Mountain 8 2026
- Thread starter MHHS"12
- Start date
Are these your personal rankings or from somewhere else? Just wondering where they came from.
My personal rankings lol, trying to get conversation started about some mountain teams, I think Franklin will be really good not sure about the rest though lol
Last edited:
My initial predictions would be:
Tier 1
Franklin- can be beat but definitely a strong group of experienced upperclassmen. Terrell (QB), Young (RB) should lead this team well.
Tier 2- alphabetical order
Pisgah- Replacing virtually every RB, WR, LB, and DB from last year. Different type of Talented group of skill players than last year just not a lot of varsity experience. Will get better throughout the year. We won’t be feeding anybody the rock 40+ times a game over and over.
Tuscola- RB Trantham will be solid
West- New coach, talent not like the West surge of a few years ago
Tier 3- alphabetical
Brevard- lost a lot between graduation, transfers, relocation. New coaching hire that didn’t breathe much enthusiasm into program. Maybe they prove them all wrong, including me.
N. Henderson- Assuming Willis is still at RB, he will be difficult for all defenses. Probably the best overall RB in the conference last year just didn’t result in wins
Smoky-Good coaching staff that will get the most out of their team, most likely play a lot of possession-oriented clock management games.
Tier 4-
East- New coach that can hopefully urge this program in the right direction. I hope they show progress.
Tier 2 and 3- should see a few good matchups, where styles will keep games closer than talent might show on paper. Any of these teams could give Franklin a ballgame, it will just require solid execution with minimal mistakes.
Tier 1
Franklin- can be beat but definitely a strong group of experienced upperclassmen. Terrell (QB), Young (RB) should lead this team well.
Tier 2- alphabetical order
Pisgah- Replacing virtually every RB, WR, LB, and DB from last year. Different type of Talented group of skill players than last year just not a lot of varsity experience. Will get better throughout the year. We won’t be feeding anybody the rock 40+ times a game over and over.
Tuscola- RB Trantham will be solid
West- New coach, talent not like the West surge of a few years ago
Tier 3- alphabetical
Brevard- lost a lot between graduation, transfers, relocation. New coaching hire that didn’t breathe much enthusiasm into program. Maybe they prove them all wrong, including me.
N. Henderson- Assuming Willis is still at RB, he will be difficult for all defenses. Probably the best overall RB in the conference last year just didn’t result in wins
Smoky-Good coaching staff that will get the most out of their team, most likely play a lot of possession-oriented clock management games.
Tier 4-
East- New coach that can hopefully urge this program in the right direction. I hope they show progress.
Tier 2 and 3- should see a few good matchups, where styles will keep games closer than talent might show on paper. Any of these teams could give Franklin a ballgame, it will just require solid execution with minimal mistakes.
Good to know Heritage has Pisgah at Pisgah week one both will be replacing a lot of players this year, Heritage replaces nearly their whole defense.
Last edited:
In the category of team speed, the next two years we will have a lot faster team than we did last year. That part won’t even be close. I would have considered us a slow overall team last year. There is a lot of talent on this squad and if it comes out of the gate gelling things could be real solid. I think it may take a few games but this team could be something to deal with late season.
I think Franklin definitely outright wins the conference this year. As for the rest of the conference definitely gonna be a toss up and competitive but i feel Brevard and Pisgah will competing for that top 4a spot of our conference give the edge to Pisgah cause really dont know what Brevard has got. The only upside for my blue devils is they did retain the coaching staff with the new head coach. And those couple of transfers are definitely going to hurt a lot but I guess we will all be able to get a better idea come Friday after seeing some scrimmages
Franklin, Pisgah and then a mix from the rest down. It will be interesting to see how Brevard looks after the graduations and changes from the last 8 months.
Last edited:
1) Franklin
2) Pisgah
3) West Henderson
4) Tuscola
5) Brevard
6) Smoky Mountain
7) North Henderson
8) East Henderson
2) Pisgah
3) West Henderson
4) Tuscola
5) Brevard
6) Smoky Mountain
7) North Henderson
8) East Henderson
Last edited:
Pisgah was at Erwin. We did a lot of things well and executed things good overall. Gave up a few deeper balls to Erwin by trying to KO the receiver right at the point of the catch but Erwin held onto 2 of them where we rocked the kid. We ran the ball solid from multiple looks. Good overall scrimmage. Pisgah’s team is very different than the team last year. Last year’s squad was big without much speed and wanted pound the ball and pound people. This group is much smaller and far more speed. Capable of a lot of different looks.
Erwin’s lefty QB slings it. When he keeps it low, he drills the ball, when he lofts it he isn’t as accurate.
Asheville will be a strong challenge next week if we don’t disrupt the QB
Erwin’s lefty QB slings it. When he keeps it low, he drills the ball, when he lofts it he isn’t as accurate.
