It’s a cliche because it’s true, but the biggest improvement in high school football teams comes between Week 1 and Week 2.

We’ll get to put that truism to the test on a steamy August evening as the Johnston County football teams return to the field tonight.

Here’s the slate:

Harnett Central at Princeton (JoCo Sports Game of the Week), 7 p.m.
Western Harnett at West Johnston (Curtis Media Game of the Week – 102.3 FM), 7 p.m.
Clayton at Holly Springs, 7 p.m.
Heritage at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
Corinth Holders at Broughton, 7 p.m.
North Johnston at Rosewood, 7:30 p.m.
Smithfield-Selma at Westover, 7 p.m.
South Johnston at Triton, 7 p.m.

By the numbers

The David and Goliath analogy is overused in athletics, but it bears mentioning in the Harnett Central/Princeton game. Harnett Central’s average daily membership (ADM) for the 2022-2023 season was 1,421 – or 793 more students than were walking the halls at Princeton High (628).

Still the Bulldogs, who are 1-0 after a 36-28 win over South Johnston last week, will pick up their stones and sling and welcome in their neighbors to the south, who are 0-1 after a narrow loss at West Johnston in Week 1.

The Trojans have a size advantage, but probably not the skill position folks to best take advantage of it. They threw it quite a bit last week, as Aiden Taylor had 236 yards and a couple of scores through the air. But Harnett Central managed only 19 yards rushing in 13 attempts.

Meanwhile, the next pass Princeton throws in 2023 will be its first. When you can run it 50 times for 323 yards and five scores, why bother with a forward pass? Kadyn Haire was the workhorse, accounting for 261 yards and four of those scores on 29 carries.

The Massey Index, which was spotty in Week 1, gains accuracy as the year progresses, and the computer has Princeton as a 27.5-point favorite.

That might not be far off.

Go West, young men

Over in McGee’s, West Johnston will look to run its record to 2-0 when it hosts Western Harnett. The Eagles are 0-1 after coming out on the wrong end of a 39-14 score line against Southern Lee, and the Massey computer is wholly unimpressed with Western Harnett. It has them as a 32.5-point underdog against the Wildcats.

West will be looking to be a little more efficient offensively in this one to support a defense that was lights out last week with 21 tackles for loss and 11(!) sacks.

A potential 2-0 start for Jermaine Harper’s squad looks promising.

Something to build on

A couple of 1-0 teams will tangle in Holly Springs as the Golden Hawks welcome Clayton to town. Holly Springs won a 9-7 rock fight over Garner last time out while Clayton outgunned Wake Forest, 54-42.

Johnathan Montague went all Nuke LaLoosh last week, announcing his presence with authority.

The senior quarterback completed 11 of his 14 passes for 141 yards and two scores while rushing for 260 yards and five more scores.

That’ll do.

The Comets likely spent some extra time on special teams last week, as they allowed a return for a score and a couple of other big plays against Wake Forest.

Meanwhile, the Golden Hawks will be flying high defensively after shutting down Garner.

The Massey Ratings aren’t so sure about this one, installing the Comets as a 5.5-point road favorite.

Home, Sweet Home

Cleveland, fresh off a 28-20 road win at Hoggard, will open its home slate against the Heritage Huskies, which got thumped, 49-7, by East Forsyth in Week 1.

The Rams will look to get its running game untracked after gaining only 36 yards on 18 totes last week. Still, the passing game was solid, as Cam Goins and Jackson Byrd combined for 333 yards and a couple of scores.

Meanwhile, the Huskies managed only 76 yards of total offense in Week 1, and don’t figure to have much more luck this evening.

The Massey Ratings have Cleveland as a 25.5-point favorite tonight, and depending on the health of the Rams’ skill players, that might be light.

Running uphill

New Corinth Holders coach Martin Samek will look to notch a number in the left side of the ledger on the road against 1-0 Broughton.

The Pirates never quite got their sails unfurled in a 35-7 loss to Sanderson in Week 1, but the Massey Ratings have them as only a 6.5-point underdogs against the Capitals, which nipped Cary, 16-14, last time out.

Corinth Holders will try to be a little more secure with the football after suffering an interception and a couple of fumbles last week.

Staying hot

The folks at Rosewood moved this kickoff back 30 minutes to combat the expected heat tonight, and the Eagles will be hoping to cool off North Johnston as well.

The Panthers blanked South Lenoir, 22-0, last week while Rosewood fell to C.B. Aycock, 43-19.

North will be looking for a little more offense after gaining only 135 yards of total offense last week, but it can hardly ask for more than it got from the defense last time out – an effort that included nine sacks and three fumble recoveries.

Remember last week when I told you to be leery of early season Massey spreads. Here’s another one: Rosewood -28.5.

There’s no way.

On the road again

The Hancel Phipps era got off to a bumpy start last week, as Smithfield-Selma was routed at South Garner. Things don’t get much easier tonight, as the Spartans will take the bus down I-95 to Fayetteville to meet Westover.

The Wolverines won a 12-9 rock fight against St. Pauls last week, and are an 18.5-point favorite according to the Massey computer.

I don’t know about that, but it might be tough sledding for the Spartans once again.

Rivalry renewed

South Johnston and Triton is a fun rivalry, and the two teams renew pleasantries (hostilities?) tonight in Erwin.

The Hawks clearcut Union Pines last week, 41-12, and as previously mentioned, the Trojans lost a narrow decision to Princeton.

Still, South did some nice things offensively last week, despite hurting themselves with miscues.

This game is another one with a crazy Massey number, as the Hawks are a 22.5-point favorite. These really do get more useful as the season progresses, I assure you.

These teams have met every year of the MaxPreps era (2004-present), and Triton holds a 13-6 edge. Only five games in this span have been decided by more than three touchdowns.

This one won’t be, either.