Football 2026 2A FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

TARBORO VIKINGS

HEAD COACH: Jeff Craddock
CLASS: 2A
CONFERENCE: Eastern Plains 2A/3A
2025 RECORD: 15-0

2026 OUTLOOK: "Our off season has been very good! Our players have been working extremely hard in the weightroom and the classroom. Our workmanship will pay off on the field this year. We bring back some good talent, and the level of expectations will not drop off"

2026 SCHEDULE

AUG 21st ROCKY MOUNT
AUG 28th @ Wilson Hunt
SEP 4th HAVELOCK
SEP 11th SOUTHWEST EDGECOMBE
SEP 18th @ Northampton County
SEP 25th open
OCT 2nd GREENE CENTRAL
OCT 9th @ Farmville Central
OCT 16th @ Beddingfield
OCT 23rd AYDEN GRIFTON
OCT 30th KINSTON

SENIORS: AMARION ANDREWS (RB/LB, 5-10, 185) - "Amarion was the 2025 Defensive MVP in the 2A State Championship game." ANTONIO DRAUGHN, JR. (RB/LB, 5-11, 195) - All-Conference. He ran for 506 yards and averaged over 11.8 yards per carry. CARMELLO BULLOCK (FB/LB,) - All-Conference. He had 91 tackles. EMMANUEL DEBERRY (OL/DL) - "Emmanuel is a returning starter at OL and the top returning DL in 2026."

CHEROKEE BRAVES

HEAD COACH: TC Guyer
CLASS: 2A
CONFERENCE: Smoky Mountain Conference
2025 RECORD: 3-8 (2-4)

2026 OUTLOOK: "With a new coaching staff and systems, a solid group of returners, and a good group of newcomers, I see us being more competitive this year. I still feel as if we are a few steps behind that top of the conference, but I would not be surprised to see us finish 3rd or 4th."

2026 SCHEDULE

Aug. 21st @ North Buncombe
Aug. 28th @ Tuscola
Sep. 4th CHOCTAW CENTRAL MS
Sep. 11th ENKA
Sep. 18th @ Rosman
Sep. 25th @ Murphy
Oct. 2nd HAYESVILLE
Oct. 9th open
Oct. 16th SWAIN COUNTY
Oct. 23rd ANDREWS
Oct. 30th @ Robbinsville

SENIORS: KINGSTON WELCH (RB, 5-9, 200) - Honorable Mention All-Conference. He ran 148 times for 902 yards with 10 touchdowns. "Kingston is poised to be one of the top running backs in the conference and WNC this year." DRALLEN LEDFORD (TE/DE, 6-2, 240) - He had 8 receptions for 90 yards. On defense, he had 34 tackles, 8 TFLS. 4 sacks, and 4 interceptions. "Drallen is getting looked at by multiple schools and could easily be one of the best DE in the area." TSULA HOWLINGCRANE (WR/DB, 6-1, 170) - He had 23 receptions for 376 yards with 3 touchdowns. On defense, he had 38 tackles and 2 interceptions. "Tsula recently broke the school record in the 200-meters." ZAYNON TAYLOR (OL/DL, 5-11, 280) - He had 40 tackles, 5 TFLS, and 2 sacks.

JUNIOR: LEVI TRAMPER (OL/DL, 5-11, 250) - He had 60 tackles, 9 TFLS, and a sack.

STARMOUNT RAMS

HEAD COACH: Josh Pardue
CLASS: 2A
CONFERENCE: Mountain Valley 2A/3A/4A
2025 RECORD: 11-3 (6-1)

2026 OUTLOOK: "We hope to win some games this fall."

2026 SCHEDULE

Aug 21st MOUNT AIRY
Aug 28th @ East Surry
Sep 4th FORBUSH
Sep 11th open
Sep 18th @ Elkin
Sep 25th ALLEGHANY
Oct 2nd @ East Wilkes
Oct 9th WEST WILKES
Oct 16th @ North Wilkes
Oct 23rd WILKES CENTRAL
Oct 30th @ Ashe County

