Three Rivers 4A Conference Holds First Preseason Media Day Under New NCHSAA Realignment

Three Rivers 4A Conference Holds First Preseason Media Day Under New NCHSAA Realignment

The landscape of North Carolina high school football looks a little different this year — and for the schools in the Three Rivers Conference, completely different.

In what’s now the only all-4A football conference in the state, the newly restructured Three Rivers held its first-ever preseason media day this week. Coaches from across the league gathered to preview their teams and cast preseason predictions for the upcoming season — and while some results followed last year’s records, a few picks raised eyebrows.

The conference includes:

• West Craven
• Eastern Wayne
• SouthWest Edgecombe
• Washington
• North Pitt
• North Johnston
• North Lenoir

Each coach submitted a ballot predicting the conference standings. The preseason rankings, based on total voting points, shook out as follows:

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. West Craven – 12 points (3 first-place votes)
2. Eastern Wayne – 12 points (2 first-place votes)
3. SouthWest Edgecombe – 14 points
4. Washington – 21 points
5. North Pitt – 25 points
6. North Johnston – 30 points
7. North Lenoir – 33 points

Despite both receiving 12 points, West Craven edged Eastern Wayne for the top spot in the poll thanks to an extra first-place vote. The two programs appear poised to battle it out for the inaugural Three Rivers 4A crown, while SouthWest Edgecombe looms just two points behind as a serious contender.

Eastern Wayne brings back momentum from a 10–3 season and a trip to the third round of the playoffs, while West Craven is looking to improve upon its 6–7 finish last fall. SouthWest Edgecombe and North Pitt both posted .500 or better records in 2023, and Washington (4–7) will aim to make a leap with experience on its side.

North Johnston, who quietly posted a 6–5 campaign last year, will try to shake up the middle of the pack. Meanwhile, North Lenoir, who finished 4–7 in 2023, was picked seventh by the coaches but will look to play spoiler and flip the narrative.

With realignment creating a fully 4A landscape, this new Three Rivers setup gives each program a clear measuring stick. Every team has something to prove in a conference where nobody can hide behind mixed classifications.