Pigskin Preview Special: 16 Cape Fear football teams prepare for 2026 season

CAPE FEAR REGION, NC (WWAY)  — High school football is back across the Cape Fear, and the 2026 season brings new coaches, returning stars, championship expectations and plenty of questions for teams throughout the region.

Sixteen local programs are entering the season with something to prove — from established contenders looking to make a deeper playoff run to teams hoping a new coach and a new identity can change their fortunes.

In WWAY’s Pigskin Preview Half Hour Special, we take a closer look at the players to watch, key storylines and much more.

Hoggard Vikings

Hoggard enters the season as one of the area’s established contenders after winning 12 games last season, claiming another conference championship and advancing to the regional final.

The Vikings return 30 seniors, including senior quarterback Matthew Boring, who leads the offense in his final high school season.

Hoggard’s season ended one game short of the state championship game last year, leaving the Vikings with unfinished business heading into 2026.

Head coach Craig Underwood said Boring has continued to develop throughout his high school career.

“Since he was a freshman, Matt’s been very coachable,” Underwood said. “He wants more and more information. He wants to learn the game.”

The Vikings will open the season on the road against Richmond Senior, Friday, Aug. 21. Underwood has prioritized a challenging non-conference schedule, saying facing adversity early can prepare the team for a deep run.

With experience throughout the roster and high expectations surrounding the program, Hoggard is setting its sights on December football.

Laney Buccaneers

The Laney Buccaneer football program is entering a new era.

Laney is coming off a six-win season and a playoff appearance, but the program now has a new head coach in Coraey Houser, who has deep ties to Cape Fear football.

Houser played at Hoggard High School, before attending ECU, and later coaching at both Hoggard and New Hanover.

He wants to bring back the “Killer Bees” mentality that once defined Laney football — a style built around playing fast, physical and swarming to the football.

Houser believes his team is ready for the spotlight.

“I think they are ready, and they are ready to perform in front of everyone else on Friday night,” Houser said.

Laney will open the season at home against D.H. Conley.

Ashley Screaming Eagles

Ashley is also starting the season with a new head coach.

Adam Purzitza, who previously served as Hoggard’s offensive coordinator, takes over the Screaming Eagles program.

Purzitza wants his team to play fast, physical and relentless football.

Senior quarterback Raleigh Sutton will be an important piece of the offense as Ashley looks to compete in the Carolina Coast Conference, after a down year last season.

Purzitza said one of the team’s goals is to become more balanced offensively and put more points on the board.

“The goal is to be a little bit more balanced than last year, and score some points. It all starts with the running game” Purzitsa said.

The Screaming Eagles will get their first test Friday when they travel to Sanderson.

New Hanover Wildcats

The New Hanover Wildcats are coming off a six-win season and a trip to the second round of the playoffs.

Head coach John Fuller enters his second year at the helm and is looking for more consistency from his team.

The Wildcats return their most experience along the offensive line, but the biggest question comes at quarterback.

Seniors Julian Robles and Ronan Brady are competing for the starting job. Even after the team’s jamboree, Fuller had not announced a full-time starter.

Brady will take the first snaps in week one, but Fuller says Robles will see the field as well.

Whoever wins the job will have an experienced group around him, including players along the offensive line and skill-position players capable of making plays.

Fuller knows the Wildcats will have plenty of challenges ahead.

“I mean, I’ve looked at our schedule. There’s not a lot of slouches on that schedule,” Fuller said.

New Hanover opens the season Aug. 21 on the road against New Bern.

North Brunswick Scorpions

North Brunswick enters the season looking to turn close losses into wins.

The Scorpions lost nine senior starters to injury before last season even began. Despite those setbacks, five of their losses came by just one score.

With a healthier roster this year, North Brunswick believes it can change the outcome of those close games.

Several young players are expected to take on larger roles on offense, while the defense is expected to provide stability early in the season.

Senior offensive lineman Zachary Wells said last year’s difficult results have motivated the team.

“We’re coming back this year,” Wells said.

The Scorpions begin the season Thursday, Aug. 20, on the road against Corinth Holders.

West Brunswick Trojans

The West Brunswick Trojans are coming off a 7-5 season and a playoff appearance.

The program is also beginning a new era after longtime head coach Shane Handy left.

Aaron Powell takes over after serving on the Trojans’ staff since 2021, most recently as defensive coordinator.

Powell plans to bring changes to the offense while emphasizing discipline and execution.

Senior quarterback Josiah Borton steps into a larger leadership role as West Brunswick looks to build on last year’s success.

Powell’s message is simple: do every little thing the right way.

The Trojans will open the season Friday at South Brunswick.

Topsail Pirates

Few teams enter the season with as much potential for a turnaround as Topsail.

