For the Greater Neuse River 4A and Quad County 3A teams, the real season starts tomorrow night. Meanwhile, Princeton and North Johnston will fine tune a bit more before reaching Neuse 6 conference play. And American Leadership Academy will march on, playing its only scheduled home game of the season, Saturday afternoon.

There’s a lot to talk about.

joco sports game of the week

This week’s stop for the JoCo Sports Game of the Week, presented by ChiroDuo Mobile Chiropractic, is South Johnston High School. The 2-1 Trojans will entertain 0-3 Smithfield-Selma in the Quad County 3A lid lifter for both squads.

South Johnston holds a 13-8 lead in the series during the MaxPreps era (2004 to present), including a 31-12 win last season. The teams have split the four most recent meetings, however.

The Spartans are trying to snap a 14-game losing skid that dates back to the 2022 postseason, and are coming off a 62-0 setback at Jordan. South Johnston had a bye in Week 4, after its loss to Corinth Holders on Sept. 6.

The Massey Ratings don’t fancy the Spartans’ chances, installing them as a 27.5-point underdog. SSS will need to make this one slow and ugly — and will probably need to force a turnover or two — to spring the upset.

heading north

West Johnston will also get its Quad County 3A slate started Friday night, with a trip up I-95 to face 1-2 Fike.

The Wildcats (2-1) took last week off after falling, 47-0, at Cleveland the week before. Every now and then, Massey spits out a margin that I just don’t get, and the Demons as a 19.5-point favorite is one of those times.

Fike’s lone win was a 27-23 decision over winless Beddingfield in the opener, but its two losses to Northern and Southern Nash look good to the computer because both of those squads are 4-0.

Fike is certainly the favorite, if for no other reason than it’s the home team. But West won this matchup, 10-7, last season and has won two of the last three meetings.

I’d be surprised if this is a double-digit margin either way.

the litmus test

Corinth Holders has to be one of the most surprising 3-0 stories in the state. Carl Smith Jr. was hired as head coach about six weeks before the season started, and inherited a roster than went 2-8 in 2023.

But thanks to a ground game that’s producing 233 yards and four touchdowns a night, a breakout season from quarterback David Jarman (35-of-57, 589 yards, 5 TD) and a defense that’s only giving up about a touchdown a game, the Pirates have thumped Sanderson, Broughton and South Johnston to open the campaign.

A greater test awaits on Friday against Cleveland in Greater Neuse River 4A opener.

Meanwhile, the Rams (3-0) are still the Rams. Jackson Byrd has accounted for 972 total yards and a dozen touchdowns and the defense, after a 35-32 shootout with Hoggard in Week 1, has allowed just six points in its last two games.

The Massey computers don’t factor in pedigree, yet still have Cleveland as a 34.5-point favorite. The Rams own a 12-1 lifetime lead in the series, and will be looking to make it lucky 13.

One thing is certain: This will be the night we find out just how far Corinth Holders has come in its new era. You can check it out on JOCO Radio.

blazing through the sky

Clayton will take its 3-0 record on the road to Fuquay-Varina for the Greater Neuse River 4A opener for both teams.

Clayton won a makeup game against Holly Springs, 27-7, on Thursday, Sept. 12, while the Bengals (2-1) lost to the Golden Hawks, 21-10, six days earlier before taking last week off.

So, if you believe in the transitive property when it comes to football, Clayton has this one in the bag. The super computer leans that way, tabbing the Comets as a 27.5-point favorite. During the MaxPreps era, FVHS holds an 8-4 lead in the series — despite Clayton’s 39-14 win last season.

I do actually buy in to the transitive property, so I’ll say that spread is probably about right. Our friends from CRN will have the call.

trend or mirage?

Princeton (1-2) had a get right game last week, visiting nearby Rosewood (great hospitality for us media types, by the way) and looking very vintage in a 48-7 victory.

The Bulldogs produced 304 rushing yards, completed both their passes, converted all six two-point conversion tries and didn’t allow a score until the clock was running continuously in the fourth quarter.

That sets the stage for a home date with 4-0 Richlands, which you can listen to with our friends at Curtis Media on 102.3 FM.

The Wildcats are a 9.5-point favorite on Massey’s site this morning, and though that margin is not as head scratching as the West Johnston one, it is a bit puzzling.

Richlands’ victories against South Brunswick, Southwest Onslow, East Duplin and South Lenoir must be weighed against the fact that those teams are 3-11 overall. Still, you can only win the games on your schedule, the the Wildcat defense hasn’t allowed a point since Aug. 23.

Richlands defeated Princeton, 27-20, last season — which was the start of the Bulldogs’ three-game losing streak.

I’m still concerned about the Bulldogs’ special teams, but overall, I liked what I saw last week. I could see this spread being flipped on its head.

back to .500?

North Johnston (1-2) is coming off a bye week after a 29-22 loss to Midway back on Sept. 6. The Panthers have dropped two straight after blanking South Lenoir, 30-0, in the opener, and will be looking to square the ledger at home against Hobbton this week.

The Wildcats are 2-2, but have won two in a row against East Columbus and Spring Creek. A season opening loss to Midway stands out, as does the 30-0 score that came with it?

Scroll back up to the transitive property bit, then come back and consider that Massey has North Johnston as a 22.5-point favorite.

I’m no math whiz, but that checks out.

a home game?

A season full of firsts for American Leadership Academy is about to produce another: a home game.

The Patriots (3-1) will host South Wake on Saturday at 3, looking to bounce back from last week’s loss at Roanoke Rapids.

The Lions are also 3-1, but has played a little softer schedule than ALA has.

The computers noticed that, too, picking the Patriots as a 20.5-point favorite. We don’t have any common opponents to help us this time, but it’s not hard to imagine a comfortable ALA victory.