Football Cleveland County

Jun 19, 2003
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They’re loaded if they can coach it up.

They were better off with Lloyd too. It’s just fact. No hate.
No hate taken. Lloyd is a really good coach. Coach Lloyd also had a really good coaching staff with him at KM. Coach Wilson, Cruz, Kennedy, Brown, and others were really good at what they did and complimented Coach Lloyd well. Most people do not understand the importance of having good assistant coaches with you.
One of the secrets to Crest’s success I believe is the assistant coaching staff. Crest has a good group there. I am waiting to see what Coach Barnes does when it comes to his assistant coaches’ roles.
 

crestrulz

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Oct 18, 2003
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One of the secrets to Crest’s success I believe is the assistant coaching staff. Crest has a good group there. I am waiting to see what Coach Barnes does when it comes to his assistant coaches’ roles.
Frank Toms did wonders for the defense. All the assistants were awesome. You’re correct, that helps a coach out tremendously.

Look for KM to be back stronger SD. What does not kill you makes you better. The talent there is unmistakable. I like to poke but I’m also real. KM should be very formidable in the next few years.
 
Jun 19, 2003
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Frank Toms did wonders for the defense. All the assistants were awesome. You’re correct, that helps a coach out tremendously.

Look for KM to be back stronger SD. What does not kill you makes you better. The talent there is unmistakable. I like to poke but I’m also real. KM should be very formidable in the next few years.
I agree, I think talent wise all of the CC schools are in a good place. I also know that it will be extremely hard to beat Coach Barnes at Crest. His teams are always well rounded.
The Crest defense especially the improvement in the defensive front seven was very noticeable. Coach Toms did this while also building depth throughout the whole defense. Those defensive coaches did an incredible job all year. We talk trash but we noticed Crest was getting stronger later in the year. The best two coaching jobs by staffs in the area were done by Crest and Stuart Cramer by far this past season.
 
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Stormsurge1

Senior
Oct 21, 2025
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I agree, I think talent wise all of the CC schools are in a good place. I also know that it will be extremely hard to beat Coach Barnes at Crest. His teams are always well rounded.
The Crest defense especially the improvement in the defensive front seven was very noticeable. Coach Toms did this while also building depth throughout the whole defense. Those defensive coaches did an incredible job all year. We talk trash but we noticed Crest was getting stronger later in the year. The best two coaching jobs by staffs in the area were done by Crest and Stuart Cramer by far this past season.
I know Coach Simmons has the utmost respect for Coach Lloyd. Think he still talks to him several times a week.
 
Jun 19, 2003
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I know Coach Simmons has the utmost respect for Coach Lloyd. Think he still talks to him several times a week.
I think Stuart Cramer is well positioned to become one of the top programs in Gaston County. I believe the growth in Belmont along with the growth in Cramerton will be extremely beneficial to Cramer football. Looking forward to see how your program develops the next 4-5yrs.
 
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Hawkbill

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Jan 13, 2026
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No agreeing or disagreeing but both those teams got a ton better as the season went along, especially Burns. You might be surprised if they played those teams later in the season and see where they finished. Both Shelby and Burns beat KM later in the year.
And wouldn’t you expect them to? 3A and 4A schools up against 5A and 6A teams.
got a "ton" better playing HT, Cherryville, W. Lincoln, etc. Did they get better or just play some the worst teams in the state?
 

Hawkbill

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Jan 13, 2026
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CFB has the highest #’s they have ever had. This is the way it is. Learn to win with it or quit banging on the programs that have. It isn’t changing!!!

CFB has the highest #’s they have ever had. This is the way it is. Learn to win with it or quit banging on the programs that have. It isn’t changing!!!
This isn't even funny, it is perplexing. Stuart Cramer fan preaching to others about how to win after just one season as a 3a size team playing against 2a teams. Shelby and Burns...this is your answer to just how good your league is. SC went from historically winless to strutting around like a cock in a henhouse. Just imagine if they had more than one decent win from this past year. Next year if they get 2 good wins it's gonna mean they're "state championship material"!!!
 

Stormsurge1

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Oct 21, 2025
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This isn't even funny, it is perplexing. Stuart Cramer fan preaching to others about how to win after just one season as a 3a size team playing against 2a teams. Shelby and Burns...this is your answer to just how good your league is. SC went from historically winless to strutting around like a cock in a henhouse. Just imagine if they had more than one decent win from this past year. Next year if they get 2 good wins it's gonna mean they're "state championship material"!!!
So it is Hawkbill today…not my absolute favorite one of the bunch but he does make me laugh.

Just to address a few issues, SC is definitely not trying to tell anyone on this thread how to win. This is the Cleveland County thread, and they don’t need any advice with 25% of the 2025 State Champions coming from that county. On the contrary, we are trying to learn from them. Step 1 was to hire a coach who coached under Coach Lloyd and still talks to him and takes advice from him on the reg. So far we are 1 season in and we couldn’t be happier with how it is going.

I am not privy to all the information on how the NCHSAA decided on changing from 4 classifications to 8, but I don’t think anyone from SC was involved with that decision. SC will just continue to play the teams on their schedule, and realize that some kids might leave and some kids might come from other schools, but we won’t use that as an excuse as to why we can’t beat certain teams.
 

crestrulz

All-American
Oct 18, 2003
32,621
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So it is Hawkbill today…not my absolute favorite one of the bunch but he does make me laugh.

Just to address a few issues, SC is definitely not trying to tell anyone on this thread how to win. This is the Cleveland County thread, and they don’t need any advice with 25% of the 2025 State Champions coming from that county. On the contrary, we are trying to learn from them. Step 1 was to hire a coach who coached under Coach Lloyd and still talks to him and takes advice from him on the reg. So far we are 1 season in and we couldn’t be happier with how it is going.

I am not privy to all the information on how the NCHSAA decided on changing from 4 classifications to 8, but I don’t think anyone from SC was involved with that decision. SC will just continue to play the teams on their schedule, and realize that some kids might leave and some kids might come from other schools, but we won’t use that as an excuse as to why we can’t beat certain teams.
That dude is salty man. He's ate up from those Crest butt-whippings.

SC is set up to be legit. In my opinion if SC sells out for football that will be the key.
 
Aug 29, 2021
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got a "ton" better playing HT, Cherryville, W. Lincoln, etc. Did they get better or just play some the worst teams in the state?
Not every team in every conference is good and you play what’s on your schedule. I’m sure Shelby and Burns would rather not play those teams. You also forgot that Shelby and burns played each other plus SC and Lincolnton. I’m sure you think those teams aren any good either
 

Hawkbill

Redshirt
Jan 13, 2026
18
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So it is Hawkbill today…not my absolute favorite one of the bunch but he does make me laugh.

Just to address a few issues, SC is definitely not trying to tell anyone on this thread how to win. This is the Cleveland County thread, and they don’t need any advice with 25% of the 2025 State Champions coming from that county. On the contrary, we are trying to learn from them. Step 1 was to hire a coach who coached under Coach Lloyd and still talks to him and takes advice from him on the reg. So far we are 1 season in and we couldn’t be happier with how it is going.

I am not privy to all the information on how the NCHSAA decided on changing from 4 classifications to 8, but I don’t think anyone from SC was involved with that decision. SC will just continue to play the teams on their schedule, and realize that some kids might leave and some kids might come from other schools, but we won’t use that as an excuse as to why we can’t beat certain teams.
So now Coach Lloyd is a GOAT? What does that make Wilbanks and Herron...Emperors of the Universe? Funniest part about all of this is... Devine is probably a better football coach than all those other HCs mentioned but he is situated in the worst spot in CC for keeping up with the recruiting efforts in football than the others. Not an excuse for Burns...just a statement of fact.
 
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Hawkbill

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Jan 13, 2026
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They've got their own banner to raise.

View attachment 1151456
Guess you need to make a banner for Crest saying "Since our local kids weren't good enough we outsourced for football"....you are effectively bragging about being inept.

Next year ain't too far away. Better get ready for that. What happens when Crest starts missing on some of these recruits? Yall haven't dealt with that yet, but it's coming.
 

BoltsUp

Freshman
Oct 8, 2025
35
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Not every team in every conference is good and you play what’s on your schedule. I’m sure Shelby and Burns would rather not play those teams. You also forgot that Shelby and burns played each other plus SC and Lincolnton. I’m sure you think those teams aren any good either


This isn't even funny, it is perplexing. Stuart Cramer fan preaching to others about how to win after just one season as a 3a size team playing against 2a teams. Shelby and Burns...this is your answer to just how good your league is. SC went from historically winless to strutting around like a cock in a henhouse. Just imagine if they had more than one decent win from this past year. Next year if they get 2 good wins it's gonna mean they're "state championship material"!!!

Awful lot of time and effort being used to discredit the success Stuart Cramer had this past year. The fact so many are actively trying to question what is happening at SC, only adds to the validation of what is being achieved. To claim the success is due to the conference is hypocritical and takes away from what has been earned. The more "hate" I hear from SP fans(literally the only ones) just means we are on the right track and they know it. How many times was SC posted about before this past year? No one spends times time trying to tear something down that is not already standing on its on.
 

crestrulz

All-American
Oct 18, 2003
32,621
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Awful lot of time and effort being used to discredit the success Stuart Cramer had this past year. The fact so many are actively trying to question what is happening at SC, only adds to the validation of what is being achieved. To claim the success is due to the conference is hypocritical and takes away from what has been earned. The more "hate" I hear from SP fans(literally the only ones) just means we are on the right track and they know it. How many times was SC posted about before this past year? No one spends times time trying to tear something down that is not already standing on its on.
SP fans know that the emergence of SC combined with the fact that they run an offense that the Indians ran against the pilgrims way back in the day will spell doom before long. South Point will NOT adapt to the changing times and therefore, they will get left behind.
 
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Crest Charger 02

All-Conference
Jan 19, 2022
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Guess you need to make a banner for Crest saying "Since our local kids weren't good enough we outsourced for football"....you are effectively bragging about being inept.

Next year ain't too far away. Better get ready for that. What happens when Crest starts missing on some of these recruits? Yall haven't dealt with that yet, but it's coming.
State championship banner would probably smarter to put up. Leave the moral victories and reimagining to the Belmont bunch.
 

crestrulz

All-American
Oct 18, 2003
32,621
9,472
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Guess you need to make a banner for Crest saying "Since our local kids weren't good enough we outsourced for football"....you are effectively bragging about being inept.

Next year ain't too far away. Better get ready for that. What happens when Crest starts missing on some of these recruits? Yall haven't dealt with that yet, but it's coming.
Who did Crest recruit? Name one...
 

Stormsurge1

Senior
Oct 21, 2025
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Who did Crest recruit? Name one...
There is a major difference between “recruiting” and kids wanting to come to your school and be a part of something special. Hey we lost a RB to SP who would have definitely helped us and most definitely helped them. I don’t blame that kid or his parents one bit. They left a bad situation, thinking it wasn’t going to change. Wish they would have stayed but no ill will they didn’t. However SP definitely didn’t shun him. They welcomed him with open arms after they saw him and he was the starter for them at FB from day 1.

Are you telling me that not one person asked that kid or told that kid he should go to SP or Ashbrook (those were the 2 schools he was deciding between) from either one of those schools? Cmon
 
Jun 19, 2003
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There is a major difference between “recruiting” and kids wanting to come to your school and be a part of something special. Hey we lost a RB to SP who would have definitely helped us and most definitely helped them. I don’t blame that kid or his parents one bit. They left a bad situation, thinking it wasn’t going to change. Wish they would have stayed but no ill will they didn’t. However SP definitely didn’t shun him. They welcomed him with open arms after they saw him and he was the starter for them at FB from day 1.

Are you telling me that not one person asked that kid or told that kid he should go to SP or Ashbrook (those were the 2 schools he was deciding between) from either one of those schools? Cmon
The irony of criticizing transfers when your leading rusher is a transfer is crème bulee 👩‍🍳 😂
 

BurnsBulldog02

All-Conference
Aug 21, 2016
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So now Coach Lloyd is a GOAT? What does that make Wilbanks and Herron...Emperors of the Universe? Funniest part about all of this is... Devine is probably a better football coach than all those other HCs mentioned but he is situated in the worst spot in CC for keeping up with the recruiting efforts in football than the others. Not an excuse for Burns...just a statement of fact.
Devine is a hell of a coach and even better human being. He is the coach the community wants and deserves because he does it the right way. He has proven that time and time again. He could have easily given a few players a slap on the wrist before the season started to have one hell of a receiver contribute. Instead he sent the young man packing hoping he would learn a bigger lesson in life. Devine came from a time when transfers didn't really exist and was on a special 94 team that won it with home grown players. I guarantee you he doesn't focus on the geography and how it would benefit more transfers. He coaches the kids that come out and prepares them. From game 1 against Crest to the last game vs. Brevard was nothing short of phenomenal as far as growth. We did not pick the conference, the chess players in Raleigh did. Wilbanks, Lloyd and Devine are all home grown coaches and know CC Football. I have wondered what would happen if KM found that local coach. Lloyd and Massey were the last two coaches that really got success. Herron isn't in SC anymore. We do things different here. Mark Barnes understood that when he came in and adapted immediately. He reminded me of Massey. They were not born and bred here but they got it. Their track record proves it.
 

