After seemingly years of planning, Johnston County has finally opened its two new high schools. Corinth Holders and Cleveland High School will both open on Aug. 25.

The occasion also kicks off Cleveland’s inaugural football season. Cleveland didn’t leave anything to chance with their opening season. The Rams hired former Harnett Central coach Marc Morris to head up their football program. Morris was drawn to CHS for many reasons, including “a great community and principal Anne Meredith,” he said.

Morris joins the Rams only a year removed from a 4A state title berth with the Trojans. Harnett Central, only a year prior, moved from 3A to 4A. The Trojans finished the year with a 15-1 record losing only to A.C. Reynolds in the championship game. Morris spent four seasons at Harnett Central and compiled a 57-10 record during that time.

Cleveland will only have 9th and 10th graders roaming the halls this year so they will only field a junior varsity team in 2010. In 2011, the Rams will field both a varsity and a junior varsity team. Cleveland will become a member of the Eastern Carolina 3A conference, along side Triton and neighbor South Johnston. “[We hope] to teach our players and community what our program is about and how hard you need to work to be successful,” Morris said of his goals for this upcoming season.

Morris brought several members of his former staff along with him from Harnett Central, including Wayne Stewart, his assistant head coach and

defensive backs coach;

Travis Gaster, linebackers coach and defensive coordinator; Scott Riley, JV head coach and defensive line coach; Kenny Jones, running backs coach; and Joe Capps, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.

The Rams kicked off the preseason with a scrimmage against Gray’s Creek on Aug. 14.

“Saturday was a good start; we saw a lot of positives and negatives,” said Morris. “We feel we have a great group of young men that are willing to work.”

The Rams open their regular season Friday, Aug. 27 against Corinth Holders at Cleveland High School.