Phoenix set to make move to 3-A

In his second year at the helm of McMichael’s football program, coach Gary Whitman could face an even tougher scenario than being a first-year coach.
The Phoenix varsity posted the best record (8-4) in school history during Whitman’s first season, but 2009 will hold an entirely new challenge. McMichael’s athletic program moves up next season from 2-A to 3-A as part of next year’s regularly scheduled conference re-alignment by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
McMichael’s reported 1,067 students just barely places them within the cutoff between the two divisions. In fact, only two schools – East Henderson (1,062) and West Iredell (1,056) – rest between the Phoenix and another four years in 2-A.
“You play the hand you’re dealt when it comes to conference alignment,” said Whitman. “But it will be an uphill battle when every school you face has more bodies on the sideline than you do.”
Whitman’s seen what his team is capable of pulling off with the season just finished. What he sees ahead is battle of numbers and depth.
“When you move up in conference levels, especially if you just make that cutoff, you’re always faced with taking on schools with much deeper benches than we’re able to field,” he said. “That means we’re coming off a good season, where we faced a pretty tough schedule, with an even rougher road ahead.”
Looking at McMichael’s new 3-A lineup, only one school remains as a carry over from the previous North State 2-A roster. Eastern Guilford also moved up a level for next season and joins the Phoenix in conference that includes two more Rockingham County schools, three Alamance County schools and one additional Guilford County school.
McMichael opens non-conference play on Aug. 28, hosting neighboring South Stokes. Staying at home again the next week (Sept. 4), the Phoenix welcome last year’s North State 2-A and state 2-AA champion Reidsville.
“Playing Reidsville as a non-conference team that early in the season should be a real test for us,” Whitman said.
Next comes McMichael’s first road game at Bartlett-Yancey on Sept. 11, although athletic director Bob Bailey said he had not received official confirmation of the date. The Phoenix travel to Central Davidson on Sept. 18 and open conference play at Rockingham County on Sept. 25.
“At least we’re in familiar territory with three teams, including two of our county schools,” said Whitman. “That should make the move a little easier.”
The first conference home game comes Oct. 2 as the Phoenix welcome Williams High School from Burlington. Then comes a game at cross-county rival Morehead (Oct. 9), leading to three straight home games against conference opponents Northern Guilford (Oct. 16), Eastern Alamance (Oct. 23) and Western Alamance (Oct. 30).
McMichael closes the regular season on the road at former North State 2-A rival Eastern Guilford on Nov. 6.
In addition to the new conference, Bailey said Phoenix football would face another difficult challenge.
“We’ll be faced with finding a new quarterback and a couple more running backs,” he said.
Leading last year’s 8-4 offensive attack were seniors Aaron Morgan at quarterback, Alton Crutchfield at full back and running back Thomas Hall. The trio was backed up with some talented underclassmen, but Bailey said the team will need to discover new ways to use the remaining offense.
“You may see some offenses that haven’t been seen in a long time,” he said.

2009 SCHEDULE
Aug. 28 – South Stokes (home)
Sept. 4 – Reidsville (home)
Sept. 11 – Bartlett-Yancey (away)
Sept. 18 – Central Davidson (away)
Sept. 25 – Rockingham County* (away)
Oct. 2 – Williams* (home)
Oct. 9 – Morehead * (away)
Oct. 16 – Northern Guilford* (home)
Oct. 23 – Eastern Alamance* (home)
Oct. 30 – Western Alamance* (home)
Nov. 6 – Eastern Guilford* (away)