Hawkbill

Redshirt
Jan 13, 2026
18
10
3
Awful lot of time and effort being used to discredit the success Stuart Cramer had this past year. The fact so many are actively trying to question what is happening at SC, only adds to the validation of what is being achieved. To claim the success is due to the conference is hypocritical and takes away from what has been earned. The more "hate" I hear from SP fans(literally the only ones) just means we are on the right track and they know it. How many times was SC posted about before this past year? No one spends times time trying to tear something down that is not already standing on its on.
Don't mistake discredit for apathy. Doesn't need to be any falsified "discrediting". Just sign up to play to prove what you are or aren't. There isn't anything to tear down. The schools are basically the same size and are located a mile and half apart. You are constantly on 5a/6a boards because you want the rest of the world to believe the lie. Show up on Friday night and get some.

Don't confuse these Crest ingrates for being your friends...they just desperately want anything bad to happen to SP so they can change being a historic loser to them.
 

crestrulz

All-American
Oct 18, 2003
32,621
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Don't mistake discredit for apathy. Doesn't need to be any falsified "discrediting". Just sign up to play to prove what you are or aren't. There isn't anything to tear down. The schools are basically the same size and are located a mile and half apart. You are constantly on 5a/6a boards because you want the rest of the world to believe the lie. Show up on Friday night and get some.

Don't confuse these Crest ingrates for being your friends...they just desperately want anything bad to happen to SP so they can change being a historic loser to them.
Still SP recruited the SC fullback and he moved and then lost not once but twice this year. Now he's stuck on a SP team that is going down faster than you out at the blue oyster..

Crest is YOUR State Champion. You don't have to like it but you will learn to love it.

spo.jpg
 

BoltsUp

Freshman
Oct 8, 2025
35
83
18
Don't mistake discredit for apathy. Doesn't need to be any falsified "discrediting". Just sign up to play to prove what you are or aren't. There isn't anything to tear down. The schools are basically the same size and are located a mile and half apart. You are constantly on 5a/6a boards because you want the rest of the world to believe the lie. Show up on Friday night and get some.

Don't confuse these Crest ingrates for being your friends...they just desperately want anything bad to happen to SP so they can change being a historic loser to them.
"constantly on 5a/6a..." I have posted on this board 2-3 times and only when some SP guy drags us into it the conversation. Listen, I get it you are upset that SC didn't play SP this year, but go back and do a quick search and see what I am posting. The real question for another thread is why is SP consumed by SC success? We all know the SP narrative "SC still aint crap its just the schedule. Burns is no good, Shelby is no good. Lincolnton is no good" etc.

Your narrative is getting tiresome. I guess since they don't play you feel like you have to keep negative narrative going about SC? Let it go. The more you post about it just validates that SP is worried about the SC success. Go back and look which posters keep bringing SC up in a 5a/6a forum. Here is the reality. SC hired a great coach. The program is turned in the right direction and building. Don't wont to believe me, ask the fans on here we played, but you already know that. If you still are upset about SC not playing SP, keep calling the AD and asking for the game like everyone else. Or keep showing how much you dont care about SC by posting about us. It is a Win-Win for the Storm.
 

BurnsBulldog02

All-Conference
Aug 21, 2016
763
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"constantly on 5a/6a..." I have posted on this board 2-3 times and only when some SP guy drags us into it the conversation. Listen, I get it you are upset that SC didn't play SP this year, but go back and do a quick search and see what I am posting. The real question for another thread is why is SP consumed by SC success? We all know the SP narrative "SC still aint crap its just the schedule. Burns is no good, Shelby is no good. Lincolnton is no good" etc.

Your narrative is getting tiresome. I guess since they don't play you feel like you have to keep negative narrative going about SC? Let it go. The more you post about it just validates that SP is worried about the SC success. Go back and look which posters keep bringing SC up in a 5a/6a forum. Here is the reality. SC hired a great coach. The program is turned in the right direction and building. Don't wont to believe me, ask the fans on here we played, but you already know that. If you still are upset about SC not playing SP, keep calling the AD and asking for the game like everyone else. Or keep showing how much you dont care about SC by posting about us. It is a Win-Win for the Storm.
We have people from Burns, Shelby, Lincolnton and SC on here posting for a conference that may not be insane from top to bottom but the representation is better than it has been in a very long time. The previous conference basically had Burns and Shelby fans with a chime in from others here and there. Post all you want and who the hell is going to stop you? You had every reason to rep that team this year and will have every reason to be excited for next year. To SP credit, SC being built didn't make a lot of sense to me either when you could have taken that dump they have now and built a new SP that is bigger. I am not knocking SC because they exist because of other people creating it. SP is old and very run down for modern standards. If you take some of the athletes at SC and SP but put them on one team, you probably have a powerhouse in multiple sports.
 

crestrulz

All-American
Oct 18, 2003
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Crest is doing what it must to maintain what it intends to be. Coach Barnes coming back is going to help move forward the vision.

