“So, what’s wrong with Cleveland?”

I heard this question from three different people over the weekend in the wake of the Rams’ 24-21 win over Heritage in the opening round of the playoffs.

It speaks to the standard of excellence the Rams (11-0) have set when a playoff win sparks concern, and not joy, in a community. When a team hasn’t lost a regular-season game since 2019 and regularly advances deep into the postseason, I guess even the smallest wobbles are newsworthy.

So, now that we’ve established what “wrong” means in this question, let’s try to answer it.

Last week, three turnovers were a big part of the story. The week before? Clayton is pretty good, you know. And before that? Both Garner (29-28 win) and Southeast Raleigh (39-29) are playoff teams.

I’m inclined to write last week off as a reaction to playing a 2-8 team, coupled with an odd bye week. One thing seems certain, however. Last week’s level won’t work when Ashley visits this week.

The Eagles (9-2) are coming off a 41-7 pasting of crosstown rival Laney and will bring an experienced and talented offense to Johnston County.

That’s a lot of seniors. And there’s more of them on the defensive side of the ledger.

Cleveland’s stat sheet continues to impress:

Massey Ratings: Cleveland -28.5

Series history: This will be the first meeting between the schools.

Transitive property: Cleveland defeated Hoggard, 35-32, in Week 1 while Laney lost to the Vikings, 32-37, in Week on Oct. 11.

Matchup to watch: The Eagle defense is pretty stingy, allowing just under 16 points per game. Cleveland’s offense, on the other hand, is tallying 38.5 points per game. Something, as they say, has to give.

Prediction: I guarantee you they’ve heard this noise on Polenta Road. So, Cleveland will likely be in a good head space for this one. Ashley is a pretty good team, but this feels like a get-right spot for the Rams.