Carolina 1-A features state champion, top rusher

The Carolina 1-A Conference features a defending state champion and one of the best running backs in the nation, making it among the most difficult 1-A conferences in North Carolina.

Princeton High’s Johnny Frasier is an explosive back with numerous offers from SEC and ACC schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, N.C. State, Duke and Carolina. He ran for 3,042 yards and 45 touchdowns last year while raking up 555 receiving yards and five more touchdowns.

247Sports.com ranks Frasier the nation’s best running back. Because Princeton started many sophomores on varsity a year ago, they return nine offensive starters and seven defensive starters to a team that went 9-and-4.

But if Frasier and Princeton want to win the conference, they’ll have to go through the James Kenan Tigers, the defending 1-AA state champs. Kenan and coach Ken Avent Jr. lost eight starters on both sides of the ball, including running back Marcelias Sutton, an N.C. State recruit.

Kenan did not lose a game last season, but the team will have to find new players to fill important roles if the Tigers are going to repeat their success.

While Princeton and James Kenan are expected to be at the top of the conference, Lakewood returns many players from last year’s 8-5 season and Rosewood will look to improve with nine defensive starters back.

North Duplin, Spring Creek and Hobbton make up the rest of the conference.