WINDSOR – Last year Bertie High was a .500 football team finishing with a 6-6 record after losing in the first round of the NCHSAA state playoffs.

Three year veteran head coach Greg Watford was released in the spring and later former Tyrrell County head coach RaShawn Spencer was named as Falcons field boss while Watford moved on to Southeast Halifax. Spencer came into his new job with plenty of enthusiasm, and he hopes that will carry over to his players.

“Offensively, three or four guys are battling for each position,” said Spencer. “We’re shuffling guys around right now and we will have a better feel after our last scrimmage.”

Bertie held that final scrimmage Thursday night in Nashville against Nash Central.

“Defensively, Marquise Holley will be a leader for us,” Spencer continued. “However, we will name all of our starters next week before our first game.”

That first game for the Falcons will be on the road on August 23 against the Red Barons of Gates County.  Because of a conflict, the Falcons will not play an August 30 game that had been scheduled at home against Greenville J.H. Rose, giving the team a week off before they are back on the road on September 6 in Onslow County where they will face Swansboro.

Following what would’ve been their regular bye week, Bertie will finally play their home opener on September 20 against West Carteret, which will be the first of four straight home games.

Manteo will next come calling at Roy L. Bond Stadium in Windsor on September 27. The Falcons will then open conference play at home on October 4 with rival, Hertford County; the earliest Bertie has played the Bears in conference regular-season play. Following that, the NightHawks of First Flight will be in town for a game on October 11.

October 18 will send Bertie to Currituck against the Knights in their first league road game. That will be followed by a game at Pasquotank on October 25.

Bertie returns home to meet Edenton J.A. Holmes for their first date in November on the first. Then they will finish the regular season on the road against pre-season favorite, Northeastern, on November 8.

The 2013 version of the state playoffs will begin on November 15.

“We will have a great team full of athletes with speed and strength,” said Spencer.  “We are shooting for a conference championship,” he concluded.