Holly Springs preview

Holly Springs Golden Hawks

Last year: 2-9 (1-6 Greater Neuse Conference)

All-Conference players graduated: LB Dan Collins (Greater Neuse River Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year), TE/SS Alex Dolan (honorable mention), QB Mark Collins (honorable mention)

All-Conference players returning: RB J.J. Graves, LB/WR Xavier Bailey

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Holly Springs is one of two local teams that's entering its third year of varsity, but don't confuse this program with Panther Creek just because of that similarity.

Although Holly Springs was more competitive than PC in 2008, the Golden Hawks lost almost entire units of players to graduation, none more significant than GRNC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Dan Collins (more than 140 tackles). And while the Catamounts will be airing it out this year with a number of returning starters, HSHS will continue its read-and-react option attack with first-timers.

The quarterback position, essential in running the option in coach Jim Hynus' offense, will have a first-time starter in sophomore Mike Roach. That transition should be alleviated with J.J. Graves returning.

Graves rushed for 1,007 yards in just 10 games last year as a junior, and did at 6.4 yards per carry. Graves will continue to get the bulk of the carries this year, with a little help from senior Conrad Boston and junior K.J. Herndon.

The line took a hits on both sides of the ball with graduation, but Hynus said Vinnie Cervone had a good summer and should contribute significantly this year.

Last season, HSHS was very small on the offensive line to the point that Graves outweighed four of the five starters! Some of those have added much-needed weight, and only two outweigh Graves (at 190 pounds).

Xavier Bailey should be the lone senior linebacker, and he's a good one at that, amassing 74 tackles and two interceptions last year. Bailey excels in pass coverage since he's also the team's big-play receiver (which may be like saying you're the tallest dwarf in the room considering he had just five catches and 115 yards). 

 Bailey and Boston might be the team's best at picking off passes considering the experience lost with the school's first-ever graduating class. Five freshmen and sophomores saw action last year in the secondary, and will be asked to step up this year.

Holly Springs has the beginnings of a good program and a good coach in Hynus, but this school will have to surprise some to finish ahead of Athens Drive, Fuquay-Varina, Middle Creek, Panther Creek, Apex or even Cary.

That's not to say HSHS can't surprise everyone and wind up in the playoffs -- it just means from the appearance, this is a program on a four-year plan as opposed to three.

Holly Springs' schedule: