Football coaches in the Tri-County Six 3-A Conference are pictured above. From left are Blake Culbertson (Western Harnett), Steve Burdeau (Lee County), Matt Migliore (Harnett Central), Matt Quinn (Union Pines), Ken Neal (Southern Lee) and Ben Penny (Triton).

The Tri-County Six 3-A Conference football coaches convened Thursday as the league held a luncheon and organizational meetings in all sports at Western Harnett.

In a preseason poll conducted by Dunn Area Sports, the coaches picked Lee County to defend the league championship that the Yellow Jackets won in the Tri-County’s inaugural season in 2017 with a 5-0 record.

Lee was first on five of six ballots. Coaches didn’t vote for their own teams.

The Jackets have undergone a coaching change with Steve Burdeau replacing Burton Cates.

Triton and Southern Lee were picked in a tie for second. Union Pines was tabbed for fourth. Harnett Central and Western Harnett tied for fifth in the voting.

Tri-County Six 3-A Conference
Preseason Football Poll
(Voting by league head coaches with five points awarded for first, four for second, etc.).

Place, School (first-place votes) Total
1, Lee (5)                                         25
2, Southern Lee (1)                        18
2, Triton                                           18
4, Union Pines                                15
5, Harnett Central                           7
5, Western Harnett                         7