Week 2 proved to be compelling viewing at a few different locations, so we can only hope that Week 3 offers up nearly as much fun. Interestingly enough, this will make the third consecutive week that we’ll have games on at least Thursday and Friday.
At press time, it’s not weather related. Instead, it’s the growing (and smart) trend for coaches to schedule a little break around Labor Day. We also have our first two bye weeks, featuring South Johnston and West Johnston, so it’s another weird week all around.
Let’s jump in:
Thursday
Rosewood at North Johnston
Records: Rosewood 0-2; North Johnston 1-1
Last Week: Rosewood fell on the road, 13-12, at North Duplin while North Johnston lost at home to Holmes, 45-6.
Media Watch: NFHS($)
Massey Ratings line: North Johnston -20.5
Skinny: North Johnston will look to bounce back after last week’s home loss to Holmes. The Panthers produced only 137 yards of total offense in that defeat, but Rosewood should be a step down in competition level.
The Eagles are 0-2, but were competitive last week against North Duplin after a 20-0 shutout loss to C.B. Aycock in the season opener. The computer loves North Johnston in this spot, based on the near-three touchdown spread.
Love is too strong a word for me, but I do think the Panthers will head into the holiday weekend at 2-1.
Prediction: North Johnston 30, Rosewood 14
Princeton at Seaforth
Records: Princeton 1-1; Seaforth 1-1
Last Week: Princeton dropped a 40-34 nailbiter to East Duplin while Seaforth lost at Southeast Alamance, 48-21.
Media Watch: NFHS($)
Massey Ratings line: Princeton -20.5
Skinny: Princeton wound up 11 yards short of having a chance to win last week, as Teo McPhatter was nudged out of bounds a yard short of the line to gain on fourth down in the last minute of regulation. It’s a bitter pill, but it was still an impressive result for the Bulldogs.
Seaforth has been all over the place, winning its opener, 48-0, at home against Chapel Hill before getting thumped in Haw River last time out. The Hawks are probably a little better than Princeton’s opening week opponent (Ayden-Grifton), but likely not quite as good as East Duplin.
The Princeton offense has been as good as advertised, while the defense reverted back to 2025 form last week. Can there be a reversion to a reversion? I think so.
Prediction: Princeton 40, Seaforth 28
Smithfield-Selma at Harnett Central
Records: Smithfield-Selma 0-2; Harnett Central 2-0
Last Week: Smithfield-Selma dropped a 31-28 decision in overtime against West Johnston while Harnett Central won a pinball wizard affair with Overhills, 59-46.
Media Watch: NFHS($)
Massey Ratings line: Harnett Central -26.5
Skinny: Koby Howard has already thrown for 589 yards and 11 scores on the young season, and the Trojans will welcome the Spartans for a Greek-inspired battle this week.
Smithfield-Selma lost in overtime last week, and despite an 0-2 mark, has been competitive in six of the eight quarters it has played this season. I want to crawl out on a limb and predict a Spartan upset this week, but last week’s gut-feeling disaster (sorry, Fike) has me hesitant.
Prediction: Harnett County 42, Smithfield-Selma 21
North Wake Saints at American Leadership Academy
Records: North Wake 1-1; American Leadership Academy 0-1
Last Week: North Wake fell at home against Covenant Day, 33-0 while American Leadership Academy lost a heartbreaker at home to Bartlett Yancey, 8-6.
Media Watch: none
Massey Ratings line: ALA -29.5
Skinny: The Patriot defense was brilliant last week, allowing a single touchdown. Unfortunately, that fourth-quarter score — coupled with a safety — was enough for Bartlett Yancey to leave town with the win.
It’s hard to get a read on North Wake, since it plays an eclectic schedule. Need an example? The October 2nd game on its MaxPreps schedule is listed as “Varsity Opponent.”
This is definitely a step up in level for the Saints, and it’s hard to see them holding up to four quarters against what would have to be a bigger, deeper foe.
Prediction: American Leadership Academy 28, North Wake 12
Corinth Holders at South Garner
Records: Corinth Holders 0-2; South Garner 2-0
Last Week: Corinth Holders was on the wrong end of a 43-0 decision with Cleveland while South Garner thumped Southern Lee, 59-6.
Media Watch: NFHS($)
Massey Ratings line: South Garner -23.5
Skinny: A narrow opening night loss to North Brunswick left some room for optimism for the Pirates, but the rivalry loss to Cleveland has to have the alarm bells ringing. South Garner, on the other hand, has outscored its opposition, 92-20, in two games.
Advantage, Titans.
Prediction: South Garner 42, Corinth Holders 20
Cleveland at Northern Nash
Records: Cleveland 2-0; Northern Nash 1-1
Last Week: Cleveland sank Corinth Holders, 43-0, while Northern Nash blanked Nash Central by the same score.
Media Watch: NFHS($) and JOCORadio.com
Massey Ratings line: Cleveland -20.5
Skinny: The Knights have split a pair of games with Rose and Nash Central to start the campaign, and the numbers suggest they want to run the football 184 yards per game, 5 TD, 5.3 YPC) and play enough defense to pull an upset.
After a narrow escape in the opener, Cleveland got back on track in a big way against Corinth Holders. And at 42 points per night, the Ram offense might throw a wrench in the Knights’ potential game plan.
Cleveland won this meeting last season, 52-28, and the metrics suggest that we might be headed for something similar here.
Prediction: Cleveland 38, Northern Nash 13
Friday
Hoggard at Clayton
Records: Hoggard 2-0; Clayton 2-0
Last Week: Hoggard tripped Jack Britt at home, 31-6, while Clayton romped at Southern Nash, 56-13.
Media Watch: Hudl, CRN and WARZ (per CRN’s Wesley Outland)
Massey Ratings line: Clayton -14.5
Skinny: Coming off a 12-1 season and a run to the 8A Eastern final, Hoggard has started this season with a pair of wins against Richmond County and Jack Britt. I was trying to figure out why this spread is 14.5 points, but a closer look at the Raiders and Buccaneers (1-3 combined record) reveals a possible reason.
The Vikings haven’t been as dynamic offensively as we’ve seen in recent years, and senior quarterback Matthew Boring has two interceptions and two touchdown passes after throwing for 38 scores over the last two seasons.
Coach Chadwick was kind enough to share his game notes this week, and because of that, I know that the Comets had 407 yards and 49 points at halftime last week. I also learned that Clayton has won 24 of its last 25 home games (the Cameron Goins Hail Mary catch in 2023 being the outlier).
It’s worth noting that Hoggard blitzed Clayton, 38-14, in Wilmington last year — and that fact has probably come up a time or two this week as well.
Prediction: Clayton 35, Hoggard 24