Week 1 of the 2024 high school football season is in the books, and we’ve already learned quite a bit about our Johnston County squads.
LAYING DOWN A MARKER
Coming into the season, I wondered how long it would take South Johnston’s new offensive pieces to gel. What I should have been pondering is the strength of the Trojans’ front seven on defense.
Princeton rushed for 221 yards, but it took the Bulldogs 49 carries to gain them. That stinginess, coupled with some big passing plays from sophomore quarterback Tyler Williams (7-12, 179 yards) to senior wideout DJ Lawson (2-95, TD), was enough to power South to a 21-20 road win on Friday.
While the Trojans are a bit ahead of schedule (mine, anyway), Princeton has some adjustments to make. Freshman Teo McPhatter is the best looking freshman prospect I’ve seen since Omarion Hampton, and the Bulldogs appear to be intent on handing him the keys to the offense. After a run of good place kickers in recent years, that well seems to have run dry, and the Bulldogs went 1-for-3 on two-point conversions. You can do that math.
Our friends from We Journal Great Sports were on hand, and you can check out their highlights here:
WILD, WILD WEST
One of the many benefits about broadcasting games from Princeton is the fact that the games are speedy enough to allow me to catch the end of other games on the way home.
I took advantage of 102.3’s coverage of West Johnston’s 37-34 overtime thriller — a game in which the Wildcats scored 22 fourth-quarter points to force the extra session. Kevin Rojas hit his field goal in the first overtime, while Harnett Central came up empty.
West’s Josiah Wells accounted for 391 yards of total offense (245 passing, 146 rushing) and had a hand in four of the five touchdowns.
Jamari Giles led a busy defense with 16 tackles, which is a big number.
PATRIOT GAMES
At least a couple of people read our preview article that touted the Massey Ratings’ spread for American Leadership Academy’s trip to Union. The super computer had the Patriots as 33-point underdogs.
It was only 92 points off, as ALA rolled to a 59-0 victory in its first game as a member of the NCHSAA. Ian Wands threw for 280 yards and five touchdowns and three different ball carriers found the end zone in the rout.
Well done, guys. Well done.
SWEET REVENGE
Hoggard ended Cleveland’s season in the playoffs last November, but the Rams got a measure of retribution in a 35-32 win in the opener — and I caught the last little bit of this one on jocoradio.com.
Jackson Byrd did a few Jackson Byrd things, throwing for 341 yards and three scores while rushing for 94 more yards and another touchdown. Fellow senior Sawyer Lowe piled up 15 tackles for a defense that made just enough plays against a talented Viking offense.
STREAKING THROUGH THE SKY
The new look Clayton offense with 11(!) new starters passed its first test with a 36-21 season opening win at Wake Forest.
The JoCo Sports Game of the Week will be there when Clayton has its home opener against Holly Springs next week.
STARTING OFF STRONG
Kaleb Pone threw for 83 yards and a score while rushing for 127 more yards and another touchdown as North Johnston blanked South Lenoir, 30-0, in Kyle Schenk’s first game as the Panthers’ head coach.
Maleek Farris-Teachey also rushed for 80 yards and a couple of scores.
The defense was stout, as the scoreline might suggest, with 13 different players recording tackles.
SPEAKING OF SUCCESSFUL DEBUTS
Carl Smith got his tenure at Corinth Holders underway with an impressive 35-3 win over Sanderson.
Zeon Ware rushed for 119 yards and three scores while Jaylon Holder added 74 yards and two more touchdowns to spark the offense.
The defense got 10 tackles each from Mason Berry and Chase Desiata and fumble recoveries from Maximus Gladwell and Rhett Stevens in the victory.
WAITING FOR NEXT WEEK
Stanley Williams will have to wait at least one more week for his first win as Smithfield-Selma’s new coach, as the Spartans were on the wrong end of a 27-7 scoreline against South Garner.
Westover comes calling next week, after winning an 18-16 nailbiter against Seaforth in Week 1.