The Pirates went 0-10 last season, but a successful 2024 season shows that they have what it takes to rack up wins.

New head coach Terry Albert takes over after more than 20 years of high school coaching experience.

Albert wants to change the mindset around the program — moving from hoping for wins to expecting them.

Quarterback Tyler Vickers will help lead an offense that could create more opportunities through the air.

Albert is not hiding from the expectations. He wants the Pirates competing in the conference race late in the season.

“I want to win. I coach football games to win them, and I think my attitude has rubbed off on the team pretty quickly,” Albert said.

Topsail gets its first chance to show what’s changed Thursday night when the Pirates host Dixon.

South Brunswick Cougars

South Brunswick is coming off one of its best seasons in years.

The Cougars went 7-4 last season, shared a conference championship and hosted a playoff game — a dramatic turnaround after going 0-10 the previous year.

Now, South Brunswick wants to prove last season was not a fluke.

Senior running back Amerius Revels returns after rushing for more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Junior wide receiver Edward Young is another major weapon after recording more than 800 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.

Revels said the Cougars cannot become complacent after their turnaround season.

“We can’t get overconfident just coming off that season,” Revels said. “We gotta do better than we did last season.”

Young echoed that approach.

“As long as we stay down, keep grinding and keep getting better every day, I feel like we will have a better season than last year,” Young said.

South Brunswick opens the season Aug. 21 at home against West Brunswick.

Whiteville Wolfpack

The Whiteville Wolfpack also enters the season with championship expectations.

Whiteville went 7-4 last year, shared its conference title and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Head coach J.P. Price is looking for more from his team after last year’s early playoff exit.

The Wolfpack return several young players with another year of experience, including sophomore quarterback Luke McLean, the younger brother of former Whiteville starting quarterback Layton McLean, who has moved on to Brunswick Community College.

Senior Jayden Todd is another player to watch. Todd contributes at linebacker and tight end.

The Wolfpack are also carrying momentum from the baseball field, where players including Collin Hooks and Tylae Rose helped Whiteville find success.

Hooks said the key will be getting the entire team to buy in.

“We just need the young guys to buy in.” Hooks said.

Whiteville opens the season at home Friday against West Columbus.

West Bladen Knights

West Bladen is entering the season with a young roster and an opportunity to turn experience into results.

The Knights have just six seniors on the roster, but head coach Preston Worley is entering his third year and believes the foundation of the program is beginning to take shape.

Junior Sincere McKinley is one player to watch after a productive sophomore season. He is expected to contribute on both sides of the ball at running back and cornerback.

Senior Keon Whittington will also be a key two-way player.

With so much youth on the roster, West Bladen will rely on its veterans to set the tone.

“I’m excited to see what this group does together,” Whittington said.

West Bladen opens the season Thursday on the road against Pender.

South Columbus Stallions

South Columbus is coming off a strong 7-5 season in which the Stallions went 4-1 in conference play and shared the league title.

Now, the program enters a new era with a familiar face returning to lead it.

Jake Fonvielle takes over as head coach after previously being part of the program as both a player and coach.

A 1997 South Columbus graduate, Fonvielle previously led the Stallions to back-to-back Eastern Finals appearances during his first run as head coach.

Now he’s back with a roster that includes 10 seniors and strong numbers across the team.

Senior quarterback Jaxon Grene is particularly excited to have Fonvielle back on the sideline.

“I always knew I wanted to play for him when I grew up,” Grene said.

The Stallions will open the season at home Friday against Swansboro.

Heide Trask Titans

Heide Trask is another program beginning the season with a new head coach.

The Titans are coming off a 3-8 season, but return talent and experience that could help change the trajectory of the program.

Rance Creech takes over after spending the previous two years on the Trask staff.

Creech’s focus is building a winning culture with family and brotherhood at the center.

Trask returns 11 seniors, with several players expected to contribute on both sides of the ball.

Senior offensive tackle Gio Driggers, a three-star prospect committed to East Carolina, will be one of the team’s most important players up front.

Driggers said the Titans want to be physical and protect their teammates.

“I just want our main focus to be to protect anybody and everybody at all costs — no arm tackles, none of that,” Driggers said.

After several close losses last season, Trask will try to flip the script.

The Titans open Aug. 21 on the road against East Bladen.

Pender Patriots

Pender has established itself as a regional powerhouse, and the Patriots enter 2026 with plenty of expectations.

Pender started last season 8-0, finished with 10 wins and advanced to the third round of the state playoffs.

Head coach Tom Eanes returns significant experience, particularly in the backfield.

Senior quarterback Austin Deal returns after a breakout season and will lead the offense.

The biggest question may come along the offensive line, where Pender must replace four of five starters.

