The 2023 high school football season officially gets underway this week as teams hit the practice field.
Rosewood and first-year head coach Josh Smith will practice from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. this week. Smith takes over for Robert Britt, who stepped down last December. Britt is now coaching linebackers at Knightdale High School.
The Eagles finished 10-5 last season and fell to Tarboro in the 1-A East finals. Rosewood opens its season on Aug. 18 at C.B. Aycock in the “Little River Rivalry.”
Aycock is practicing from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. this week, with a practice scheduled for 8:30 to 11 on Saturday morning. The Golden Falcons went 9-2 in 2022 and lost to Triton in the first round of the 3-A playoffs.
Southern Wayne is scheduled to practice from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. this week. Former defensive coordinator Matt Hine was promoted to head coach in April. The Saints went 3-7 last season, and have not had a winning season since they finished 6-4 in 2011.
Southern Wayne begins the season on Aug. 18 when it hosts county rival Eastern Wayne.
Goldsboro will report for practice at 8 am Tuesday-Thursday. The Cougars finished 2-9 last season under first-year head coach and Goldsboro graduate Ronnie McClary. Goldsboro lost at Princeton in the first round of the 2-A state playoffs.
The Cougars open their season on Aug. 18 at Farmville Central.
Spring Creek and first-year head coach Ronald Wise are practicing from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. this week. Wise replaces former head coach Daniel Robinson who announced earlier this month he was stepping down to take an assistant coaching position at North Johnston. The Gators went 2-8 in 2022.
Spring Creek starts its season on Aug. 18 when it hosts Lakewood.
Neuse 6 2-A Conference foes Eastern Wayne and Princeton will also hit the practice field this week. The Warriors went 6-5 last season and lost at Heide Trask in the opening round of the 2-A state playoffs.
Princeton went 12-2 last season and lost at home to Wallace-Rose Hill in the fourth round of the 2-A state playoffs. The Bulldogs open the season on Aug. 18 at South Johnston.
Stay connected to Goldsborodailynews.com as the high school football season approaches for reports from practice and previews of all the area high school football teams. Also, be sure to tune into FM 98.3 WGBR at 6:30 p.m. each Friday night throughout the season for live play-by-play coverage of high school football. The broadcasts will also be streamed live on Goldsborodailynews.com.