Asheville will be a strong challenge next week if we don’t disrupt the QB
Asheville has a lot of speed and talent at there skill positions. Brevard matched up pretty well with them considering how young of a squad this is we gave up a couple of big plays defensively that Asheville took to the house and then we made a couple of big plays defensively a pick few forced fumbles and a sack. Offensively nowhere near the explosiveness as last years squad but a few solid drives and a couple miscues through the air overthrown or wrong route ran but as this young squad gets experience should get better
The majority of the game our line, on both sides, was able to do what we wanted. I think will be their biggest area of issue. We threw two interceptions but one was a badly “sailed” throw across the middle and the other was just way off target. QB throws every ball 100mph whether it’s a 5-yard hitch or a Hail Mary. Threw it too hard for his guys to handle on several shorter routes. Pressuring him will create mistakes. They did have two skill players (DBs)that are brothers that came from Enka and they looked to be solid athletes.
Overall, I think Erwin will compete with Enka for who winds up 4th/5th in their conference.
The Bears get Asheville this Friday should be a better test as to how good they are.
Honestly you can't measure team by scrimmage, lot coaches are working on their weaknesses.
If Brevard did not lose a transfer, I’d pick them 2nd or 3rd range. Asheville is the best team in the mountains that I’ve seen in terms of talent with skill guys and their line. It was not a competitive scrimmage but credit to Asheville for being really good.
1. Franklin - team is on a mission. You can see it in their eyes if you’ve seen them over the summer.
2. Pisgah - I like their line a lot. Will be interesting to see how their identity on offense develops.
3. Smoky Mountain - one of the more impressive teams I saw over the summer. They are my sleeper pick for the conference and I would not be shocked if they finish 2nd.
4. North Henderson - likely starting a freshman QB but when his brother is the stud RB, it may not matter.
5. West Henderson - solid line and LB’s. I’ll be at their scrimmage tonight against Crest. Crest is a tough measuring stick for anyone but I’m curious how their skill guys look.
6. Brevard - best thing about Brevard is their coaching staff as they returned everyone minus Coleman. I have no doubt they will get the most out of the players.
7. East Henderson - new HC has brought energy and an increase in numbers of guys playing. Rebuild is on the way.
8. Tuscola - I could see them at 6 or 7 too as I think the games against Brevard or East could go either way.
1. Franklin - team is on a mission. You can see it in their eyes if you’ve seen them over the summer.
2. Pisgah - I like their line a lot. Will be interesting to see how their identity on offense develops.
3. Smoky Mountain - one of the more impressive teams I saw over the summer. They are my sleeper pick for the conference and I would not be shocked if they finish 2nd.
4. North Henderson - likely starting a freshman QB but when his brother is the stud RB, it may not matter.
5. West Henderson - solid line and LB’s. I’ll be at their scrimmage tonight against Crest. Crest is a tough measuring stick for anyone but I’m curious how their skill guys look.
6. Brevard - best thing about Brevard is their coaching staff as they returned everyone minus Coleman. I have no doubt they will get the most out of the players.
7. East Henderson - new HC has brought energy and an increase in numbers of guys playing. Rebuild is on the way.
8. Tuscola - I could see them at 6 or 7 too as I think the games against Brevard or East could go either way.
A lot of true info. The only disagreement I would have is I don’t see Tuscola last. They have a ton returning (except Qb) off of last years team. I’d put them somewhere around 3rd
Franklin scrimmages Rabun County (GA) this evening. FPSN is broadcasting the scrimmage available on Facebook or YouTube.
I went to the WH game tonight too. Thought they held their own very well.
Asheville beat Pisgah 21-13.
We mostly had success the way we’d have to against this Asheville team. Smashmouth, ball control which is not how we’ll play against most teams but we did show we have the option if needed. Asheville’s quick with a lot of weapons, much quicker than us especially on the line. Defensive ends flew into the backfield but many times overshot our run play. Both teams had some turnovers that were costly. We did some things that looked good and some that definitely need work but I don’t know if we see a team like that style again all year.
Asheville will be tough this year, it will be interesting to see how they match up with Crest in a few weeks.
We mostly had success the way we’d have to against this Asheville team. Smashmouth, ball control which is not how we’ll play against most teams but we did show we have the option if needed. Asheville’s quick with a lot of weapons, much quicker than us especially on the line. Defensive ends flew into the backfield but many times overshot our run play. Both teams had some turnovers that were costly. We did some things that looked good and some that definitely need work but I don’t know if we see a team like that style again all year.
Asheville will be tough this year, it will be interesting to see how they match up with Crest in a few weeks.
Smoky was pretty physical as expected and I figure they will finish in the top 4 of the conference. They scored twice and McDowell scored once in a half game scrimmage.
That's where Brevard struggled a good bit in the scrimmage with Asheville last week our offensive line was missing blocks on their small fast defensive line
Latest
-
01
Rivals
'They recruited me harder than anyone else': 2028 4-star QB Kaden Craft picks Tennessee
-
02
NC Preps
Games to Watch: Week 1
-
03
High School
Cardinal Gibbons (N.C.) 2026 Preview: Repeat odds, game-by-game predictions
-
04
NC Preps
2026 NC Preps Conference Championship Predictions
-
05
NC Preps
Five NCHSAA 8A Teams to Watch in 2026