Who is going to win the new Mountain Valley 1A/2A Conference?
If you listen to conference coaches, Starmount and Elkin will lead the pack in the new nine-team league. A coaches vote, published in the N.C. Prep Football News preseason yearbook, gives the Rams the nod over the Buckin’ Elks for the top spot. Starmount will host Elkin in the annual Battle of the Bridge on Oct. 2. Both teams made it to the state semifinals in their respective classification last season. Both were beaten by eventual state champions (2A Newton-Conover and 1A Mount Airy). Starmount must replace some key components from its 2008 run, including the school’s new single-season rushing leader (Rashaun Gaither, 2,000-plus yards) and the ’08 MVAC Defensive Player of the Year (lineman Matthew Walker, who was all-conference on both sides of the ball). Elkin will have a new quarterback under center after graduating team leader Russell Stewart but features one of the most experienced lines in the league. Wilkes Central was picked to finish third in preseason voting by league coache
