Douglas Byrd, Lee County vying for position in Cape Fear Valley

The Douglas Byrd Eagles have a reputation of being a strong Fayetteville-area team, but the 2014 Eagles will have to learn on the go with just four returning starters on offense and two on defense.

The team also has a new leader in Coach Scott Barbour, who takes over for former coach Russell Stone. Barbour has been on staff at Byrd and knows about the program’s tradition, but his young team will lack the experience it’s had in the past. Look for former receiver Cormega Copening to make the switch to quarterback and lead the offense during his junior year.

The Lee County Yelow Jackets won nine games in 2013 and have a chance to improve on the mark and compete for a conference championship this year. Running back Jerry Pullum is one of the best in the conference. He found the endzone 34 times as a junior and has offers from N.C. Central and Elon. Emond Caldwell will play quarterback for the Yellow Jackets after transferring from Southern Lee.

The team has six returning starters on defense and will have size in the trenches.

Terry Sanford won just four games last season but the Bulldogs have almost all their starters coming back, including college prospect Johnathon Blackmon at receiver and Wake Forest recruit Paris Black at defensive end.

Gray’s Creek's Wing-T offense has seven returning starters, but the five-win team from 2013 has just five returning on defense.

Southern Lee will be more experienced in 2014, while Union Pines tries to improve after winning one conference game last year.

Winless Westover finished at the bottom, but they have a new coach in Stephen Roberson who will try to turn the program around.