Tarboro gets nod in EPC

August 13, 2009

North Carolina

By Tom Ham
Wilson Times

BETHEL -- The conference's head football coaches contend the addition of Beddingfield, SouthWest Edgecombe and Kinston this season will loft the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference to a status of one of the most formidable football leagues in the state.

The trio's impact was reflected in the informal preseason poll voted upon by the coaches during Wednesday's conference kickoff session at North Pitt High School.

Holdover Tarboro, the 2-A championship runner-up last season, was tabbed the favorite, edging archrival SouthWest by a scant point.

Kinston and Beddingfield, members of the 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference, followed, respectively. Thus, the newcomers landed three of the top four spots.

The Vikings amassed 34 points, while SouthWest, which reached the third round of the 3-A playoffs as a member of the NEW 6 Conference last season, accumulated 33.

Then came Kinston, the 2008 ECC champion, with 25, Beddingfield (22), Greene Central (13), North Pitt (12) and Farmville Central (8).

Tarboro attracted four first-place votes and the Cougars the other three.

In preliminary remarks, North Pitt Principal Marty Baker hailed the EPC as "the best conference in Eastern North Carolina, if not North Carolina."

Pitt County Schools Athletic Director Ron Butler added: "This conference is going to be a beast."

SouthWest returns to the league after spending four seasons in the NEW 6. However, the 2-A level is new for the Bruins, perennial contenders in the ECC, and Kinston, where the program has changed directions through the guidance of head coach Battle Holley.

Tarboro's Jeff Craddock, now the dean of EPC head football coaches, referred to the football league as a meat-grinder.

"Call me crazy," he remarked, "but our conference is going to be one of the best in the state. The teams added are great teams."

SouthWest, Beddingfield and Kinston all reached the 2008 postseason as did EPC holdovers Tarboro and North Pitt, which lost in the second round to 2-AA champion Reidsville.

Tarboro returns six starters on offense and defense, but Craddock emphasizes young guys must step up.

"We've got some talent here," Craddock said, "but I also know what SouthWest has over there. Kinston is going to be very good and Beddingfield has athletes all over the place."

Of his Vikings being picked No. 1, Craddock responded: "It's an honor. But it's a reflection of last year's team and has nothing to do with this year's group. I already believe we're going to have a bulls-eye on our backs."

In regards to Tarboro nipping SouthWest for the top spot, Craddock said: "It's an honor for two county schools to be up there neck-and-neck."

Assistant coach Jonathan Cobb represented SouthWest in the absence of his father and head coach Raymond Cobb, who was attending a funeral.

He mentioned Kinston as the potential "Rocky Mount" of the EPC and assured: "We're in a better league."

Several coaches noted they projected Tarboro No. 1 and the Cougars No. 2.

"Kinston is right up there with them," added Bruins head coach Tyrone Johnson. "Being picked fourth is fair for us. If we had been picked anywhere from third to next-to-last or last, it would have been fair.

"We're a very young team, but we think we can make the playoffs."

If the coaches' forecast is accurate, the 2009 Function at the Junction between archrivals SouthWest and Tarboro will be for the conference championship.

"I would like to see that game myself," second-year Greene Central head coach Kenneth Grantham quipped. "They are probably the top two teams in the league; it can go either way."

Grantham reasoned the expectations of his Rams winding up fifth after posting two conference wins last season is "based on what the new teams are bringing in and where we are right now.

"But that's better than being on the bottom and that's all to be determined. Our goal is getting into the playoffs each year."


2009 Eastern Plains 2-A Conference Football Coaches Poll

The 2009 2-A Eastern Plains Conference preseason football poll as voted upon by the league's head coaches. Seven points awarded for a first-place vote, six for second, etc. First-place votes in parentheses.

Tarboro (4)	34
SW Edgecombe (3)	33
Kinston	25
Beddingfield	22
Greene Central	13
North Pitt	12
Farmville Central	8