This season is flying by. I mean, we’ve had three games, we’ve had overtime thrillers and we’ve even had bye weeks.
Where does the time go?
Like sand through the hourglass, the season slips by. Hold on to it by catching up on the podcast — there will be a new one tomorrow — and by checking out our preview:
Clayton at West Johnston
Records: Clayton 2-1; West Johnston 1-1
Last time out: Clayton ran into a buzz saw down in Wilmington, falling 38-14 to Hoggard, while West Johnston took the week off after a 26-0 win over Smithfield-Selma on Aug. 29.
Massey Rating spread: Clayton -38.5
Media watch: CRN
Breakdown: Clayton tested itself on the road last week and brought home plenty of teaching points for Scott Chadwick and his staff. This could go one of two ways. The Comets could come out listless, thinking of last week, or they can come out angry. I’m thinking the latter.
West Johnston, on the other hand, had another week to iron the kinks out of its offense. The Wildcats have complied 265 yards of total offense (per MaxPreps) in two games, and it doesn’t take a football expert to see that sort of production isn’t going to lead to consistent results.
I’m expecting a little more from them, even if I’m not quite sure who’ll be taking the snaps or carrying the football.
Prediction: Too many questions for the Wildcats’ offense, plus a ticked off Clayton squad, equals a long night for West.
Clayton 35, West Johnston 7
princeton at north johnston
Records: Princeton 2-1; North Johnston 3-0
Last time out: Princeton dried up Seaforth, 50-34, while North Johnston pruned Rosewood, 45-6
Massey Rating spread: Princeton -13.5
Media watch: Curtis Media Group (102.3 FM and jocofootball.com)
Breakdown: North Johnston hasn’t beaten Princeton since a 48-20 victory back in 2016, but this is the closest these teams have been, talent-wise, in the last seven years or so.
The Panthers won a thriller at Holmes in Week 2, but have beaten two other bad teams to build that 3-0 record. Princeton, meanwhile, lost to an excellent East Duplin team but knocked off a pretty good Ayden-Grifton squad in the opener. Seaforth? Well, the Hawks are bad, too.
This a a strength-on-weakness game, as both teams have powerful rushing offenses matched up against defenses that, to date, have not been as consistent. A healthy Kaleb Pone makes a difference for North, not only because he’s very good at quarterback, but because it lets Charlie Barnes be a little more fresh for his defensive duties.
I get the feeling that scar tissue from the long Bulldog winning streak might be the X-factor in an otherwise even affair.
Prediction: Princeton 40, North Johnston 32
cleveland at new bern
Records: Cleveland 3-0; New Bern 3-0
Last time out: Cleveland fought off Northern Nash, 52-28, while New Bern grounded West Craven, 48-27
Massey Rating spread: Cleveland -6.5
Media watch: JOCORadio.com
Breakdown: This is the second all-time meeting between the perennial Eastern NC football powers, with Cleveland taming the Bears, 56-13, in the playoffs back in 2023.
This one figures to be a little closer, as both squads have gotten out of the gate quickly this season. I’d argue that Cleveland’s schedule has been a little tougher, but this game feels worthy of the fairly close Massey number.
The Bear defense has been stingy, but again, look at the schedule. Havelock and New Hanover have scored three touchdowns combined this season. I like the New Bern offense much better, but it will need to put up plenty of points to stay with the Rams.
I’m not so sure they will.
Prediction: Cleveland 42, New Bern 21
wake prep at american leadership academy
Records: American Leadership Academy 3-0; Wake Prep 1-2
Last time out: ALA continued its nailbiting, but winning, ways with a 26-16 win at Fairmont, while Wake Prep notched its first win of the year with a 54-8 calming of the Hurricanes of Pamlico County (OK, I’ll stop with the puns).
Massey Rating spread: ALA -18.5
Breakdown: We’re still playing afternoon football for this one, with a kickoff set for 4 p.m., but in his guest spot on this week’s pod, Coach Blackburn tells me that the lights will be operational for Homecoming against Bunn on Oct. 3. That’s going to be a big game, by the way.
But first things first. After two weeks of back-and-forth, down-to-the-wire action, the Patriots might find the sledding a bit easier this week against the Guardians. Before last week’s win, Wake Prep lost to North Moore and North Raleigh Christian — two teams that have beaten no one else in 2025.
Anthony Jimenez is having a monster season running the football, and with 558 yards and nice scores already, this might be a spot for him to go off once again.
Prediction: American Leadership Academy 49, Wake Prep 21
smithfield-selma at southern wayne
Records: SSS 0-3, Southern Wayne 2-1
Last time out: Smithfield-Selma played its best game of the season offensively, but fell short against Harnett Central, 30-28. Southern Wayne knocked off Goldsboro in a Wayne County clash, 32-26.
Massey Rating spread: Smithfield-Selma -28.5
Breakdown: OK, that Massey number is wild. Yes, the Spartans thrashed Southern Wayne last season, but before last week, SSS hadn’t scored 28 points all season.
Still, a closer look at the Saints’ 2-1 record reveals wins over a dreadful Spring Creek team and, despite what my pal Kai Jones told me in the preseason, an equally hapless Goldsboro squad.
I watched a little bit of last week’s game, and it looks like Johnavon Cox (241 yards, four TDs) is finally getting comfortable at quarterback. Davion Hurst’s coming out party at receiver (6-172, TD) was a welcome sight, too.
I like the Spartans in this spot, but let’s calm down on that four-touchdown spread.
Prediction: Smithfield-Selma 35, Southern Wayne 21
south johnston at midway
Records: South Johnston 1-1; Midway 3-0
Last time out: South Johnston had its bye week while Midway drained (OK, one more pun) Lakewood, 55-31.
Massey Rating spread: Midway -4.5
Breakdown: This is a Robert Frost game for South Johnston. Two roads diverged in the 2025 season, and this game will be the first step on a path to where exactly? The Trojans are a couple of first downs and a bang-bang personal foul call away from being 2-0, but instead are 1-1 with issues on offense that need addressing.
Tyler Williams and Cayden Odle have split time at QB, and as Steve Spurrier once said, “if you have two quarterbacks, you don’t have any.” Odle brings a little more rushing ability, while Williams is a more refined passer. Hopefully, the bye week brought some clarity here.
As for the Raiders, they’ve been munching on cupcakes this season. Their opponents’ combined record is 2-7, and no, that Clinton win doesn’t mean what it once would have.
Still, the Raiders have talent. Tanner Williams has five touchdown passes and 546 yards and Wesley Tew is averaging almost 10 yards a carry on his way to 512 yards and five touchdowns.
Prediction: I’m worried about the Trojan offense, but I like their defense enough to get through this one.
South Johnston 28, Midway 21
Note: Corinth Holders is off this week