That could make the running game — a major part of last year’s success — one of the biggest storylines early in the season.

Eanes said replacing so much experience up front could take time.

Pender hosts West Bladen on Friday.

East Bladen Eagles

East Bladen is coming off a 9-4 season and a playoff run that lasted into Thanksgiving week.

Now the Eagles are looking to reload after losing several key seniors.

Head coach Robby Priest believes the team has plenty of two-way ability, giving East Bladen more options.

Senior Braylan Johnson will be one of the team’s leaders, contributing at linebacker and tight end after recording 50 tackles and two sacks last season.

Junior Jaden Lewis is another major playmaker. Lewis rushed for more than 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns last season and is expected to contribute on defense and special teams as well.

East Bladen made it to Thanksgiving last season. This year, the Eagles want to go even farther.

East Bladen opens the season Aug. 21 at home against Heide Trask.

East Columbus Gators

East Columbus finished last season 3-9 overall and 1-5 in conference play, but the Gators ended the year with their first playoff win in 12 years.

The program enters another transition with a new head coach.

Vinston Thorpe takes over after Fred Pedro’s three seasons at the helm. Thorpe arrives at East Columbus after serving as offensive coordinator at Kinston.

The Gators will also have a new face at quarterback.

Eli Walker, a standout baseball player, is making his football debut under center.

Walker hopes to bring the athleticism, competitiveness and leadership he developed on the baseball diamond to the football field as the Gators try to continue building the program.

West Columbus Vikings

West Columbus is coming off a 3-8 season that ended just three points shy of a second-round playoff appearance.

That close loss is serving as motivation heading into 2026.

The Vikings want to become more physical and disciplined while finding a way to finish close games.

Senior quarterback D.J. Graham will lead the offense.

Graham has shown the ability to make plays, but he is also one of just eight seniors on the roster.

Head coach La-Mont Williamson believes younger players are ready to step into larger roles.

The team’s goals are straightforward: win close games, advance beyond the first round and continue building the program.

Williamson wants his team to live by three words: determined, dedicated and disciplined.

West Columbus will face Whiteville on Friday.

WWAY’s players to watch

With 16 teams across the region, there is no shortage of talent to follow this season.

Three players stand out as potential difference-makers.

Matthew Boring, Hoggard

Boring is entering his senior season as the leader of an experienced Hoggard offense.

With 30 seniors returning and the Vikings coming off a regional final appearance, Boring will be at the center of the team’s attempt to make a deeper playoff run.

Edward Young, South Brunswick

Young is one of the area’s top big-play threats.

The junior wide receiver recorded more than 800 yards and 13 touchdowns last season and returns as South Brunswick looks to build on its seven-win campaign.

Jaden Lewis, East Bladen

Lewis made his mark last season with more than 1,400 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

The junior is expected to contribute on offense, defense and special teams as East Bladen tries to build on its 9-4 season and Thanksgiving-week playoff run.

Teams looking to improve

Several programs could be positioned for significant improvement this season.

Topsail is an obvious candidate after going 0-10 last season and bringing in Terry Albert as head coach.

Laney also enters a new era under Coraey Houser, looking to ascend to that next tier.

Whiteville returns a young group with another year of experience, and are expected to win 8 or more games.

Conference predictions

The 2026 season features several competitive conference races, with multiple teams capable of making a run.

In the Carolina Coast Conference, Hoggard enters with a deep roster, significant returning talent and a proven coaching staff.

Laney could also be in the mix after an encouraging offseason and a strong showing at the team’s jamboree.

The Southeastern Conference could be another tight race.

South Brunswick is looking to build on its dramatic turnaround, while Whiteville returns with championship aspirations. South Columbus could also emerge as a sleeper after a seven-win season and the return of Fonvielle.

In the East Central Conference, Pender enters as a major contender after winning 10 games and reaching the third round of the playoffs last season. East Duplin is also expected to be part of the race.

The Carolina 1-A and 2-A picture could feature East Bladen and East Columbus, while North Duplin enters after winning its conference three consecutive years.

The season starts now

Sixteen teams. Sixteen storylines.

Some programs are trying to defend championships. Others are chasing their first winning season in years. Several are beginning new eras under first-year head coaches, while established programs are trying to turn postseason disappointment into a deeper playoff run.

From Hoggard’s experience and Pender’s physical style to Topsail’s rebuilding effort, Laney’s new identity and South Brunswick’s attempt to prove last season was no fluke, there will be plenty to watch across the Cape Fear.

The first games kick off Aug. 20.

And by December, these preseason questions will have answers.

Watch the full WWAY Pigskin Preview special above for a closer look at all 16 teams, the players to watch and WWAY’s preseason predictions for the 2026 high school football season.