First impressions: Wilmington-area high school football teams begin 2023 practice
The high school football season is officially amongst us as all Wilmington area teams began practice Monday.
After a thrilling season of play in 2022, 10 area teams take to the practice fields with hopes of improving, rebuilding or keeping course at the top.
StarNewsVarsity visted each team's first week of practice to give you an in-depth look at players, coaches and the overall themes of the upcoming season.
Scrimmages kick off next week ahead of the season opener on Aug. 18. Scroll below to find insights from all 10 Wilmington-area football teams.
2023 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES 2023 Wilmington-area high school football schedules: Team by team and week by week
2023 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Here are the best Wilmington-area football games to watch in 2023
NEW COACH AT WEST What to know about new West Brunswick football coach Shane Handy
Ashley
Ashley coach Dante Lombardi knows his team is capable of big things in 2023.
After leading the Screaming Eagles to a season-opening victory over South Garner last fall, Lombardi's squad lost all nine remaining games in 2022.
This season, however, more depth and experience have Lombardi confident that his team can improve.
Braden Quinn and Tyler Carter are battling for the starting quarterback role and could see more involvement in the passing game this fall.
Coaches corner: "These kids are hungry and wanting to change what people think of Ashley football. We have more depth this year, so that's going to take a part. We can compete with anyone with our first guys, but when they go down, like last year, it's tough." - Ashley football coach Dante Lombardi.
Cuneo's view: Ashley loses the most significant piece of its offense as senior running back Tyjhere Crudup transferred to Laney this offseason. That hole will be challenging to fill, but the team should put forward another strong running back. Playing in the Mideastern Conference is never easy, and Ashley doesn't have the size or depth that other Wilmington schools have.
The Screaming Eagles enter the 2023 season as underdogs with plenty to prove but can make a big statement with a favorable matchup in Week 1 against Athens Drive.
Hoggard
The Hoggard football team is hungry to reclaim a MEC title.
A season riddled with injuries and close losses, the Vikings finished third in the MEC last fall after claiming the conference title the year prior.
Junior quarterback Hudson Wilharm returns under center after suffering a season-ending collar bone injury in a Week 8 loss to North Brunswick.
Talent returns on both sides of the ball for the Vikings in 2023 as area sack leader Malakahi West and senior running back M'Kell Bellamy hope for another big year.
Coaches corner: "It's an exciting time because we were a young football team last year, and we have a lot of guys back. We had some unexpected things that happened (last year), but I think it made us more prepared for this season." - Hoggard football coach Craig Underwood.
Cuneo's view: Hoggard returns numbers and size, but it's the experience that sticks out. A talented defense and air-tight secondary kept the Vikings' season alive in 2022 and they only look more promising this fall.
Possessing all the right pieces and a tenacious mentality, Hoggard is looking to show just how talented it is in 2023.
Laney
There's a new look for the Laney offense this fall as quarterback Ty Little graduated this offseason. Younger brother Kolbe, a junior, will get the chance to show what he can do as the team's starter.
"Kolbe's got all the tools, but there's nothing like Friday night experience, Laney coach Luke Little said. "I think what you'll see is him gradually getting more free as the season goes on."
But the quarterback position is just the beginning of the changes for the Bucs as the team landed Ashley transfer Tyjhere Crudup. The senior running back rushed for over 1,000 yards last fall and enters 2023 as one of the area's top players at the position.
Coaches corner: "It's the first time in three years that we are totally new on offense. All of our experience is on the defensive side, and they've made it hard on us so far. We have good bodies (on the offensive line), and once they jell, they should be like we've been the last couple of years." - Laney football coach Luke Little.
Cuneo's view: Laney might have lost some experience this offseason, but it has enough pieces on both sides of the ball to excite. Boasting one of the area's most dominant passing attacks in recent years, the Bucs won't look to slow down in 2023. While fans shouldn't be surprised by some early growing pains, Laney won't shy away from throwing the deep ball and playing aggressively on defense.
New Hanover
There's resounding confidence for the New Hanover football team in 2023.
After being plagued with off-field issues and COVID-19 for the past two seasons, the Wildcats finally returned to form and finished 10-2 last fall while sweeping the MEC.
Despite their recent success, coach Dylan Dimock has made it clear that his team still has to prove itself.
"You're not entitled to anything," Dimock said. "Last year's senior group was really good, but every team is new, so we talk to (the players) a lot about that."
Senior quarterback Caleb Robles will look for a breakout season after shining at times in 2022, and running back Caden Morton is back after an 18-touchdown season last fall.
Coaches corner: "After you've been successful, it's important to understand this team is entirely different from last year. You have to get (the players) to understand that just showing up doesn't mean it's gonna happen. Can you learn to care about your teammates, and do your teammates care about you? I think once you get that, you'll get a team." - New Hanover football coach Dylan Dimock.
Cuneo's view: New Hanover has displayed no sign of slowing down and has more than enough pieces to threaten for another MEC title this fall. While last season was hugely successful, the team had few standout stars. That could change this season if Robles and company can show just how much they've grown this offseason.
With a multitude of talent and as much, if not more, depth and size than any team in the conference, New Hanover is the team to beat in 2023.
North Brunswick
North Brunswick had its best season in 20 years, finishing 11-2 and second place in the MEC last fall. Riding that success into this year will prove challenging as the team graduated a strong senior class this offseason.
Offensively, the Scorpions return two key pieces in running back Eric Mosley and quarterback TT Green. Mosley carried the ball 213 times for more than 1,500 yards last fall, while Green excelled with his scrambling ability.
With the losses of the team's top three wideouts and defenders, North Brunswick will look to a junior-heavy class for quick development.
