With quality players at every position, a deep bench and five emphatic wins to their credit, the Bengals entered Tri-9 conference play this week as a team to be reckoned with in the conference race this fall. Fuquay tri-captain, DeShey Thomas said he thinks the Bengals are the team to beat this year in the always powerful, Tri-9.

“The best thing about the group this year – we play as a team,” Thomas explained. “It’s no individuals. We’re 22 deep this year. It’s our biggest team. Even if anyone gets injured, we’ve got guys that can come in and substitute.”

Thomas and his teammates opened the season with a 5-0 shutout at Clayton on August 17 and followed that up with an impressive 3-1 win at 4A power, Raleigh Leesville Road on August 20.

Last week the Bengals dismantled 2008 playoff teams, Southern Pines Pinecrest at home and Fayetteville Terry Sanford on the road. Fuquay blanked Pinecrest, 5-0, and got a hat trick from junior midfielder, David Sizemore in an 8-3 romp over Byrd.

The best news of all, though, was Fuquay’s 9-0 demolition of Cary High, in Cary, on Monday night.

“Coach (James Mountford) has told us that nonconference is over and it’s really just a different world,” Thomas said of beginning Tri-9 play this week. “Even though we’re playing a team that hasn’t been as strong the last couple of years we still have to know that when you play any team in the Tri-9 conference, they’re going to be a good ballclub. We’ve got to just bring our A-game and not joke around in practice and just be serious.”

The Bengals have more serious business to attend to tonight as they welcome Panther Creek (1-2-1) for a Tri-9 conference match.