There’s one week remaining in the high school football regular season for most of our Johnston County schools (Smithfield-Selma’s season is complete).
You might have heard that Clayton and Cleveland are playing this week, and you might have guessed that there’s a little more than bragging rights on the line.
That’s the main plotline in county football this week, but it’s not the only one. Week 10’s games set the stage for a grand finale, and it’s do or die for a few of our teams in terms of postseason positioning.
We’ll print the play bill as the week progresses. For now, let’s look back at last week’s action:
South Johnston 41, Triton 0
South Johnston kicked things off on Thursday with an emphatic win over the rival Hawks. The Trojans (6-3, 4-2 Carolina Pines 6A) got 193 rushing yards and three scores from Holt Langston, and quarterback Tyler Williams continued his recent strong play with 114 passing yards and two scores to go along with 120 more and another score on the ground.
Defensive stats are not available as I write this, but the county’s stingiest defense (98 points allowed all season) was at it again, posting its second consecutive shutout.
South finishes the campaign at home against West Johnston, and both teams will be looking to improve their seeding in the postseason. Our pals at HighSchoolOT ($) have both schools in the field, regardless of the result.
Enloe 28, Corinth Holders 22
The same can’t be said for Corinth Holders, which dropped a nailbiter at Enloe in Week 10. A late defensive touchdown was the difference for the Eagles, snapping a 22-22 tie in the closing moments.
The Pirates (4-5, 2-4 CAP 8A) got 191 yards and three rushing touchdowns from Blake Beckwith, and now hosts undefeated Millbrook next week. According to the projections, a loss would mean that Corinth Holders would be the first team out of the 8A field.
Clayton 34, Garner 22
Clayton needed a win at Garner to set the stage for a winner-take-all showdown with Cleveland on Halloween night, and the Comets (7-2, 4-1 Greater Neuse River 7A) delivered.
Coach Scott Chadwick sent over his stats this weekend, so later this week when I write the way-longer-than-necessary Clayton/Cleveland preview, I’ll have plenty of material with which to work.
Cleveland 62, Smithfield-Selma 6
Cleveland (9-0, 5-0) did its part to set up the finale with a workman-like win over Smithfield-Selma (1-9, 0-6).
Kaleb Ferrell, Maddox Borden and Crishard Pettaway each scored a pair of rushing touchdowns in an empty-the-bench kind of night.
West Johnston 35, Western Harnett 7
When the playoff brackets arrive sometime on Sunday, West Johnston can look back at this spot on the schedule and breathe a sigh of relief.
Chrystian Cokley ran for 254 yards and four touchdowns as West Johnston (4-5, 3-3) inched closer to .500 — and away from the 6A playoff bubble.
North Johnston 45, North Lenoir 22
The Panthers moved to 5-4 overall, and 2-3 in Three Rivers 4A play, with a Senior Night win over North Lenoir.
Tyrece Hicks ran for 130 yards and a score to pace a ground game that ended the night with just over 300 yards. North is in line to host a 4A playoff game, regardless of this week’s result.
James Kenan 49, Princeton 14
James Kenan sprinted out of the gate and never looked back in a Swine Valley 2A/3A win over Princeton (5-4, 2-3).
The Bulldogs, who are still projected to host a first-round playoff game, got 113 yards and two scores from Gerrell Bogle, and will host Rosewood on Halloween.
Roanoke Rapids 32, American Leadership Academy 14
The Yellow Jackets broke open a close game at halftime to pull away for the victory. Anthony Jimenez was not available, but Damarr Williams rushed for 111 yards and a score for the Patriots (4-5, 0-4 Quad County 2A/3A/4A).
ALA finishes up with Nash Central, and because its the lone 2A school in this league, even a loss won’t keep the Patriots from dancing. In fact, they’re projected to host a first-round game on the first Friday in November.