WFJA’s Week 7 Updated Tri-County 3A Conference Power Rankings

Below are rankings numbers for each of the Tri-County 3A teams. Wfja will take these numbers and offer our own Conference Power Rankings (CPR) that will be updated each Monday and included on the Conference Standings page.    The below information for each school includes:

• Rankings verses all NC schools (416 schools)
• Rankings within the 3A ranks (109 schools)
• MaxPreps Power Rating (MPPR)
• MaxPreps Strength of Schedule (SOS)  

These numbers and rankings will be updated on each Monday and we will readjust our Conference Power Rankings accordingly.

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Lee County

Record 6-0, Avg 43.8 ppg, Allowing 13.5

NC State Rank (26 of 416)

NC 3A Rank (7 of 109)

MPPR  (+31.5)

SOS  (4.5)

Wfja Conference Power Ranking – #1

Notes: Lee County has been impressive through its 1^st 6 games and most would say the favorite for the regular season title.   The Tri-County 3A’s leading returning rusher AJ Boulware is getting back to full strength after missing some time with injury and the Yellow Jacket offense has scored in bunches.  QB Colin Johnson has been consistently good, and the Lee rush defense has been superb – allowing only 69.6 ypg on the ground.   Strength of schedule has lowered the Jackets rankings since the season started but still our choice in the Tri-County 3A Power Rankings.   Lee County will begin its conference play Oct. 11^th at Triton.

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Southern Lee

Record 3-2, Avg 28.4 ppg, Allowing 22.6

NC State Rank (133 of 416)

NC 3A Rank (47 of 109)

MPPR  (+8.7)

SOS  (1.2)

Wfja Conference Power Ranking – #2

Notes: Southern Lee has won 3 straight after losing to Hoke and Pinecrest to start the season.  The Cavaliers have had to fight through several key injuries in the non-conference season and a rare two-week break in the Southern Lee schedule should help the Cavaliers be healed and ready on Oct 11.   Tanoah Lockley and Thomas Harrington lead the Cavalier offense.  Lockley, last year’s leading receiver in the Tri-County 3A, has been slowed by injury, but is sure to play a big role in the Cavalier season the rest of the way.   Keshaun Mays is the Cavs leading rusher, but carries are spread out in the Cavaliers new option offense.   Southern Lee will host Western Harnett in its Tri-County 3A opener on Oct 11^th.

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Triton

Record 2-4, Avg 32.7 ppg, Allowing 30.8

NC State Rank (201 of 416)

NC 3A Rank (67 of 109)

MPPR  (+0.6)

SOS  (4.1)

Wfja Conference Power Ranking – #3

Notes: Triton is the 2^nd leading scoring team in the conference and has played the toughest schedule thus far among Tri-County 3A teams.   The Hawks have given up points in bunches at times and will need to improve the defensive numbers to compete for the title.  Offensively the Hawks lead the league on the ground with 316 yards per game, but the passing adds only 52 more.   Romello Cowan (939) and Travion Sanders (529) have over 1400 of the 1900 yards on the ground for Triton.   It will be the Triton ground game vs. the Lee rush defense in the conference home opener for Triton on Oct 11^th.

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Union Pines

Record 4-2, Avg 24.0 ppg, Allowing 23.8

NC State Rank (218 of 416)

NC 3A Rank (72 of 109)

MPPR  (-2.3)

SOS  (-6.4)

Wfja Conference Power Ranking – #4

Notes: The Vikings have been inconsistent offensively for stretches and schedule strength has hurt their rankings.   Union Pines QB Rory Board leads the league in passing yards with 1023 yards but the Vikings have struggled at times on the ground with just 790 yards in 6 games.    Union Pines will have to put more points on the board in order to make a run at the title or one of the two playoff spots.  Holden Graner leads the Union Pines defense.   The Vikings will begin league play with a 4-2 mark.    Union Pines will open conference play at Harnett Central.

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Harnett Central

Record 4-2, Avg 18.6 ppg, Allowing 15.8

NC State Rank (248 of 416)

NC 3A Rank (83 of 109)

MPPR  (-7.5))

SOS  (-12.3)

Wfja Conference Power Ranking – #5

Notes: Harnett Central is another good example of what schedule strength has done to rankings in the last few years.   To date the Trojans schedule rank is -12.3 and despite a 4-2 record is ranked 83rd of 109 3A schools by MaxPreps.  The Trojans 4 wins are against teams that are a combined 3-21 with their losses against 4-2 Overhills & 6-0 Midway.   Harnett Central is allowing only 15.8 ppg. Harnett Central will host Union Pines in the conference opener.

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Western Harnett

Record 2-4, Avg 16.6 ppg, Allowing 32.2

NC State Rank (346 of 416)

NC 3A Rank (104 of 109)

MPPR  (-25.8)

SOS  (-11.8)

Wfja Conference Power Ranking – #6

Notes: The Eagles opened with two wins followed by four straight losses in non-conference play.   MaxPreps rankings haven’t been kind to Western Harnett but the numbers are hard to ignore.   Western Harnett is challenged offensively to put points on the board, something that must improve if the Eagles are to compete for a playoff position.   The Eagles average only 200 yards of offense per game with 109.8 passing and 90.8 rushing.   This makes the Eagle defensive effort led by Xavier Jackson even more important if the Eagles are to be a factor in the conference.   Western Harnett will open conference play at Southern Lee on Oct 11^th.