riggins can be that guy. The offense isn't in much better shape in terms of experience, but two-way lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1309079' first='Donovan' last='Johnson']</strong> is a leader on both sides of the ball. Without much experience at quarterback or running back, he and his offensive line will need to do some of the heavy lifting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1309079' first='Donovan' last='Johnson']</strong> (OT/DL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1720273' first='Amori' last='Wiggins']</strong> (WR)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Richmond Senior Spiders (7A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1692650' first='Keonta' last='Pegues'], WR/RB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spiders have one of the more senior-laden teams in the state on offense this season. Almost all of their team leaders were juniors last year. Accordingly, development will be key to Richmond's chances of taking the next step in 2025. If I had to pick one playmaker to take another step, it'd be Pegues, who was explosive last year as a runner, but operated mainly underneath. He flashed big-play ability in the passing game, but there's more to find there, and if he can score a few long touchdowns it'll give the offense another layer on offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600434' first='Terande' last='Spencer']</strong> (Edge), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1630694' first='Chris' last='George']</strong> (Ath.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hoke County Bucks (8A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1707209' first='Wayne' last='Claiborne III']</strong>, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hoke County struggled to consistently move the ball through the air last season when behind. The raw numbers weren't bad, but the Bucks couldn't create many explosive plays when needed. Claiborne was an excellent safety blanket out of the slot, but I think there's some more big-play upside there. If he can stretch the defense, it will open rushing lanes and keep the Bucks more balanced on offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1720433' first='Dontrell' last='Mims']</strong> (Edge/LB), <strong>William Leak</strong> (WR)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pinecrest Patriots (8A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1663571' first='Chris' last='Najm']</strong>, RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pinecrest loses it's two biggest offensive playmakers from a year ago, but returns two guys who were right behind them as strong No. 2 options. This year, Najm and rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1720446' first='Eric' last='Melton']</strong> are the go-to guys on the offensive side of the ball and if they can turn last year's strong production into true game-altering performances, the Patriots will have a strong chance to win the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1720446' first='Eric' last='Melton']</strong> (WR), <strong>Cole Harrison</strong> (LB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Predicted Order of Finish</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Richmond Senior</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Pinecrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. Jack Britt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Overhills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Hoke County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. Pine Forest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mid-South 7A/8A Conference is going to be interesting to follow not only in 2025 but going forward. Pinecrest and Richmond Senior remain the favorites and at the risk of reducing the whole season to one game, a Halloween matchup between the two teams could decide the conference, as that game has each of the last two seasons. To me, the key will be whether Richmond's defense or Pinecrest's offense is able to better reload after losing key playmakers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other four really aren't that far off, but probably lack the depth to beat teams if their initial gameplan gets stymied. Overhills, Hoke County, and Pine Forest all replace quarterbacks, which certainly doesn't help. I'd like to get down to a game or two to scout a couple of these teams in person as there really is talent all over the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Want to send this article to someone else? Promo code Helms30 will give them 30% off their first billing cycle.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->