Area prep football games moved to Monday

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 9, 2005 2:07 AM

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Area high school football teams must wait until Monday to kick off their respective conference seasons. Rain from Tropical Storm Tammy forced the postponement of all nine contests involving schools in the News-Argus area.

The annual matchup between archrivals Eastern Wayne (4-1-1) and Southern Wayne (4-2) kicks off at 6 p.m. in Dudley. The Warriors are 3-0 on the road, while the Saints are 3-0 at home.

Southern Wayne has prevailed in three of the last four meetings since the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference's inception in 2001.

Goldsboro (1-5) attempts to snap its eight-game home losing streak against Eastern Plains 2-A Conference champion Tarboro High. The Vikings (2-4) are riding a two-game losing streak and might play without North Carolina signee Shawn Draughn.

Draughn sustained a possible medial colateral ligament (MCL) tear early last week and worked out on a day-to-day basis. Second-year Tarboro coach said Draughn, who has 903 yards rushing, is waiting an MRI and clearance from the doctor.

Charles B. Aycock and Wilson Beddingfield are meeting for the first time since 2000. The Golden Falcons are 4-2 while the state-ranked Bruins have yet to taste defeat in six outings.

A sibling rivalry continues in Calypso. North Duplin, coach by John Avent, and North Johnston, coached by Ken Avent Jr., square off at H.E. Grubbs Field. The Carolina 1-A series is tied at 1-1 since these two coaches took over their respective programs in 2003.

Rosewood, coming off its first win of the season, starts its Carolina schedule at defending champion Ayden-Grifton. The state-ranked Chargers (5-1) are seeking their seventh consecutive league victory.

Spring Creek (3-3) looks to spoil Princeton's Homecoming celebration Monday evening at the Fred Bartholomew Athletic Complex. The Gators have won all four Carolina 1-A meetings, but had to forfeit one game due to an ineligble player.

Princeton is 0-6.

Greene Central and North Pitt meet for the 35th time in their Eastern Plains Conference rivalry. The Rams lead the series 23-11, but are just 1-1 against the Panthers at home since 2001. Both teams are 2-4 overall.

Also in the EPC, league newcomer Farmville Central is the guest of North Lenoir. The Jaguars (2-4) upset archrival Ayden-Grifton two weeks ago, while the Hawks (1-5) let a second-half lead slip away last Friday against Eastern Wayne.

James Kenan (4-2) starts its Super Six 1-A schedule at home against Roseboro Lakewood. The Leopards are 2-4.

All contests kick off at 7 p.m.