SENIORS: KEYVON PROPST (RB/LB) – 2025 Mountain Valley 2A/3A/4A Conference Defensive Player of the Year. All-Conference. He ran 18 times for 74 yards with 2 touchdowns and caught 2 passes for 55 yards with a touchdown. On defense, he had 147 tackles, 28 TFLS, 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. DEUCE BEST (QB/DB) – All-Conference. He completed 85 of 156 passes for 1,694 yards with 19 touchdowns and ran 119 times for 444 yards with 9 touchdowns. BRODIE WRIGHT (RB/LB) – All-Conference. He ran 32 times for 178 yards with 6 touchdowns. On defense, he had 19 tackles, 4 TFLS, 2 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries. "Brody finished top 2 in his weight class in 2A Wrestling in 2025." LANDREY MATHIS (WR/DB) – All-Conference. He had 29 tackles, 2 TFLS, 6 interceptions, and 9 pass break ups. CODY HERNANDEZ (RB/LB) – All-Conference. He ran 66 times for 274 yards with 10 touchdowns. On defense, he had 112 tackles, 20 TFLS, 3 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries. DAKOTA HOLBROOK (OL/DL). BRODY PICKETT (OL/DL) – All-Conference. He had 43 tackles, 8TFLS, and 2 fumble recoveries. HAYDEN SHORES (OL/DL) – Honorable Mention All-Conference. SILAS BROWN (OL/DL) – He had 12 tackles, 5 TFLS, and 2 sacks. "Silas is coming back from ACL tear after Week 6 of 2025 campaign. He was All-Conference as a sophomore on both sides of the ball and top 5 heavyweight wrestler in 2A." GAVIN BROOKS (OL/DL) – All-Conference. He had 91 tackles, 28 TFLS, 3 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries.

JUNIORS: RYLEY RODRIGUEZ (WR/DB/K/P/PR) – All-Conference. He caught 14 passes for 541 yards with 7 touchdowns. On defense, he had 21 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 6 pass break ups. As a kicker, he kicked 78 times for a 52.7-yard average with 22 touchbacks and connected on 46 of 56 extra points and 3 of 6 field goals for 55 points. As a punter, he punted 33 times for a 39.2-yard average. As a punt returner, he returned 24 punts for a 13.2-yard average with 2 touchdowns. RYLAN WHITE (OL/DL) – All-Conference. HUNNER BROWN (WR/Slot/DB)- All-Conference. "Hunner is a transfer from North Wilkes."

HOLMES ACES

HEAD COACH: Paul Hoggard
CLASS: 2A
CONFERENCE: Albemarle
2025 RECORD: 9-4 (5-0)

2026 OUTLOOK: "W return 18 starters from last year, and our entire coaching staff. If healthy, we should have a pretty positive season."

2026 SCHEDULE

Aug. 21st PASQUOTANK
Aug. 28th @ North Johnston
Sep. 4th NORTHEASTERN
Sep. 11th CURRITUCK
Sep. 18th @ First Flight
Sep. 25th open
Oct. 2nd @ Camden
Oct. 9th GATES COUNTY
Oct. 16th @ Bertie
Oct. 23rd @ Perquimans
Oct. 30th MANTEO

SENIORS: DJ SUTTON (RB/LB, 5-10, 175) - All-Conference. MASON BYNUM (QB/DB, 5-10, 185) - All-Conference. J'BREYON GILLIAM (WR/LB, 6-2, 170) - All-Conference. KAZZURE DOWNING (RB/DB, 5-8, 180) - Albemarle Conference Player of the Year. All-Conference. JOSIAH SOTO (OL/DL, 6-1, 200) - All-Conference. TUCKER BYRUM (OL/DL, 5-8, 200). CHRIS WILSON (WR/DB, 5-10). CADEN JERNIGAN (RB/LB, 5-9, 220) - All-Conference.

JUNIORS: NOAH BROWDER (OL/DL, 6-3. 260) - All-Conference. RIGOBERTO PULIDO (OL/DL, 6-0, 285) - All-Conference. BENDER GANZER (WR/LB, 6-1, 190).

SOPHOMORES: JAYDEN LINDSEY (OL/DL, 6-2, 200). JUELZ EBRON (RB/WR/DB, 5-9, 165).