Kinston’s Mechaelin Davis hopes to help his team pick up a big non-conference win today against Jacksonville. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

Hopefully, this week holds up.

As the threat of inclement weather continues to plague Eastern North Carolina, Week 4’s slate of games could incorporate the fatigue factor for numerous teams. Some teams played games on Monday, others have to turn around for a Tuesday contest and a few have to do both.

Only time will tell, and prayers are high for the players — hopefully, this will be an injury-free time.

For now, here are the games slated for Friday; all games are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.:

Jacksonville (2-0) at Kinston (2-1)

Last game: Vikings fell to Wilson Fike 35-21 on Sept. 4; Cardinals defeated East Duplin 27-17 on Aug. 30

Last matchup: Kinston won 28-6 on Aug. 22, 2008

The Vikings had a rough go against the Demons last week in large part to five turnovers, and should be ready to step up against another tough 3A foe. Although the teams haven’t played each other in 11 years, the Cardinals have certainly forged a strong run with seven straight playoff appearance and three consecutive double-digit winning seasons.

Kinston is 2-21 all-time vs. Jacksonville in a series that ran every year from 1970-90, a playoff matchup in 1994 and two regular season games in 2007-08.

North Lenoir (2-0) at Southern Wayne (1-2)

Last game: Hawks defeated Farmville Central 39-14 on Aug. 30; Saints fell to Goldsboro 20-8 on Sept. 4

Last matchup: Southern Wayne rallied in the fourth quarter to win 32-28 on Sept. 7, 2018 in Wheat Swamp

The Hawks have used a devastating rushing attack and strong defense to start 2-0 for the first time since 2008. North Lenoir will look to garner revenge against a Saints team who won last season, but the Hawks won the previous four meetings, including a 40-8 decision during the last game in Dudley on Sept. 8, 2017.

North Lenoir is 10-9 all-time vs. Saints in series that has run from 1969-74, 1994, 2003-04 and every year since 2009. The Hawks have will be attempting to start 3-0 for the first time since 1993 and for only the ninth time in school history.

South Lenoir (1-1) at Princeton (2-0)

Last game: Blue Devils defeated Jones Senior 63-0 on Aug. 29, Bulldogs defeated Granville Central 28-24

Last matchup: South Lenoir won 36-21 on Sept. 17, 2004

This game has come full circle for the Blue Devils, who are coming off the second-largest margin of victory in school history against Jones Senior. On Sept. 12, 2003, South Lenoir defeated Princeton 64-0 in the next-to-last meeting between the teams before this contest and the Bulldogs hope to continue a 12-game regular-season winning streak.

South Lenoir is 4-0 all-time against the Bulldogs, a program that SL head coach Jeremy Joyner was an assistant coach before coming to Deep Run. The Devils will also be attempting to begin a season with a 2-2 record for the first time since Joyner’s inaugural campaign in 2016.

Raleigh St. David’s (1-1) at Arendell Parrott Academy (1-2)

Last game: Patriots defeated Cary Christian 14-13 on Sept. 9; Warriors defeated Rocky Mount Faith Christian 36-16 on Monday

Last matchup: St. David’s won 60-22 on Sept. 28, 2018

The Patriots’ 2018 campaign wasn’t up to their usual lofty standards, as the team didn’t reach the NCISAA title game; they’d done it every season since 2014. APA certainly wants revenge against a team who had its way last season and has been a rival over the past few seasons, especially as the Patriots won both title games in 2015 and 2016 over the Warriors.

The teams have met 21 times since 2003, with Parrott winning 13 of the games, including a 5-1 record in the state playoffs vs. Warriors.

Northeast Academy (3-0-1) at Bethel Christian Academy (2-0)

Last game: Trojans defeated Wilson Community Christian 72-0 on Monday; Eagles defeated Halifax Academy 40-20 on Sept. 6

Last matchup: Northeast/Hobgood won 30-26 on Oct. 26, 2018 (NCISAA 1A semifinals)

This is the game the Trojans want the most, especially after last year’s matchups with the NCISAA 1A champions. Bethel Christian lost to the Eagles three times in 2018, including the playoffs where the team had a 20-0 lead on a rainy night in Lasker. Bethel has outscored its opponents 136-0 to start the year.

Eastern Wayne (0-3) at Greene Central (0-2)

Last game: Rams fell to C.B. Aycock 40-21 on Aug. 29; Warriors fell to New Hanover 49-0 on Sept. 6

Last matchup: Eastern Wayne won 35-32 on Sept. 7, 2018

The Rams haven’t gotten off to an ideal start this season, and will be salivating at a shot with the Warriors for numerous reasons. Greene Central lost to Eastern Wayne last year for the first time since 2014 and the Warriors have been outscored 105-30 to start 2019.

GC is 9-8 all-time against Eastern Wayne in a series that ran from 1971-76 and every season since 2009.

Ayden-Grifton (2-0) at Farmville Central (0-3)

Last game: Chargers defeated Pamlico County 48-8 on Aug. 30; Jaguars fell to North Edgecombe 48-6

Last matchup: Ayden-Grifton won 22-0 on Sept. 7, 2018

The Chargers have won four straight against the Jaguars and considering the path of both teams, trends should remain status quo. Ayden-Grifton has allowed just eight points in its first two games while Farmville Central has already fallen to a pair of ECC teams in Kinston and North Lenoir.

Rose Hill Union (2-1) at Jones Senior (0-2)

Last game: Trojans fell to South Lenoir 63-0 on Aug. 29; Spartans defeated Pender 34-22 on Monday

Last matchup: Union won 64-0 on Sept. 15, 2017

The Trojans are hoping to break a 24-game losing streak in their home opener, one that was suspended twice against North Duplin already due to inclement weather. The task will be daunting against a Spartans team on the rise, already looking to surpass its win total from last year.

Neuse News Editor Bryan Hanks contributed to this report.