Week 1 Tri-9 Fearless Friday Football predictions

Every week I give my predictions on Friday's football games. Sound off on the comments section below if you disagree (and I'm sure some of you will. There's no telling how good or bad I'll be, especially in the first few weeks, but let's give it a shot.

Friday Aug. 21 (all game times 7:30 unless otherwise noted)

Game of the Week (tie)

Apex at Harnett Central

I'll be making the trip down to Angier and beautiful Harnett County to see the Cougars and Trojans square off. Harnett Central may be making the move from 3-A to 4-A, but that should be no trouble considering how many players they return from a team that beat defending 4-A champ Wilmington Hoggard and Tri-Eight champ Fuquay-Varina last year. QB Brian Taylor will be a lot to handle for an Apex defense with just two returning starters. Apex will undoubtedly improve as the season moves along, but this is a tough, tough game to open with.

Final verdict: Harnett Central by 20

Panther Creek at Leesville Road

Panther Creek will be much improved this year, but by how much? Will they be ready to take that next step against one of the best programs in the Triangle (and arguably the best Raleigh school)? Leesville Road is supposedly better this year than they've ever been, and while I'm trying not to buy into the hyperbole, I know that means Leesville will be tough to beat. The similar style of play makes this closer than you would think, but the Pride might be just too talented. Note: this game is at 7 p.m., not 7:30.

Final verdict: Leesville by 14

The rest:

Knightdale at Fuquay-Varina: If this were last year, Fuquay would have to be on upset alert against a pesky Knightdale team. But the Knights lost some key guys from last year, whereas Fuquay returns almost all of their main headliners from an 11-win team.

Final verdict: Fuquay by 21

Green Hope at Wakefield: This was hard to call because I have no idea what Wakefield has, just that they've been picked last or next to last by everybody who bothers to predict the CAP 7. However, when studying who Green Hope lost, and taking into account their 16-game losing streak, I'll take Wakefield. Hope (no pun intended) I'm wrong though. My alma mater snapped a 26-game losing streak last year, and in talking with those back home, know how it can kill the morale of the team, and even a school. Note: game time is at 7 p.m.

Final verdict: Wakefield by 14

Southeast Raleigh at Holly Springs: This has nothing to do with Holly Springs. Really. I have all the respect in the world for that program, but these are two teams in different phases. Holly Springs is trying to make the playoffs. Southeast Raleigh is trying to win the state championship.

Final verdict: Southeast Raleigh by 28

Broughton at Cary: Last year Broughton came in and beat Cary to a pulp, 42-21. Cary's defense won't give up that many this time, and I'll even go as far to say Cary has surpassed Broughton and will eke out a win.

Final verdict: Cary by 3

Northern Durham at Middle Creek: Middle Creek was a pretty young and immature team when they blew a 15-0 lead last year to lose 42-15 to Northern Durham. This year the Mustangs are mature and ready for the next step, while ND is rebuilding after losing QB Andrew Peacock (now at App. State).

Final verdict: Middle Creek by 10

Athens Drive at Sanderson: What a crazy game this was last year. More than 1,000 yards of offense and 80 combined points. Sanderson is a sleeper in the CAP 7 Conference, but I'm not sure how they can be better on offense after losing a tough running QB Jeff Massey. To me, Athens has all the pieces you want in a team after all their transfers. Three out-of-staters will start at linebacker, then Pete Singer at safety and Rob Crisp will start wherever he wants to. Note: game time is at 7 p.m.

Final verdict: Athens Drive by 7

Western Harnett at Lee County: Each team is breaking in a new coach, which means basically you've got to give the nod to which team you think will be closer where the coach wants them by this team. Advantage to Burton Cates and the Yellow Jackets, even though my alma mater, coming off its first playoff berth in three seasons, typically makes this old rivalry game tough to predict.

Final verdict: Lee County by 10 

Also, I'm going to just go ahead and throw my prediction for the year out there. I just comes down to which team I think is the best, and it goes like this:

1. Fuquay-Varina

2. Athens Drive

3. Middle Creek

4. Panther Creek

5. Cary

6. Apex (last team in the playoffs)

7. Holly Springs

8. Lee County

9. Green Hope