The Week 9 Football Matchups
Greene Central’s Cole Dawson hands the ball off to Laquarius Murray in the Oct. 11 game against South Lenoir. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
By Junious Smith III
Every week in the Eastern Carolina 2A Conference is pivotal.
Friday will be no different, but playoff windows could close with losses this time around. The games should be intense, the drama will be authentic and there’s no telling how anything will shape up afterwards.
For Arendell Parrott and Bethel Christian, the seasons are winding down so there can’t be any slipups, especially against teams they should be favored against Friday.
All games start at 7 p.m. with the exception of Bethel Christian at Pungo Christian, which is slated for 4 p.m.
Greene Central (4-3, 1-1) at Kinston (4-4, 1-2)
Last week: Vikings fell to West Craven 28-13 Oct. 11, Rams defeated South Lenoir 59-26 Oct. 11
Last matchup: Kinston won 26-24 Nov. 9, 2018
The winner of this game should all but make it in the postseason while the other team will have a long streak on life support — the Vikings have made it to the playoffs 11 straight years, the Rams six. This has all the makings of a defensive game, especially if Kinston quarterback Demetri Holmes is unable to go after an injury sustained against West Craven last week. Both teams will have something to show tonight in what should be a classic.
West Craven (5-2, 3-0) at North Lenoir (6-1, 1-1)
Last week: Hawks fell to Washington 33-6 Oct. 4, Eagles defeated Kinston 28-13 Oct. 11
Last matchup: West Craven won 54-14 Nov. 6, 2018
North Lenoir is looking to get back on the winning track after spending the past two weeks stewing over the first loss of the season. The task won’t be easy against an Eagles team looking to pick up their second EC2A crown in the past three seasons, haven’t won a game by fewer than 13 points and haven’t been challenged by the Hawks in the past two meetings, including a 40-6 win during the last meeting in The Swamp.
Ayden-Grifton (4-2, 0-2) at South Lenoir (2-5, 0-3), 7 p.m.
Last week: Blue Devils fell to Greene Central 59-26 Oct. 11, Chargers fell to Washington 37-12 Oct. 11
Last matchup: Ayden-Grifton won 42-0 Nov. 8, 2018
In a matchup of teams searching for their first EC2A win of the season, the Blue Devils are looking to reverse a rough trend against the Chargers. Since the conference was put together in 2013, Ayden-Grifton has won all six matchups — all by 22 or more — including a trio of shutouts. South Lenoir is 2-1 at home this season, so if there’s a time to end the streak, this would be it.
Fayetteville Christian (2-4) at Arendell Parrott (5-2)
Last week: Patriots defeated Faith Christian 54-30 Oct. 11, Warriors fell to St. David’s 36-24 Oct. 11
Last matchup: APA won 44-20 Nov. 4, 2005
It’s highly doubtful any of the players for either team were even in Pre-K the last time these teams played. The Patriots are riding a wave of momentum with a five-game winning streak and the offense has an added dimension after Wilkes Thomas threw for 402 yards — including eight connections for 279 yards to Nick Harrison. The Warriors ended a 22-game skid earlier this year with a 38-22 win over John Paul II Sept. 7.
Bethel Christian (3-3) at Pungo Christian (1-6)
Last week: Trojans fell to Halifax Academy 40-16 Oct. 11, Raiders defeated Wilson Community Christian 48-0 Oct. 11
Last matchup: Bethel Christian won 64-0 Aug. 23
This is the regular-season finale for the Trojans, who will have their entire roster ready for this one. Bethel Christian seemed to have the NCISAA 1A championship all but wrapped up, but a three-game losing streak has altered the thought process. Going up against a team the Trojans routed earlier this season could help Bethel Christian get back into the title game conversation.
