Fuquay-Varina preview

Fuquay-Varina Bengals

Last year: 11-2 (7-0). Lost to Douglas Byrd 17-14 in the second round of the 4-A playoffs.

All-Conference players graduated: OL John Matt, OL Joe Figueroa, RB Corey Mixon

All-Conference players returning: RB Cory Hunter (Tri-Eight Player of the Year), DT Shawn Underwood, LB Isaac Minor  

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Only at Fuquay can you graduate 1,077 yards rushing but still return more than 2,000 yards in the same department.

The Bengals might not be as run-oriented this year as they were last year — losses along the offensive line will make that hard to repeat — but they will return the league's best in junior Cory Hunter.

Hunter dominated last year. There's no other way to put it. After 1,888 yards and 23 touchdowns, teams know who to look out for this season.

But the good news for Fuquay is that this is far from a one-man team. In fact, the Bengals have some of the biggest names in the conference (as evidenced by us ranking three F-V players in the top four of the Tri-9).

Hunter will be subbed by Eric Powell, a bruising fullback who had some bright moments last year.

Although Fuquay lost quarterback Kyle Canfield and wide receiver/tight end Kenny Weatherman, the passing game should be improved with Nate Budde assuming the QB role. Budde had plenty of experience playing last year during the multiple F-V blowout wins, and appeared to be just as good, and certainly the more mobile.

The offensive line took some hits, returning just one starter if you don't count junior Shawn Underwood. Underwood might be the second-best lineman in the conference — even with Rob Crisp moving into the area, but played mostly defense last year.

Underwood will lead the way up front, although he'll miss Joe Figueroa. The two combined for nearly 500 pounds of defensive tackle, which is one of the reasons Fuquay gave up a little more than 10 points per game. Underwood had 50 tackles last year and five sacks — tremendous numbers for a defensive tackle. 

Behind Underwood will be arguably the best pair of linebackers in the conference with Isaac Minor and Eric Powell. Minor is only about 5-7 and 155 pounds, but made 150 stops last year, including some of the best hits of the season. If this were boxing, Minor is a featherweight that can deliver a knockout to the heavies.

The secondary will likely see some players playing both ways. Budde was one of the league's most underrated defensive backs and Hunter had some of the biggest stops of the year (particularly a break-up on fourth down in the end zone of a tight win over Apex).

Special teams will miss Canfield, who made the honorable mention as a punter last year.

There's no doubt Fuquay has a star-studded team. Repeating as Tri-9 champions is certainly in sight, but given how good Middle Creek and Athens Drive will be, sweeping the conference won't be as easy.

Coach Ryan Habich's team did just about everything right last year, and the program is becoming one of the most feared in the county and will be a dangerous team again this year.

Fuquay-Varina's schedule: