Area teams looking forward to 'real' season

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 2, 2008 1:48 PM

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The "real" season is almost here. But a few teams in the News-Argus coverage area have some last-minute business to handle in non-conference play this week.

Just five games highlight the schedule, including tonight's marquee matchup in Pikeville between Charles B. Aycock (2-3 overall) and Greene Central (1-4). The Rams, directed by first-year head coach Ken Grantham, have won the last two meetings in the series which began in 1962.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Hardy Talton Stadium.

Four teams battle Friday evening.

Injury-riddled Eastern Wayne, coming off a bye week, closes out its non-conference schedule at home against North Lenoir. Rosewood (1-4) travels to Jones Senior, Princeton (1-4) visits Mattamuskeet and Spring Creek (0-5) attempts to snap a 21-game losing streak at Union.

All contests kick off at 7:30 p.m.

Teams off this week are Southern Wayne (1-5), North Duplin (2-4), James Kenan (6-0) and Goldsboro (4-1-1). The Cougars graduated two all-conference rushers who combined for nearly 3,000 yards, but have reloaded with a backfield that's proven to be just as potent in 2008.

Goldsboro enters its bye week on the heels of an impressive 42-6 victory over perennial 1-A power Wallace-Rose Hill, which is experiencing an uncharacteristic "down" season.

"It was a very satisfying win," said second-year Cougars head coach Eric Reid. "We're going to be in the 1-A ranks next year and for us to be successful, we have to face teams like these guys. I think we showed that we can compete with this type of program.

"When we were in 4-A, we couldn't beat them. This was a very momentous win in our season."

Aycock turned some heads with a three-point triumph over Goldsboro less than a month ago. Four-touchdown underdogs, the Golden Falcons have won two of their last three games since their 0-2 start.

"I've told people to be patient with us and that there are some good players out here," said Aycock coach Randy Pinkowski after the Goldsboro win. "We play an excruciatingly-tough schedule. If there is anybody around here playing a tougher schedule than we are, I want to meet them.

"There are no patty-cakes on our schedule. The kids are learning what they need to do."

The Golden Falcons defeated North Lenoir last week without their field general, Craig Murdock. A utility-type player, Murdock suffered a shoulder injury in the Wilson Fike game and his status is a "game-time decision" each week until he heals.

Aycock's defense shackled North Lenoir's running game last week and held Marquez Powell, the area's leading rusher, to less than 100 yards. Powell will look to break the 1,000-yard plateau against the Warriors on Friday evening at Little Big Horn.

Eastern Wayne leads the all-time series 7-4 and has won six of the last seven meetings. The Hawks' last victory occurred in 2000 when the two schools renewed their rivalry from the mid-1970s.