Coaches corner: "We have so many pieces that are stronger, more knowledgeable and experienced than last year. I think we're well ahead now offensively than we were last year at this time. I think in every facet at this stage of the game, we're better than we were last year at this time." - North Brunswick football coach Bryan Davis.
Cuneo's view: North Brunswick proved its place in the MEC last fall with a consistent run game and an offense that frequented the end zone. Despite losing a host of playmakers on defense, the Scorpions return enough quality talent on offense to make any game competitive.
While duplicating last year's winning percentage might be a lofty expectation for North Brunswick, the Leland-based school shouldn't struggle either.
South Brunswick
After finishing last season 5-6, South Brunswick knows it's capable of more in 2023.
Part of that success must come in closing out games, something the Cougars struggled to do in 2022. Four of the team's six losses came by 15 points or less, and bridging that gap has been a point of emphasis all offseason for coach Rocky Lewis.
"The frustrating part of last year is that we let a couple of games slip away," Lewis said. "Those close games, that's what we've gotta come out on the other side of this year to have a good season."
Jameson Prince returns for his senior year in a Cougars offense that has never struggled to score. Ethan Overton and Jordan Davis also return after big 2022 seasons.
Coaches corner: "We've felt as sharp as we have in the first two days in a long time," Lewis said of the Cougars' first week of practice. "We've got to get a few more possessions for the offense than we were able to last year. Last year, we were not a good tackling defense." - South Brunswick football coach Rocky Lewis.
Cuneo's View: South Brunswick's offensive skill and experience leaves no doubts about the team's ability to get on the board, but the defensive side of the ball is a different equation. Graduating six senior defenders this offseason, Lewis' team must demonstrate an increased defensive skillset to win more games than last fall.
Topsail
The Topsail football team is searching for bigger things in 2023 despite having one of its youngest squads in recent years.
"5-6 is OK, but it's nothing that we want to do," second-year coach Jack Teachey said of his team's performance in 2022. "We have a lot bigger aspirations over the course of the next several years."
Junior Elijah Hebron will start at quarterback for the Pirates after serving as the team's backup and throwing two touchdowns last season.
Coaches corner: "This is a young group, so they're obviously quite energetic. We want to win ball games, and a lot of them, but I think right now, still being so early in our program, we're just gonna take each day and each rep at a time and work as hard as we can." - Topsail football coach Jack Teachey.
Cuneo's view: Topsail is a younger version of itself from a year ago. A strong defense and run-heavy offense will make for close games. While that might be enough to reach the .500 mark, the Pirates must be exceptional defensively to become a legitimate threat in the MEC.
With good numbers and absolute commitment from the players, Topsail stands a chance to shock if all goes right.
West Brunswick
New West Brunswick football coach Shane Handy knows building a winning team takes time.
The former Clayton and Randleman coach enters his first season with the Trojans with some holes to fill after most of the team's offensive success in 2022 came from senior running back Kevon Daniels.
Even so, Handy is confident that his team has bought into the foundation he's trying to lay.
Senior Tristen Williams will start at quarterback after seeing limited action at the position in 2022. Handy is also big on senior tight end Aiden Brown, whose 6-foot-4 frame and solid speed could create mismatches.
Coaches corner: "We don't have the numbers that you would probably want, but the quality is good. I think coming together as a group and learning how to win and learning how to take care of each other ... I think that's huge." - West Brunswick football coach Shane Handy.
Cuneo's view: With the new leadership of a veteran coach, West Brunswick is in a good position to grow as a program in 2023. However, without Daniels and a new quarterback under center, things won't be a stroll in the park for the Trojans.
If Handy can construct a consistent play style and confidence in his team, this fall could serve as a building block for years to come at West Brunswick.
Pender
The Patriots return to the gridiron this fall with a smaller, younger group of players than last season.
With 70% of the team's yards from scrimmage coming from seniors last year, it will take some time for newer players to get up to speed, something coach Tom Eanes says is all a part of the process.
"We're young, so we have to grow gradually and get things done," Eanes said. "We have a good group of freshmen, but the upperclassmen will have to stand up."
Coaches corner: "We're trying to get (our younger players) to grow up as soon as possible. You got to take it day by day, step by step. I always tell them a house isn't built by just taking all the bricks and throwing them up; you have to lay them perfectly." - Pender football coach Tom Eanes.
Cuneo's view: Pender will look to rebound off a 6-6 finish in 2022 that felt underwhelming given the team's talent. The road ahead will be challenging, and with less than 30 players on his varsity squad, Eanes has his work cut out.
The Patriots will need a combination of maturity and development as quickly as possible if it wants to push past last season's record.
Trask
The best-kept secret in North Carolina.
That's how Trask football coach Lawerence Ches has described his team since he arrived at the program last fall, and he's not stopping now.
After years of dismal performances, Ches led the Titans to an 8-4 record and their first playoff win in program history in 2022.
That success has spilled over into 2023 as the Titans culture continues to flourish.
"This year is a different team and a new group of guys, and the leadership is different," Ches said. "I don't think we're gonna be any less competitive, I just think we're gonna have a different identity."
Coaches corner: "Things have just been a lot smoother this summer. Success becomes contagious, and the fact that we were able to have some success last year, the players are even more motivated." - Trask football coach Lawerence Ches.
Cuneo's view: Trask doesn't have all the bells and whistles that a powerhouse 2A football team might have, but that won't stop them from winning games in 2023. Between their recent success and the team's commitment to Ches' message, the Titans are building a serious program rooted in discipline.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 2023 Wilmington-area high school football practice begins
