Triangle Six 6A/7A Preview: Predicting Every Team’s MVP

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conference preview season rolls on. 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>, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/quad-city-seven-8a-preview-predicting-every-teams-mvp/">Quad City Seven 8A</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;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/mid-south-7a-8a-conference-preview/">Mid-South 7A/8A</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>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/greater-metro-athletic-6a-7a-conference-preview/">Greater Metro Athletic 6A/7A</a>&nbsp;Conferences. I also dipped into the area to cover the&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/predicting-every-teams-mvp-catawba-shores-2a-3a-4a/">Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A</a>&nbsp;charter school Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here, I'm moving back to RDU to cover an excellent Triangle Six 6A/7A 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 Triangle Six 6A/7A MVPs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, let's address the elephant in the room. If you're unfamiliar with this new conference, its name is a misnomer, at least for the football side of things. There are only five football teams in the Triangle Six, as the sixth school doesn't compete on the gridiron. That makes it one of the smallest conferences in the state and gives it an intriguing quality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not only will these teams play fewer conference games, a couple start later in the season, though it looks like most teams will simply have a late-season bye to accommodate an odd number of conference teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Middle Creek is the only 6A team as the rest of the conference competes in what looks like a strong 7A class. A combination of the old Southeast Wake and CAP 6 conferences, Cardinal Gibbons enters the year as the heavy favorite. Can anybody challenge the Crusaders?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Middle Creek Mustangs (6A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1328747' first='Lex' last='Sevilla'],</strong> QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't love picking the quarterback, especially when there are other options, but Sevilla is the key for the Mustangs. The true dual-threat will finally get his shot on varsity after sitting patiently (and dominating) at the JV level and he gives the offense a skill set it hasn't had in years. There are some playmakers at the skill positions, including transfer WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1663791' first='Tracy' last='Harrington Jr.']</strong> and RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1658593' first='Jayden' last='Spencer']</strong>, while the defensive line should be formidable with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1663952' first='Davis' last='Prichard']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809409' first='Cullen' last='Hunt']</strong> as the stars. Look for linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607063' first='Cody' last='Wicker']</strong> to have another big year as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607063' first='Cody' last='Wicker']</strong> (LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1663952' first='Davis' last='Prichard']</strong> (Edge)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders (7A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318716' first='Griffin' last='Cockerham']</strong>, Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been over a year since Cardinal Gibbons has lost to a team not named Rolesville, and the Rams are 8A this year. Accordingly, the Crusaders have their sights set on a on a state title. There isn't really a hole on a roster that returns a ton of its production, but if there's an area the Crusaders could improve, it's that the pass rush was good, not great last season. Cockerham is the guy who could take the next step. Extraordinarily athletic, Cockerham can line up anywhere on the defense and if he can turn 6.5 sacks last year into 10-12 this year, it should help the Crusaders against elite quarterbacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='690769' first='Gannon' last='Jones']</strong> (QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1663787' first='Brayden' last='Karras']</strong> (WR), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320308' first='Xavier' last='Hasan']</strong> (CB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cary Imps (7A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263702' first='Santonis' last='Wright']</strong>, RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cary struggled last season, but was at its best when Wright was healthy, especially at the beginning of conference play. In the four conference games he played, Wright averaged over seven yards a carry and scored four touchdowns for the Imps. Despite his slender frame, he runs with good pad level and power, operating well inside the tackles. If he can hold up, the Imps will find more success if they ride him, allowing him to wear down a defense before popping a big run or two. He's also a weapon out of the backfield, boosting an inconsistent passing game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>Skylan Joyner</strong> (DB), <strong>Donald Haley Jr.</strong> (LB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Holly Springs Golden Hawks (7A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738128' first='Sam' last='Boswell']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unfortunately for Holly Springs, the offseason has been marked by transfers, and not in a good way. Already a senior-laden team last year, the Golden Hawks lost their two best returning offensive weapons in the offseason. In fact, the Golden Hawks return just five carries and one catch from last year's team, the latter by Boswell himself. There are two areas of the team that look extremely strong in terms of returning production: each side of the trenches. Boswell leads a veteran offensive line, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738136' first='Austin' last='Hardcastle']</strong> anchors four returning starters on the defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boswell, in particular, needs to be at his best to help mitigate the inexperience elsewhere on the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738136' first='Austin' last='Hardcastle']</strong> (Edge)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sanderson Spartans (7A)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1238396' first='Ben' last='Young III']</strong>, RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sanderson loses a lot at the receiver positions, and lost its talented quarterback to a transfer, so the running back position will be key to the Spartans' success. In comes former 8-man star <strong>Ben Young</strong> to play what I believe will be a serious role for the Spartan offense. He and fellow back <strong>Keon Williams</strong> should be quite the duo, and it'll be important for Sanderson to control the ground game with so much uncertainty elsewhere on the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: <strong>Keon Williams</strong> (RB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Predicted Order of Finish</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Cardinal Gibbons</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Middle Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. Sanderson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. Holly Springs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. Cary</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More than some of the other conferences, I have no idea what will happen in the Triangle Six, especially in the middle and bottom. Cardinal Gibbons and Middle Creek are the only teams that return significant production, but all of these teams will have over half a season under their belts before beginning conference play in October. I just don't know what some of these teams <em>really </em>have waiting in the wings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect Cardinal Gibbons to make a state-title run, and don't discount Middle Creek in a weird 6A class either. I expect some stars to emerge early in the year, and may start here when it's time to add players to the rankings in the midseason. AS it stands, the quarterback play should separate the top two teams from the rest.</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 -->