Welcome to October football, where the weather gets cooler and the games get hotter. Or something like that.

It’s Week 8 of the prep football slate in North Carolina, and all eight local teams are in conference action this evening.

South Garner (3-3, 1-2 GN4A) at Clayton (5-1, 3-0 GN4A)

The Comets are streaking, thanks to the legs of quarterback Johnathan Montague and a stingy defense that hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game since late August.

The Massey Ratings aren’t as impressed by Clayton as I would have thought, but the supercomputer still spit the Comets out as a 20.5-point favorite. Clayton has won the only other two meetings, including a 3-0 slugfest last season, and it will be looking to celebrate Homecoming tonight with win No. 3 in the series.

This is the JoCoSports Game of the Week, presented by Gowan Roofing, and you can listen live tonight for free at jocosports.com or jococountry.com.

Willow Spring (2-4, 1-2 GN4A) at Cleveland (6-0, 3-0 GN4A)

It’s Homecoming night on the other side of Clayton, too, as the Rams host the Storm.

The Cleveland defense has been excellent this season, pitching four straight shutouts and allowing just a shade more than seven points per game. In fact, they haven’t given up a point since the third quarter of the Heritage game back on August 25.

When your offense is piling up 41.5 points a game, that’s a winning combination.

As you might expect, the Massey spread is heavy (41.5) for this one.

Corinth Holders 2-4, 1-2 GN4A) at Fuquay-Varina (1-5, 0-3 GN4A)

Right now in the High School OT playoff projections, there are five Greater Neuse 4A teams in the 4A East bracket — Clayton, Cleveland, Garner, South Garner and Southeast Raleigh. Willow Spring is listed among the last five teams out, so you can glean from that bit of information that the Pirates have some work to do if they want to be playing a game in November.

That starts tonight against the Bengals, who have played a tough schedule en route to their 1-5 record. The supercomputer agrees, pegging the hosts as a 23.5-point favorite.

Still, the Pirates have shown the ability to run the ball and play solid defense at times, and they won’t be overmatched from a size or talent standpoint tonight.

A puncher’s chance is how I’d put it.

Goldsboro (0-6, 0-1 Neuse Six) at Princeton (3-3, 0-1 Neuse Six)

It hasn’t been the usual sort of season for the Bulldogs, who enter this contest on a three-game losing streak. The defense has been an issue for Princeton, but tonight’s opponent has been shutout three times and is averaging just seven points a game.

This is the 102.3 Game of the Week, but the Massey Index is Princeton -38.5. Better get those spots in early, guys.

Beddingfield (3-3, 1-0 Neuse Six) at North Johnston (3-3, 1-0 Neuse Six)

North had the perfect Homecoming last week, throttling Spring Creek, 64-0. Tonight, it’s a clash of unbeaten Neuse Six squads as Beddingfield comes calling to Kenly.

The Bruins and Panthers have identical records, but Beddingfield has played the tougher schedule, including a narrow 21-20 loss to a decent Fike squad.

The Massey Ratings love the Bruins on the road, tabbing them as a 26.5-point favorite. Beddingfield has won nine of the last 10 meetings, including a 34-0 win in Wilson last fall.

I’d agree that the Bruins are favorites, but nearly four touchdowns seems a little strong.

West Johnston (5-1, 2-1 QC3A) at Smithfield-Selma (0-6, 0-3 QC3A)

The Spartans are still seeking the first win of the Hancel Phipps era, and if you believe the Massey number (+14.5), this would be a decent shot for them.

Me? I’m not so sure. West will be fuming after last week’s disappointing loss to East Wake, and might be looking to vent some frustration on their county rivals.

Southern Wayne (2-4, 0-3 QC3A) at South Johnston (3-3, 1-2 QC3A)

If you believe the playoff projections from High School OT — and you should — South’s safety net for making the postseason is gone. At the moment, the Trojans are the last projected team in the field of 32, so any chance to bolster the resume should be seized with both hands.

Turnovers have killed South this season, and keeping those to a minimum will help the Trojans meet the massive Massey number (-33.5) in this one.