By Randy Capps
When Smithfield-Selma alumnus Stanley Williams took the head football coaching job as his alma mater before the start of last season, he described it as his “dream job.”
It was also a rebuilding one, and he approached it with an optimism that never wavered through the course of a 1-9 campaign. The Spartans did snap an 18-game losing streak with a 61-18 win over Southern Wayne on Oct. 18, which provides a little momentum heading into the 2025 season.
With a full year under his belt, Williams and the Spartans get set to embark on a new journey as a 7A school and a member of the Greater Neuse River Conference.
Smithfield-Selma is the smallest school in 7A, and will now share a league with Clayton, Cleveland, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, South Garner and Southeast Raleigh.
Travel will be a breeze. The competition? Less so.
The Spartans return eight starters on offense and six on defense. Sophomore quarterback Johnavon Cox, senior running back/linebacker Jamie Grove and offensive and defensive lineman Bryson Hinton are the headliners on offense.
“This is his second year as a starter and will be more poised at critical times during the game,” Williams said of his young quarterback. “(Groves) is our Swiss Army Knife. He must have a good season on both sides of the ball. (And Hinton) being the best returning lineman, he will be asked to do more in order for us to be successful.”
Junior strong safety James Bell will help Groves and Hinton solidify the defense. “Not only was Bell the best tackling DB, he also led the team with four interceptions,” Williams said.
The Spartans get the season rolling with back-to-back Johnston County games — hosting South Johnston in the season opener on Aug. 22 and visiting West Johnston on Aug. 29.
