By Bob Suttton
Special to The Alamance News
Cummings has players with proven records of success throughout the roster, and the Cavaliers hope they can make that mean something again this year.
The two-headed running back combination of Jaidyn Briskey and Devin Witherspoon is back and ready to make more impacts.
“We proved we can run the ball on a high level,” Witherspoon said. “I think we’re going to keep hitting it until it breaks.”
Witherspoon, a former quarterback, and Briskey both gained more than 1,200 rushing yards last season. They combined to score 40 touchdowns – 22 by Briskey.
Briskey, at 223 pounds, is a bruising running back and an ideal complement for Witherspoon.
“It gives us a break and also mixes up the defense,” Briskey said.
The Cavaliers have Ja’Kori McNair set for his second season as the starting quarterback. There are eight returning starters on offense.
“The chemistry coming back from last year because we didn’t lose a lot,” Witherspoon said.
The defense is anchored by linebacker Jaheim Marley, who’s surrounded by a cast of others with valuable experience. Briskey said he’ll lend a hand on that unit as well.
“We brought a lot of people back from last year so we got a good chance,” Marley said. “We’ve got a good bond.”
There are bound to be new elements with personnel changes on the coaching staff.
“We’ve got more schemes (on defense),” Marley said. “There’s going to be some different stuff.”
The Cavaliers won’t have former starting linebacker Jolton Smith, a junior who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the spring.
Still, interim coach Terrance Alford has a core of players who’ve seen quite a bit as the Cavaliers embark on membership in a newly-aligned conference. Cummings is the smallest school in terms of enrollment in the new eight-team Mid-Carolina Conference.
Yet it’s an inviting situation for many of the Cavaliers.
“We get to play the people we know from little league to middle school,” Briskey said.
In the eight-classification set-up, Cummings will be in the new Class 4-A. Playing bigger schools could pay off.
“I think our conference will get us ready for the playoffs,” Witherspoon said. “I’m not too focused on titles. I’m just focused on getting the guys ready.”
Cummings will be counting on talent compensating for questions about depth.
“Our best 11, I feel can go against anybody,” Marley said.
The conference opener comes in the first game of the season for the Cavaliers, who take on Williams this week. Witherspoon was on the field vs. Williams when the teams last met in 2022, but other teammates will experience this intra-city rivalry on the varsity level for the first time.
Nothing seems better to the Cavaliers than a showcase matchup for what they expect to be a special season.
“I think we’ve shown we can stack up with teams,” Witherspoon said. “I think we’re going to make a run at it this year for our senior class. We’ve got to show it all. It’s the last one.”
