Wallace-Rose Hill headlines Four County Conference

The Wallace-Rose Hill Bulldogs knocked off mighty Tarboro before falling to James Kenan in the fourth round of the state playoffs last year, finishing with a 12-3 overall record.

This year, the team has three junior running backs who combined for more than 1,500 yards as sophomores. One of those backs—Johnny Glaspie—also had 76 tackles and seven interceptions with three defensive touchdowns last year. The solid core of offense will help the Bulldogs, but they lost many offensive and defensive linemen that they’ll have to replace if they hope to repeat their success.

The Clinton Dark Horses are underdogs no more after making the playoffs in 2013 for the first time in five years. They finished with a 7-4 overall record and return eight offensive starters and five defensive starters. The team has leadership at quarterback and great size along its offensive line.

East Bladen has weapons to compete in the conference, including All-Area college prospect Farrell Murchison, who ran for 2,300 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior. The running game will definitely be the strength of the Eagles in 2014.

Across the way at West Bladen, the Knights want to improve on a 5-7 record with six returning offensive starters, including a quarterback, running back, and several receivers and offensive linemen.

Midway went 9-3 last year, but head coach Jason Fussell will need to find a way to recover after losing most of the team’s starters. Just three players on offense and two on defense return to the Raiders.

Trask, Union and Pender will also aim to climb the ranks of the split 1-A, 2-A conference.