Pigskin Preview: Whiteville determined to surpass last season’s semifinal berth
WHITEVILLE, N.C. (WWAY) — Whiteville advanced further in the 2024 football playoffs than any school in the Cape Fear, but they are not satisfied.
The Wolfpack reached the state semifinals a year ago. Their goal is to not just get back there, but to advance even further and bring a title back to town.
If they do, they will do so with a team that only has eight starters returning from a year ago. That includes four on each side.
Head Coach J.P. Price enters year seven at his position and is familiar with these circumstances.
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“We’ve dealt with this before,” Price said. “We’ve had big senior graduating classes. We had some kids with some experience. All they need is some reps and playing time. While we have some holes to fill, we also have some kids year in and year out know that they have to work hard to fill those holes. All teams lose starters and kids to graduation, but hopefully it’s the tradition and the work ethic that those other kids see that keeps that thing trending in the right direction.”
Whiteville has won nine or more games all but once since 2017. The players feel that will not change if they shore up some of the little things.
“Just going to have to work as a team better than we did last year,” senior guard Eli Hill said. “Especially up front, there was some bad communication. We’re going to have to have better communication up front, better blocking.”
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
The Wolfpack has finshed .500 or better every year since 2013.
They have 15 seniors on their roster, which is a good amount for a 3A school, and they all hope to go out on top.
“It’d be a lot,” senior defensive back and wide receiver Jake Odham said. “This is our senior year. Just carry on the Whiteville legacy. We went from the fourth round two years ago to the fifth round last year. This year, we’re hoping to make it to the state championship. Be the first in many years.”
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
Whiteville will now be part of the Southeastern Conference as opposed to the Waccamaw. The only other school to follow them is South Columbus.
