Monday Musings: Week 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Happy Monday! The final handful of Week 2 games after another weather-impacted slate kick off on Monday, but there's been enough action that I can safely write my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/monday-musings-3-things-from-week-1/">weekly Monday column</a>. It was an eye-opening week in North Carolina high school football, so let's get to a few of my thoughts on the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Big Things From Week 2</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1) Why Teams <em>Could</em> Upset Favorites</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I mentioned in my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/week-2-instant-analysis/">Instant Analysis</a> that this week started to erode my offseason thought that some of the "chasers" had closed the gap with defending state champions. Later this week, I'll look again at class rankings, favorites, and dark horses, but here, I wanted to give a couple of reasons teams <em>could</em> beat seemingly unstoppable teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Why Starmount Could Beat Tarboro</em></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A Hunt showed that Tarboro is beatable, but is there a blueprint any 2A team could follow? First, a team has to be able to hold its own in the trenches. Tarboro will bully most teams on the schedule. But Starmount has some linebackers in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2104490' first='Keyvon' last='Propst']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='451403' first='Cody' last='Hernandez']</strong> who can cause havoc. The Rams have 24 tackles for loss in two games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Second, teams need to be able to throw the ball. The Vikings will beat any team that tries to line up against them and run it 60 times. But Hunt was able to find some success (not a lot, but some) through the air. <strong>Deuce Best</strong> and the Starmount passing attack are even more explosive than last year, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1908069' first='Ryley' last='Rodriguez']</strong> once again thriving over the top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, Tarboro's pass rush is too talented to struggle against a pocket passer. Hunt had success in the QB run and scramble game, and Best is averaging over seven yards per carry against two strong 3A schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the cards fall right, Starmount poses the biggest threat to Tarboro in 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Why Weddington Could Beat Grimsley</em></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been over two years and 33 games since Grimsley last lost, a 44-27 defeat to Weddington. Since then, the Whirlies have won two close games against the Warriors in the Western Regional Finals, pulling away late twice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Whirlies look even better than they did last year, but let's nitpick here. Could Weddington beat the Whirlies? If so, how?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It all comes down to the quarterback play. When <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='915835' first='Jared' last='Street']</strong> transferred, I called him the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/predicting-every-southern-carolina-teams-mvp/">best quarterback in Weddington's school history</a>, and yes, I'm aware of several other big names who threw the ball there. So far, that's played out, as Street has dominated two quality teams with both his arm and his legs. The playbook has been opened, and Weddington now has the offensive firepower to <em>outscore</em> the big boys, not just play a ball control game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offensive line, of course, has to hold up against Grimsley's elite front. Guys like East Carolina commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='415457' first='Bryce' last='Johnson']</strong> can do that. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, it isn't quite the unit last year's team was, but you could say that about Grimsley's offense, too. The additions of brothers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616163' first='Makai' last='Henriquez']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1923076' first='Eric' last='Henriquez']</strong> have improved the front seven, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2206752' first='Ace' last='Clements']</strong> is a lockdown corner who can match up with Grimsley's excellent receiving corps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Why Millbrook Could Beat Hough</em></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millbrook once again looks like Hough's biggest competition in the 8A class (Though don't count out Hoggard and Mallard Creek). Could the Wildcats get it done this year?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like last year, the Wildcats boast an elite defense (one that hasn't yet allowed points in 2026). That automatically raises the floor. Hough is known for its elite defense, and while the Huskies are talented on offense, they don't typically put up outlandish point totals. We'll see the Huskies against an elite defense on Saturday, and against a team like Providence Day or Millbrook, they'll score closer to the 20-point mark than the 40-point mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That was plenty to beat the Wildcats 21-0 last year, but it also means the Wildcat offense needs to be a handful of plays better, not an entirely new unit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2147396' first='King' last='Murdock']</strong> has given the offense a game-breaking playmaker they didn't have last year on the outside. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2246998' first='Brian' last='Leacock']'s</strong> speed opens up space underneath, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1252939' first='Hayes' last='Brawner']</strong> has taken a step forward at tight end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Millbrook has the size and depth up front to hold up against Hough's relentless rushing attack. They wore down last year. The additions of guys like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1666240' first='Jacob' last='Bowen']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2127603' first='Dylan' last='Barfield']</strong> and the progression of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158999' first='Markez' last='Wilbert']</strong> lead me to think they'll get off the field two or three more times in a hypothetical state-championship matchup with the Huskies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2) Good Week for NC Against Other States</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a week with an abnormally high amount of cross-state matchups, North Carolina picked up <em>several</em> good wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cannon School, Southern Alamance, Asheville, and Mallard Creek all picked up thrilling one- or two-point wins over good teams from other states.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a 22-21 win over Oceanside Collegiate (S.C.), Cannon QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616140' first='Lucas' last='Lopez']</strong> had 390 total yards and three touchdowns. I didn't know he had that as a runner, as he matched his career total in rushing scores. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149032' first='Marcus' last='Sales']</strong> continues to impress in multiple roles, and junior receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2326464' first='Rudolph' last='Davis']</strong> had a career-high 84 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern Alamance beat a very good Patrick Henry (VA) team, 30-28, behind big games from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2263072' first='Tustin' last='Johnson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2144167' first='Sincere' last='Thompson']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Asheville's junior trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1970953' first='Tayvion' last='Williams']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1852696' first='Clement' last='Davidson']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2112651' first='Jam' last='Skyes']</strong> had massive games against Dobyns-Bennett (TN). Williams threw for 176 yards with a touchdown to Skyes and Davidson, and another rushing score. Skyes and Davidson each went over 150 total yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, Mallard Creek roared back and then held on for a 31-30 win after trailing by 17 at the half. The running game picked up in the second half, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2365617' first='Chase' last='Roberts']</strong> scoring the game-winner on a 19-yard run. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2060117' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson']</strong> continued his sensational start to the year with an interception, three tackles for loss, and a key pressure on Maury's two-point conversion attempt that could have made it an eight-point game late.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other Notes</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Two first wins in school history on Friday: Bradford Prep and Felton Grove. The Galaxy beat Western Alamance, 21-0, behind two interceptions from the defense and three touchdowns (two on the ground) from quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2232659' first='Chase' last='Watts']</strong>. Bradford Prep also won via shutout, a 28-0 win over Highland Tech.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>There were plenty of top performers. I specifically noted <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2142470' first='Josiah' last='Rice']</strong> (308 passing yards, four TDs), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1722985' first='Jamaal' last='Epps']</strong> (116 yards, TD), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1722960' first='Amani' last='Blacknall']</strong> (104 yards, two TDs) from Franklinton. Newton-Conover RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1715220' first='Jeremiah' last='Pope']</strong> had 163 yards and three TDs in the first half. Pine Lake Prep's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1398025' first='Thomas' last='Kieffer']</strong> had 23 total tackles and a forced fumble.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Some teams that caught my eye on Saturday (After Friday's Instant Analysis): Page (33-10 over Northwest Guilford), Warren County (44-0 over Webb), Tuscola (55-21 over Cherokee)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>We'll have more throughout the week. What did we miss? Who needs to be highlighted? Help us help players, and let me know on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>)</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->