PHS Football Schedule Taking Shape

As of Wednesday, December 22, 2010

If Pinecrest’s nonconference football schedule the last few years has had a ho-hum quality about it, the nearly wrapped up 2011 edition is anything but.

It includes a Jack Britt team that was the 4AA state runner-up in 2008 and 2009, and a squad from Naples, Fla., that will drive 750 miles to get to Patriot Country.

According to athletic director Ernie Purnsley, signed contracts still have to be executed in connection with verbal commitments made by the Florida school, Barron Collier, and Cox Mill, of Concord.

When the paperwork is done, the six-game non-league schedule, which includes five teams that made the state playoffs in the fall, is expected to look like this (2010 records in parenthesis):

Aug. 19 — Jack Britt (11-2); Aug. 26 — at Overhills (5-7); Sept. 2 — Cox Mill (6-6); Sept. 9 — Barron Collier (8-3); Sept. 16 — Western Harnett (2-9); Sept. 23 — at New Hanover (5-6).

Pinecrest will carry a 16-game winning streak in non-conference games (excluding the state playoffs) into the 2011 season. Jack Britt will put that streak at risk. The Buccaneers were ranked in the top 10 most of last season before finishing 11-2. The Patriots were unable to beat coach Richard Bailey’s squad while the teams were both members of the Mid-Southeastern Conference from 2001 to 2008.

Overhills, the week two opponent, is on the schedule for the third year in a row. The Jags finished second in the 3A Cape Fear Valley Conference with a record of 5-1. Western Harnett (week five) is another Cape Fear Valley school back for the third time.

In the third week, the Patriots entertain Cox Mill, a high school that opened in 2009. The Chargers went 6-6 last season and qualified for the 3A state playoffs as a member of the South Piedmont Conference.

Pinecrest head coach Chris Metzger describes Barron Collier as an archrival of the Lely High School team in Naples he led for four years before coming to Pinecrest in 2007. Cougar coach Mark Ivey played football at Appalachian State.

Plans for the Sept. 9 football game include a press conference on Thursday, the sharing of a pregame meal by the teams on Friday and a stop at Clemson to take in a football game on the way home.

New Hanover (week six) is a school with a strong state level pedigree. The Wildcat football team made it to the 4A state semifinals in 2009.

Southeastern Conference members Richmond Senior (12-2), Lumberton (8-4), Purnell Swett (8-5) and Scotland County (7-5) also qualified for the state playoffs last year while Hoke County (3-8) and Pinecrest (7-4) stayed at home.

There will be plenty to buzz about at the Patriots’ six 2011 home games.

Contact Charlie Bergmann at cbergmann@nc.rr.com.

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CC85 2 years, 4 months ago

@Gabanga

Since you use the word "we", I'm assuming you're either a current student and/or former student at PHS? If so, here's a concept you might want to consider, why not support the program instead of constantly posting caustic and negative comments about the Coach, AD and program.

Pinecrest football is being guided by quality individuals and I'm confident they did the best they could in securing the 2011 schedule, which in my opinion, is a good one.

RD28327 2 years, 4 months ago

Well, Gabanga, it's not hard for a team to get into the playoffs with six wins. Heck, even two win teams in 1A can get into the playoffs. Why so many teams in the playoffs? It's all about the Benjamins. Even Overhills, a member of the Cape Fear Valley 3A conference along with Union Pines, got in the playoffs with a 5-6 regular season record, having lost their first five, won their next five and lost their regular season finale.

As for Cox Mill, they probably played a tougher schedule than PC. Cox Mill finished fifth in the South Piedmont 3A regular season and grabbed a wild card spot in the 3A playoffs where they lost to fellow SPC 3A member Concord in the first round.

I am wondering though if the game with Naples, FL Barron Collier is part of a two game home and away contract. Will the Pats be making a trip to Florida in 2012?

Pinecrest has stepped up its non-conference schedule, but not by much. It's still a long ways from being one of the top ten toughest non-conference schedules among 4A teams. By the way, Gabanga, it's not the pre-season, it's the non-conference season.

Ratzo 2 years, 4 months ago

I think its reasonable to say that any coach wants to give his team a challenge but I don't think its that easy to schedule them. Who knows what caliber these teams will be in the upcoming year? I am confident that Coach Metzger makes winners out of his students and the athletes that he coaches. I think that is a good measure of a coach.

Ross 2 years, 4 months ago

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RD28327 2 years, 4 months ago

It'll be interesting to see how PC gets through the season trying to keep injuries to a bare minimum since teams will have only 11 weeks to play 11 games. Some teams may only play 10 games just to have a bye week in order to heal up from injuries.

And now to see the non-conference football schedules from UP and NM. I expect a handful of changes on the UP non-conference schedule.