That was certainly the case for the Cardinals in 2007. After absorbing a seven-game losing streak during the heart of the season, East got on a roll in the final month.
Monty Chipman's Cardinals beat Alleghany handily, then topped Hayesville and North Stokes on the road in the playoffs to reach the Elite Eight of the 1A bracket.
No East Wilkes team had ever been that far in the post-season. The run finally came to an end against eventual 1A runner-up North Duplin over Thanksgiving weekend.
With most of the players from last year's playoff charge back in uniform this year, hope runs high for the Cardinals' chances. A top three finish in the ultra-competitive Northwest 1A looms as one of the main goals. That would bring about a home playoff game this November.
"Those three games in the playoffs last year really gave us some experience," Chipman said. "I think we're ahead of the game right now as far as our offense, defense and special teams. We've got everything in, we've just got to fine tune it.
"I hope we start playing this year the way that we left off."
Chipman pointed to two big keys to last year's turnaround. First, he decided, after consulting with mentor and former Starmount coach B.W. Holt, to switch from a one-back set to the Wing-T offense.
That approach suited the Cardinals' personnel better and helped, in particular, to unleash sophomore running back Aaron Bauguess.
Second, the youthful bunch simply needed time to mature and gel together. Many had been part of a stellar junior varsity team in 2006 but still had to adjust to starting roles on the varsity.
Looking back, East Wilkes very easily could have been 5-1 at midseason last year but dropped close games to East Surry (31-24 in double OT), North Stokes (12-7) and Bishop McGuinness (10-7) on three successive weeks.
"We were young last year," Chipman said. "We had seven sophomores who played varsity. As the season went on, they stuck with it."
The Wing-T will return as the main offensive approach, though Chipman hopes to add more wrinkles to it.
Bauguess, who rushed for 1,896 yards and scored 22 touchdowns a year ago, will still be the featured back. But defenses won't be able to gang up on him like they did early last season. The Wing-T emphasizes the use of multiple backs and several offensive threats on each play, depending on what the defense shows.
Jesse White, Terrell White and Micah Bryan all have experience toting the pigskin and could play prominent roles this fall. Jesse White spent most of last season on JVs but has as much speed as anyone on the team, Chipman said.
Graylin Tharpe returns as a dual-threat quarterback. Chris Vannoy, Kenny Sapp and Trendon Harris each are capable wideouts.
"The teams that we saw last year really focused on Aaron the whole time," Chipman said. "But they can't do that this year. I feel comfortable running any of those four (backs). And we've got a quarterback who can throw. We can mix in the run and the pass."
Drew Lovette, James Combs, Michael Greene, Mitchell Layell, Robby Pierce and Jesse Hall will lead the way on the front lines. This is another experienced group, Chipman said, though not as big as some who have worked in the trenches for East in past years.
"If we go and win games, it's going to be our D-line and our O-line," Chipman said. "We've got great skill people, but our line has to block."
Chipman must replace his defensive ends from a year ago. Layell, Luke Rintaniemi and Kyle Smith will compete for playing time there.
Matt Cooper, J.J. Jackson and Dillon Shoupe also will be key players for the Cardinals in the defensive linebacking corps and secondary.
"Our front is small but the defense in general is probably the quickest that we've had," Chipman said. "I guess that's a good thing, but you've got to have good technique."
The Cardinals must replace kicker Daniel Mesimer, who booted the game-winning field goal at Hayesville last year. He had great distance on kickoffs that will be missed.
Soccer standout Garrett Holbrook will handle the place-kicking chores this fall. Sapp and Micah Bryan will handle the punting.
East Wilkes will scrimmage just once in the preseason, hosting Ashe County on Friday night at 6 p.m. The regular season opens next Friday at West Davidson, a 2A team that went 9-4 a year ago.
The Cardinals stunned West Davidson in last year' opener at home -- a victory that Chipman repeatedly pointed to last fall as proof that his team could compete with anyone on its schedule. The Cards won it in the final minute, then beat 2A North Wilkes the following Friday before suffering through its seven-game losing skid.
"I knew when we played in the playoffs last year that we weren't going to play a team like West Davidson," Chipman said. "If we can play with them and beat them, we should be able to play with the teams we face in the playoffs."
The 2008 schedule will be challenging once again. The teams are the same. Only the game sites are different.
Road trips to West Davidson and North Wilkes for starters will be followed by a home game against defending Mountain Valley 2A champ Wilkes Central. After that, the Cardinals open Northwest 1A Conference play by traveling to East Surry, always a tough opponent.
Other road games include Bishop McGuinness, Elkin and Alleghany. The rest of the home schedule includes contests against North Stokes, West Wilkes, South Stokes and Mount Airy.
This is the last year for the current Northwest 1A. Next season, East Wilkes will join a nine-team split 1A/2A league with all of its Wilkes County rivals, Elkin, Starmount, Ashe County, Alleghany and Forbush.
For now, though, the Cards will work on bidding farewell to the Northwest 1A in style.
"Mount Airy is going to be tough. Elkin is going to be tough -- they've got a lot of their kids back," Chipman said. "I'm hoping to be right there in the top three. I think in every game where we get on the field we have a chance to win if we play the way we did at the end of last year.
"We just can't be satisfied."
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