By Randy Capps
Six is the magic number for this year’s North Johnston football team.
It’s the number of wins in each of head coach Kyle Schenk’s first two seasons in charge of the Panthers, and it’s the number of wins and losses (6-6) that the 2025 squad posted last fall.
There are also a half dozen starters returning — so there’s a foundation on which to build.
“We are a very young team that needs to find who will step up,” Schenk said. “Our focus is on being efficient, fast and physical.”
That youth may be most obvious in the offensive skill positions, which will have to move on without all-everything quarterback Kaleb Pone (2,095 total yards, 18 touchdowns), running back Tyrece Hicks (778 yards, six touchdowns) and the top eight receivers from last season.
Enter Marquise Hicks, who had all of four carries for 40 yards as a junior.
“Expect him to get the ball a lot more this year,” Schenk said.
Seniors Tanner Waddell and Josiah Tirado played tackle and tight end last season, and Schenk is relying on those two for leadership and flexibility.
Those three players are also the lone returnees among the tackling leaders last season, with Hicks (48), Waddell (37) and Tirado (34) ranking third, eighth and ninth, respectively.
Those guys figure to be on the field quite a bit, along with another senior, Darrien Powers, who is slated to see time at wide receiver and corner.
Last season was the first for North Johnston in the Three Rivers 4A, and the Panthers started 0-2 in league play before rallying to beat Washington and North Lenoir in conference play.
Interestingly enough, the Panthers faced Washington a second time in the opening round of the 4A playoffs, and earned a second win over the Pam Pack.
North Johnston fell at East Duplin, 48-20, in round two to close out the 2025 campaign. The 2026 schedule mirrors last season, with the home and road games reversed. This season gets going on Aug. 21 with a trip to Wilson to face Beddingfield.