Crest does want to win football games. That's a simple fact. But it's more than that. Barnes is great at preparing kids for college. He's won over 300 games and he cares about the kids that play for him, wanting them to have every opportunity to succeed not just in football but in life after football.

Heard him say he wants Crest to mimic a small college program. Him and his staff will help prepare kids for college. Character is important and the plan is to instill character everywhere in the program. Also the coaching staff teaches techniques at all positions, that along with strength training, nutrition and skill development helps put kids in valuable situations moving forward. Crest has a nutritional feeding program designed to help players get to peak performance levels. It all comes down to hard work, from the kids and the coaches alike.

Crest feels like it has a solid football program but the plan is to make it even better. If you are not looking forward, you are falling behind. It's just that simple. Folks want to say this and that about this and that. The fact is that Crest is doing what it must in this new era we find ourselves in. Crest takes football seriously and the most serious thing is helping kids help themselves. It's all about the kids. It has to be. The kids know if their best interests are being looked after. Any kid playing at Crest is going to get the best guidance on life, football, and academics. Most kids will not see the NFL that's just how it is. 32 teams at 53 on a roster is 1,696 NFL players (not counting practice squads). Academics is the first priority it does not matter how good one is on the field if we fail them in the classroom.

Any kid with great work ethic and skills can be coached into college. That's what Crest intends to do. Help kids be the best versions of themselves in the classroom and on the field so they can go as far as they can and have a leg up getting there.

People can hate all they want. No one cares..... Stay back 20 years ago if that is where your head is at. But, we're moving forward. Coach Barnes and his staff are TOP NOTCH!!!! Believe it!!!!
 
Jun 19, 2003
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Devine is a hell of a coach and even better human being. He is the coach the community wants and deserves because he does it the right way. He has proven that time and time again. He could have easily given a few players a slap on the wrist before the season started to have one hell of a receiver contribute. Instead he sent the young man packing hoping he would learn a bigger lesson in life. Devine came from a time when transfers didn't really exist and was on a special 94 team that won it with home grown players. I guarantee you he doesn't focus on the geography and how it would benefit more transfers. He coaches the kids that come out and prepares them. From game 1 against Crest to the last game vs. Brevard was nothing short of phenomenal as far as growth. We did not pick the conference, the chess players in Raleigh did. Wilbanks, Lloyd and Devine are all home grown coaches and know CC Football. I have wondered what would happen if KM found that local coach. Lloyd and Massey were the last two coaches that really got success. Herron isn't in SC anymore. We do things different here. Mark Barnes understood that when he came in and adapted immediately. He reminded me of Massey. They were not born and bred here but they got it. Their track record proves it.
I will not disagree with the first part of your post but I am going to challenge the homegrown coaching aspect. Wilbanks coached at KM before going to Shelby but he is not from Cleveland County. In his first three years Herron is 27-10 with one conference championship and he has a 6-3 record against CC teams during the 3yrs he has been at the helm. KM played eight playoff teams in the regular season this past season with 5 of those teams going to at least the 3rd round. Crest is 8-1 in CC, Shelby is 4-5, and Burns is 0-9 the last 3yrs in CC/ 23-13 overall against a MUCH weaker schedule. I am a firm believer that you always go after the best candidate you can get when you hire unless they bring a ton of baggage you can’t afford. Your homegrown coaching analysis stated sucks under the light of facts… Also many Shelby fans were ready for Wilbanks to go until realignment and Shelby saw a path to multiple titles over the next couple of years.
 
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Jun 19, 2003
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Still SP recruited the SC fullback and he moved and then lost not once but twice this year. Now he's stuck on a SP team that is going down faster than you out at the blue oyster..

Crest is YOUR State Champion. You don't have to like it but you will learn to love it.

View attachment 1153967
To be fair SP has one more good year left and then they will fall off a cliff for a couple of years lol
 
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crestrulz

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Oct 18, 2003
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… Also many Shelby fans were ready for Wilbanks to go until realignment and Shelby saw a path to multiple titles over the next couple of years.
💯............. A lot of them were crying until realignment happened and they can cake-walk... Wilbanks is from Gaffney I believe.
 
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