Friday's prep football previews

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 18, 2005 2:03 PM

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West Carteret at C.B. Aycock

PIKEVILLE -- One of two, first-week battles between former Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference opponents with Southern Wayne also hosting West Craven. West Carteret, now in the Coastal Eight 3-A/4-A Conference, is now under the direction of coach Mike Turner. The Golden Falcons, 9-4 last year, should be faster then the Patriots overall. On the heels of last season's success, Aycock should benefit from a solid home crowd in the 2005 opener. The Falcons won last year's clash 13-3 in Morehead City.

Goldsboro at Rocky Mount

ROCKY MOUNT -- The former 4-A foes haven't met in nearly two decades. Times have changed as Rocky Mount has moved down to the 3-A ranks, while Goldsboro is now at the 2-A level. Rocky Mount was 12-1 last season and picked to win the Nash/Edgecombe/Wilson (NEW) Six Conference title in a preseason poll, despite losing the likes of Terrell Hudgins, Stephan Virgil and Robert Tart. The Cougars, coming off a 1-10 finish in 2004, will obviously get a big test early on the road.

Spring Creek at South Lenoir

DEEP RUN -- First-ever meeting between two schools separated by a mere 11 miles. Spring Creek is tired of losing and a season-opening win would give the Gators a huge boost out of the gate. The Gators must look to slow four-year starting quarterback Brandon Rouse with a more than capable arm and the ability to tuck it under and run. Spring Creek should be able to score on the Blue Devils, who gave up a whopping, 39 points per game in 2004. The Gators and Blue Devils combined for a record of 2-21 last year.

Princeton at South Johnston

FOUR OAKS -- The first of two, Johnston County battles on Princeton's schedule as the Bulldogs will face North Johnston later in the season in a Class 1-A Carolina Conference game. Class 1-A teams facing 4-A opponents is a rarity and usually a tough challenge for the smaller school, but Princeton certainly has a chance to compete against the Trojans in Four Oaks. Russell Williamson is back on the sideline for the Bulldogs, who will be looking to get out of the gate fast after being outscored by over 20 points per game in 2004.

Greene Central at D.H. Conley

GREENVILLE -- Greene Central was 3-1 going into its 27-16 home loss to D.H. Conley last year. The defeat started a string of four losses in five games for the Rams, who finished 6-6 overall in 2004. Greene Central figures to be an improved overall team this year. So much so that the coaches in the Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference picked the Rams to finish first. The now, Class 3-A Vikings, coming off a 5-7 season, also return a solid corps of experienced players. Look for a tough, early-season battle.

James Kenan at East Duplin

BEULAVILLE -- The first of several tough, non-confernece affairs on James Kenan's schedule. The Tigers lost a big group of 20 seniors to graduation, but don't look for coach Kevin Motsinger's team to back down to the highly-touted Panthers. Kenan won't face Duplin County rival North Duplin this year, so this marks the first of two county games for the Tigers, who face Wallace-Rose Hill at home in their Class 1-A Super Six finale.

Note: All games are season openers.

Next week -- Chocowinity Southside at Rosewood (season opener); North Duplin at Chatham Central (season opener); East Duplin at North Lenoir (season opener); Goldsboro at Eastern Wayne; C.B. Aycock at Clayton; Southern Wayne at Wallace-Rose Hill; Hobbton at Spring Creek; North Moore at Princeton; Greene Central at Wilson Beddingfield; James Kenan at Onslow Northside.