New Bern, Conley and Rose poised for close race

Despite losing 35 seniors from 2013’s playoff team, the New Bern Bears should be just as powerful this year under the direction of starting quarterback Mike Hughes.

The senior leader threw for more than 2,000 yards during his junior season and ran for more than 1,200. He also accounted for 42 total touchdowns. Hughes has many offers from Division-1 schools, including UNC, N.C. State, East Carolina, Clemson and Virginia Tech.

Two years removed from a state championship win and an undefeated season, Cypress Borden will be a leader on the Bear defense as a senior. He was the defensive MVP of the championship win during his sophomore year. New Bern fell to Scotland County in the second round of the playoffs last year, but the team has the weapons for another playoff run during the upcoming season.

D.H. Conley will be a tough competitor for New Bern once again. The Vikings were co-champs of the conference last season and won ten games. The 2014 team will return running backs Myles Taylor and Jamari Cooke, and linebacker Brendan McLean.

Rose High School won 12 games last season and made a deep playoff run, but the Rampants lose nine defensive starters. While the defense will look very different, the offense should remain mostly the same with quarterback Copeland Spell leading the way.

The Eastern Wayne Warriors won 11 games last season and finished tied for second in the conference with Rose. Head Coach Guy Williams and his team will try to maintain their success in the difficult conference while Southern Wayne, winners of just two games last year, will hope to bounce back from a winless conference effort.

C.B. Aycock only managed one win in the conference last year. The Golden Falcons graduated most of their offensive players, but have eight returning starters on defense and senior quarterback T.J. Morrow.

The South Central Falcons round out the competitive Eastern Carolina conference.