Football

Millbrook, Southern Durham tied at top in preseason HighSchoolOT poll

Millbrook and Southern Durham are tied atop the OT Top 15 Poll as we enter the preseason. The Wildcats are alone atop the Triangle poll.

Posted 2014-08-01T22:58:27+00:00 - Updated 2014-08-01T22:58:27+00:00

Millbrook's #14 Reid Herring passes the ball. Wake Forest gets by Millbrook in 27 to 24 in OT on Friday night November 29, 2013 in round three of the NCHSAA Football playoffs. (Photo by Jack Tarr)

One team lost a heart-breaker in the third round of the 4-AA playoffs last season, the other finished as state champions. Millbrook and Southern Durham are tied atop the OT Top 15 Poll as we enter the preseason.

Millbrook lost to eventual 4-AA runner-up Wake Forest in quadruple overtime in the third round of the 4-AA state playoffs last season. Meanwhile, the Spartans finished off a thrilling come-from-behind win to beat Crest in the 3-AA state title game.

The Wildcats return a number of talented players on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Millbrook returns quarterback Reid Herring who broke every passing record at the school last season as a sophomore, according to head coach Clarence Inscore. The Wildcats also return running back Marcus Marshall, the younger brother of University of Georgia running back Keith Marshall.

On defense Millbrook features a handful of Division I talent. Kengera Daniel, a defensive end, is a highly touted prospect with offers from schools like Alabama, Miami and Michigan, among others. Linebacker James Smith-Williams recently committed to North Carolina State University.

Southern Durham lost some of its talent from last season, but the Spartans return quarterback Kendall Hinton, a Wake Forest recruit. The Spartans also return running back William Cameron, a West Virginia recruit. Wide receiver Derick Mason, who posted 1,201 receiving yards last season, is also back.

The Spartans received two first-place votes as opposed to Millbrook's one first-place vote.

Scotland County was one point shy of being included in a three-way tie for first play with Millbrook and Southern Durham. Wake Forest and Garner round out the top five in the regional poll. Wake Forest also received one first-place vote.

Millbrook was able to edge Southern Durham by one point in the Triangle Top 12 Poll, claiming the No. 1 preseason ranking outright. Southern Durham follows at No. 2. Wake Forest, Garner and Middle Creek round out the top five in the preseason Triangle poll.

Here are the complete polls:

OT Top 15 Poll

T1. Millbrook (1) (52)
T1. Southern Durham (2) (52)
3. Scotland County (51)
4. Wake Forest (1) (48)
5. Garner (43)
6. Richmond County (40)
7. Middle Creek (34)
8. New Bern (32)
9. Jack Britt (26)
10. Hillside (23)
11. Wakefield (17)
12. Pine Forest (9)
T13. D.H. Conley (8)
T13. Fike (8)
T13. Orange (8)

Others receiving votes: E.E. Smith 7, Princeton 5, J.H. Rose 4, Lee County 3, Pinecrest 3, Hunt 2, Northwood 2, Panther Creek 2, Leesville Road 1.

Triangle Top 12 Poll

1. Millbrook (1) (43)
2. Southern Durham (2) (42)
3. Wake Forest (1) (41)
4. Garner (37)
5. Middle Creek (33)
6. Hillside (26)
7. Wakefield (23)
8. Northwood (15)
9. Orange (14)
10. Lee County (12)
11. Green Hope (7)
12. Princeton (6)

Others receiving votes: Cleveland 4, Leesville Road 3, Panther Creek 3, Clayton 2, Heritage 1.