Porter Ridge Pirates prove they’re among state’s best

Blair Hardin and his Porter Ridge football team have established themselves as one of the best Class 4A teams in the state.

The team has built a 40-5 record in the past three seasons and won the last two 4A Western Regional championships.

After advancing to the 4A state semifinals in 2010 (lost 21-14 to Davie County), the Pirates have been in back-to-back state championship games, losing to Scotland County (42-16) in 2011 and then New Bern less than two weeks ago.

The team came up just one point short in the title game. New Bern scored the game-winning touchdown with just 26 seconds left for a 39-38 win.

Still, Porter Ridge has a lot to be proud of.

“We are still a young program trying to establish a (winning) tradition,” Hardin said.

He took over the program in 2008 and has gone 50-18 in his five years.

“While we’ve been knocking on the door (to a state title), we still aren’t satisfied. Our ultimate goal is to win a state championship,” the coach said.

Hardin notes he starts every season with five goals: To have no ejections, to beat the rivals, to win their conference, to be practicing on Thanksgiving and to win a state championship.

The day the season ends, Hardin and his team starting working towards the next season.

“We come into every season with those same goals, and our players know exactly what they are,” Hardin said. “Our motto is that ‘Hard work, works.’ So, now we have to get back to work in the weight room and be committed to our whole offseason program.”

The team will lose some key players, like all-conference running back Chris Duffy (Charlotte 49ers commit), kicker Matt Wogan (Oregon commit) and defensive end Avery Worsham (offers from Charlotte and Duke). But the team still has talent.

Rising senior running back Jerrick Robbins (5-foot-9, 160 pounds) will lead that group after rushing for 1,313 yards and 13 scores, including 175 yards and a 66-yard touchdown run in the state title game.

Robbins will have the benefit of three players with starting quarterback experience: rising junior Isaiah Hicklin, who took over during the Pirates’ playoff run, and rising seniors Nick Vagnone and Zach Danielson.

Hardin also will have Luke Bayly (42 catches, 10 touchdowns in 2012) and Isaiah Duffy (27 catches in 2012) to help an offense that averaged 36 points per game.

However, the coach must replace his entire starting offensive line.

The Pirates also will be strong on defense where Vagnone (104 tackles) will be the middle linebacker, with Bayly and Robbins leading the secondary, and Devyn Cunningham (seven sacks) back to lead the defensive front.

“We have a lot of experienced guys coming back next year, which will help us a lot ... ,” Hardin said. “But every year there are new challenges and new guys who have to step up.”

Porter Ridge’s biggest challenge may be their conference change as they move to a brand new 4A conference (because of realignment) that will include 4AA state champion Butler as well as Independence, East Mecklenburg, Garinger, Myers Park and Rocky River.

The Pirates will keep Union County rivals Sun Valley and Piedmont on the slate, while also adding Providence and South Mecklenburg to their schedule.

“Next season will be a whole new experience for us with a lot of the unknown,” Hardin said. “But in the end, it’s still just a football game every week. We will work and prepare the same way we have in the past.”

For a team that seems to have the ability to reload, instead of rebuilding, with each coming year, the expectations won’t change a lot in Indian Trail.

“We are proud of what we have accomplished,” Hardin said. “But we are also still focused on continuing to prove that we are one of the best programs in the state.”