MERRY HILL – Last season Lawrence Academy finished 4-7 in the independent schools’ Colonial Carolina 8-Man Football Conference. The Warriors then fell in the first round to eventual 1A state champion, Southampton Academy.

Last season the Colonial became a split-conference, divided into 1A (smaller schools) and 2A (larger enrollment) classifications. This season, while the 2A’s remain the same and two new 1A 8-Man teams have been added (Bethel Christian in Kinston and Wayne Christian in Goldsboro). The additions have forced changes in the scheduling and, hopefully, will be creating new rivalries.

As for Lawrence, the Warriors will be led by senior quarterback Jarrett Harrell who passed for 2,700 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. Two of his favorite receiving targets will also be seniors in Miller Trowell and Austin Wynne. The tight end will be senior Slade Cowan.

“We will be experienced at quarterback and will throw the ball a lot this year,” said second-year head coach Lee Hoffman. “We will also be looking to develop an offensive line.”

The defense will be led by Harrell at linebacker, and on the other side of him, junior linebacker Dylan Harrell. Another senior, Bradley Smithwick, will play defensive end, while Wynne will be at cornerback.

“On defense we will put a lot of emphasis on trying to improve our tackling,” added Hoffman. “We will be awfully young on defense.”

Lawrence opens the season facing its only three 2A opponents on the schedule, and all three on the road. Aug. 19 features a trip to Kinston to meet defending state 2A champ, Arendell Parrott Academy. The Warriors are back on the road the following Friday (Aug. 26), traveling to Cary Christian. The team will then have a week off before the final opening road trip on Sept. 9 at Rocky Mount Academy.

The Warriors’ home opener is set for Sept. 16 when they open 1A play hosting Hobgood Academy.

On Sept. 23 LAW makes its second trip to Kinston, this time against new member Bethel Christian. Next come a pair of home dates: first they are back at home on Sept 30 hosting Halifax Academy, and on Oct. 7 they will host Community Christian for Homecoming.

The Warriors then get another off-week Oct. 14 before resuming play on Oct. 21 with their first-ever trip to Wayne Christian. The regular season will then end at home in a game with rival, Northeast Academy. The NC Independent Schools Athletic Association 1A playoffs begin the following Friday, Nov. 4.

“We have a very tough non-conference schedule against the 2A teams of Parrott, Cary, and Rocky Mount, and playing all three on the road,” said Hoffman. “They are all strong and we hope to be injury-free going into our conference schedule.”

“In our 1A conference will be battling Northeast, Halifax, Hobgood, and Community Christian,” the coach added. “Our goal is to finish in the top-four and make the state playoffs again.”

“Our seniors are working hard for this season,” Hoffman concluded. “We hope to build on last year as we made the state playoffs. We’re trying to re-establish a winning tradition.”