Apex football preview - 2010

Apex Cougars

Last year: 2-9 (2-6), missed playoffs

All-Conference players lost:  K/P Steven Weiss (Tri-Nine special teams player of the year); LB/S Mike Fogg (1st team)

All-Conference players returning: None

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Before last season, I penned these words when referring to Apex (remember, the Cougars were riding a 11-year, winning-season streak): "If there's a price to pay for being a senior-laden team in a young and inexperienced conference, it usually shows in the following year. ... With the rest of the conference all grown up, it'll be hard for Apex to come lose to last year's record..."

Well Apex certainly paid their price. The Cougars won just two games. Even for the rebuilding year everyone knew it would be, it wasn't a very good season.

With no all-conference performers returning, nobody's expecting Apex to sneak up on other teams and finish in the top half of the league. But according to coach Bob Wolfe, those who do return look much improved over last season.

It all starts with senior quarterback Adam Nelson, who showed flashes last year that he should be mentioned with the other top quarterbacks in the conference. Nelson threw for more than 1,400 yards last year and had a better-than-average completion rate (61 percent).

But his touchdowns (six) were low and interceptions (10+) were too high. With his second and final year behind center, Wolfe thinks Nelson — one of five offensive starters returning — can be a focal point of the Cougars' offense.

"He's much improved," Wolfe said. "He's bigger, stronger and he's running better. Physically I think he's better and I think he's throwing the ball better."

Apex averaged about 86 yards rushing last year. Wolfe thinks Apex has two gifted ball carriers in sophomore Quincy Mangum and junior Shawn Knox, but run blocking was a problem last season.

"Even though we're young, I think we're going to be better up front," Wolfe said. "We've tried to change up our blocking schemes and try to make it easier for our linemen."

Wide receivers Malik Hayes and Gavin Locklear will have to step into their roles offensively. If they can consistently get open for Nelson, Apex might pack more of an offensive punch than it did a year ago.

The Cougs scored 21-or-more points just four times last year. A far cry from 2008, when the team did so in 10 games and finished with 10 wins.

"It was just one of those years we had to work ourselves through," Wolfe said. "We started working in our younger players towards the end of the year."

At times last year, Apex's defense was good enough to stay in games. Other times, it was far from it. So what separates one group of games from the other? Apparently it was how the other team wanted to play.

Against Holly Springs, Cary and Fuquay-Varina — three playoff teams with run-oriented offenses — Apex held its own and had chances to win the fourth quarter.

Against Middle Creek, Panther Creek and Athens Drive — three playoff teams with pass-first offenses — Apex allowed no fewer than 38 points.

"A lot of that came from speed in space," Wolfe said. "We just had a hard time in space because we did not have as much speed last year as we had in previous years. That was a lot of it right there. When you pack it in and start running, that speed isn't quite as important as it is when teams are spread out."

Apex does return six starters on defense, and Wolfe said there are others who received significant playing time. And the good news is, Wolfe believes the team speed will be better with this group.

Evan Jensen and Chris Martin each got a number of reps on the defensive line. Adam Schlobohm missed some time as a linebacker due to a concussion, but was good when healthy.

Devin Little and Jake Tart each got starts in the secondary as sophomores as did Kyle May at linebacker.

As far as special teams, Apex seems to have no trouble finding guys to step up when other performers move on. This year, that includes Tri-Nine special teams player of the year Stephen Weiss, who boomed 21 of his 35 kickoffs for touchbacks, averaged 42 yards per punt and hit 6-of-9 field goals (one was blocked, another hit the crossbar from 52 yards away). And the shortest of those field goals? "Only" 32 yards.

Darrius McClain's shoes will also need to be filled — he blocked three punts last year and returned a kickoff for touchdown.

The schedule is a daunting one for Apex — Leesville Road and Harnett Central in non-conference plus at Middle Creek, Fuquay and Cary — and the rebuilding phase appears to have at least another year left. That said, if (and that's a big "if") the Cougars can find some defensive improvement and limit turnovers, the team could rip off just enough wins necessary for playoff contention.