Mountain Valley Conference 2026

MHHS"12

Senior
Jun 5, 2023
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1. Starmount
2. East Wilkes
3. Alleghany
4. West Wilkes
5. Wilkes Central
6. Ashe County
7. North Wilkes
8. Elkin
 
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radioguy16

Junior
Sep 7, 2018
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1. Starmount
2. East Wilkes
3. Alleghany
4. West Wilkes
5. Wilkes Central
6. Ashe County
7. North Wilkes
8. Elkin
This is a good list. Ashe county is a big question mark. Those JV teams last couple years have been pretty bad. Idk who plays QB for them this year. Elkin has a chance to possibly catch somebody on a bad night. I think I would swap North and Ashe for certain. North Wilkes has to have solid O-Line play if they get that they will win 2-3 conference games because the QB isn’t bad. Personally the team to watch is Wilkes Central. Lots of freshman and sophomores played on Varsity last year and they have athleticism all around the field. If they put it together they could jump up the ladder to top 3 easily. But Starmount sits atop at 1 and 2 thru 4 is a mixed bag because it could go any number of ways.
 
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MHHS"12

Senior
Jun 5, 2023
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I'm not as familiar with this conference as I am with some of the other mountain conferences but I figured someone should start a thread lol I know Starmount should have a big year but I'm mostly going off of last years teams, I've spent some time in Ashe and Alleghany counties when I was working on the parkway years ago always hope they do good.
 
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Deacs&Rams

Junior
Sep 23, 2018
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I feel like East Wilkes is being a little overlooked. Obviously Starmount is the favorite with all they return, but I think East could be really dangerous and possibly a top 5 team in the state.

Alleghany will probably still be gritty and tough as nails. Win or lose whoever they play better be ready for a fight.

West Wilkes is one of those teams that in years they can assemble any talent at all, then they will surprise somebody.

Wilkes Central will have talent like always, but can they actually do anything with it?

I have no clue what to expect from Ashe.

North and Elkin just won't have the talent and bodies to do much more than fight to not be last.
 

radioguy16

Junior
Sep 7, 2018
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Looking at that league its starmount and east wilkes . Would not be shock if east wins the conference since rams play at east this season
The fact that the game takes place in Ronda could be big for EW. That game should by all accounts be the MVAC title game but as we know all it takes is an Alleghany or West Wilkes to pull an upset on someone to make things choppy
 
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ncfootball_17

Senior
Mar 26, 2009
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1. Starmount
2. East Wilkes
3. Alleghany
4. West Wilkes
5. Wilkes Central
6. Ashe County
7. North Wilkes
8. Elkin

I do think it's Starmount's conference to lose this year. East Wilkes is solid at 2. For the rest, honestly, I think 3-5 could be in any order and 6-7 could be in any order. Elkin will be at the bottom again. Like others have said though, WW and WC could move up or down easily. I've seen both of those teams in years past win games they shouldn't and get blown out by teams they should have beat. Not sure what goes on up that way.
 

radioguy16

Junior
Sep 7, 2018
224
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I do think it's Starmount's conference to lose this year. East Wilkes is solid at 2. For the rest, honestly, I think 3-5 could be in any order and 6-7 could be in any order. Elkin will be at the bottom again. Like others have said though, WW and WC could move up or down easily. I've seen both of those teams in years past win games they shouldn't and get blown out by teams they should have beat. Not sure what goes on up that way.
You are correct. I have seen football in this conference my whole life and its one of the best conference races that never gets talked about. Alot of the teams are on even levels with each other and all the kids know each other because they have all played against each other since elementary school. You never know who is gonna win MVAC games on any given Friday night
 
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Mr.Blue&Gray

Sophomore
May 1, 2021
190
196
43
I like to follow Wilkes Central. footballl and alot of other programs, but i just don't have that trust in Wilkes Central. I will have to see it before i believe it.
 

EWCards

All-Conference
Aug 19, 2004
1,428
1,221
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Not really sure how EW will be this year. We lost a lot of good talent. Don’t get me wrong we have some talent returning but the lack of depth is concerning to me. Maxpreps roster and what I’m hearing are in line with each other, only 16-17 kids on varsity squad. Going to have numerous kids playing both ways. I’m sure we will have a hard nosed/physical team like normal just not sure how it’s going to all pan out. I could easily see Alleghany and West giving us a hard time. I honestly think EW, Alleghany, West Wilkes could all be in the running for that 2 spot.
 

radioguy16

Junior
Sep 7, 2018
224
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Not really sure how EW will be this year. We lost a lot of good talent. Don’t get me wrong we have some talent returning but the lack of depth is concerning to me. Maxpreps roster and what I’m hearing are in line with each other, only 16-17 kids on varsity squad. Going to have numerous kids playing both ways. I’m sure we will have a hard nosed/physical team like normal just not sure how it’s going to all pan out. I could easily see Alleghany and West giving us a hard time. I honestly think EW, Alleghany, West Wilkes could all be in the running for that 2 spot.
I knew numbers were gonna be a shaky spot for EW but honestly that’s affecting multiple teams different ways it seems to be either teams are low on JV numbers or Varsity numbers and its gonna force a few more 8 qt kids just to pose as potential depth for varsity on Friday. I had heard EW JVs have solid numbers which is good for the future
 

radioguy16

Junior
Sep 7, 2018
224
210
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Have heard Ashe QB injured at scrimmage with Hibriten tonight. Praying for the young man and his family. Don’t know details except possibly a hip. Maybe someone that was there and give better context. Still sucks for Ashe.
 
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Deana_King

All-Conference
Staff member
Mar 4, 2019
1,097
1,591
113
Positive note from Starmount:

2024 All-Conference OL Silas Brown got medically released from his knee injury that he suffered at Alleghany last season. He was one of the top returning lineman for the Rams being a 3-year starter. Big plus for the Rams as they missed him last year upfront during playoff run.
 

radioguy16

Junior
Sep 7, 2018
224
210
43
Week 1 Matchups
Starmount Vs Mount Airy
East Wilkes Vs Hibriten
Wilkes Central Vs North Iredell
Alleghany Vs North Surry
Ashe County Vs Watauga
West Wilkes @ Fred T Foard
North Wilkes @ South Stokes
Elkin @ Surry Central

interesting slate for week 1 in the MVAC with some really tough matchups for some of the conference teams.
 

Deana_King

All-Conference
Staff member
Mar 4, 2019
1,097
1,591
113
Week 1 Matchups
Starmount Vs Mount Airy
East Wilkes Vs Hibriten
Wilkes Central Vs North Iredell
Alleghany Vs North Surry
Ashe County Vs Watauga
West Wilkes @ Fred T Foard
North Wilkes @ South Stokes
Elkin @ Surry Central

interesting slate for week 1 in the MVAC with some really tough matchups for some of the conference teams.

Starmount
Hibriten
Wilkes Central
North Surry
Watauga
Foard
North Wilkes
Elkin
 
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