Garner has chance to retake Greater Neuse

In his second year as Garner’s head coach, Thurman Leach has high hopes for the Trojans in 2014.

Those hopes rest largely on the shoulders of Nyhiem Hines, one of the best high school running backs in the nation. Hines is heavily recruited, with offers from schools including UNC, N.C. State, Duke, Georgia, Clemson, Tennessee, South Carolina and Ohio State. He earned the attention by running for 3,137 yards and 49 touchdowns as a junior last season, while helping in the receiving and punt returning game as well.

Hines has game-changing talent and his offensive line has the ability to get him where he needs to be. Garner must find a new quarterback, however, and their defensive secondary is young.

Leach says his linebacker corps will be stronger than ever with the addition of Middle Creek transfer Warren Messer, who led the Mustangs in tackles last season.

The Clayton Comets, coached by Randy Pinkowski, will also field an experienced group in the Greater Neuse. All-Conference running back Eric Hoy is back. He had 1,800 total yards during his junior season, while Rodney Rowe ran for 1,100 more. Clayton will also have a new quarterback, but returns all-conference linebacker Eric Brendle and 6-foot-2 center Brooks Verona.

Continuing the theme of good Greater Neuse running backs, Damontay Rhem and East Wake hope for a successful conference finish as well. Rhem ran for 1,360 yards last season as a junior. The Warriors return seven starters on each side of the ball, making them one of the more experienced teams in the conference.

Southeast Raleigh is sparked by the addition of new head coach Michael Thibodeau, who coached JV football at Knightdale last season. Thibodeau aims to improve the Bulldogs after they went 4-7 in 2013. Running back Brandon Flint and receiver Cameron Marshmon should help, while junior quarterback Dylan Parham is entering his first year as a full-time starter.

Parham, standing at 6-foot-5, started several games during his sophomore year and already has offers from N.C. State and Old Dominion.

West Johnston head coach Jimmy Williams starts his second season building the Wildcats, who went 4-7 in 2013. Knightdale’s offense was powerful last season under the direction of Marquavious Johnson, but his departure for East Carolina leaves the Knights in need of rebuilding.

Coach Rob Senseney is gone as well, replaced by former assistant Cedric Dargan. With just two starters back on offense and four on defense, expect Knightdale to bear little resemblance to the 2013 team.

Harnett Central and coach Dave Thomas look to improve on a 1-9 mark while the Rolesville Rams and coach Jermaine Evans get ready to start their first season as a varsity program. The Rams won four games at the JV level a year ago and return all 53 players. Rolesville’s youth will have to adjust to the varsity game quickly against a difficult non-conference schedule and a tough Greater Neuse.