Falcons hope to improve

Green Hope looks to reverse fortunes

Green Hope football coach Steve Katz knows his players are bigger, stronger and faster and he hopes that equates to an improvement on last year's 1-10 record.

"Last year we did not have one player make our 'Raptor Club,' which is our top level of performers in certain physical tests we conduct," Katz said. "This year, we had eight players make it and several others who were close."

The players were tested in the bench press, squat, 40-yard sprint, agility and broad jump.

"We believe we can compete this year and continue to build the program," Katz said.

The Falcons return leading tackler Sydney Harris and two returning starting quarterbacks, Kameron Bryant and Marcus Varsano.

HOLLEY IS BACK: Jack Holley, one of the state's all-time leaders in football coaching victories, is the new coach at Harrells Christian Academy, the NCISAA Division II 11-man football runner-up.

Holley has a 380-89-9 record with coaching stops at Tabor City, Hallsboro, South Columbus and Wallace-Rose Hill, where he was 178-28 in 16 years.

His teams won 24 conference titles, reached the NCHSAA Eastern finals 11 times, and were state runners-up five times.

Holley resigned from W-RH last spring and was an assistant to his son Battle Holley, who succeeded him as coach at Wallace-Rose Hill last fall.

When Battle Holley took the head coaching job at Kinston, Jack Holley accepted the Harrells position.

"I never left coaching," Jack Holley said. "When Battle went to Kinston, I came here.

"If I didn't enjoy it, I'd be sitting at home."

RAVENS MAY CONTEND: Ravenscroft coach Ned Gonet believes the Ravens could improve on last year's 6-5 record and may contend for the NCISAA Division I title.

"We lost four players to injury in the first game last year and, for us, that's like losing eight starters," Gonet said. "If we can stay away from injuries, we can have a successful campaign."

Cole Gonet, the coach's son, led the team in tackles in 2007 and was the team's MVP.

The Ravens return six starters on offense and nine on defense.