Area teams face challenges ahead of conference play

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on September 14, 2017 11:11 PM

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Week five.

Here and gone in seemingly the same instant, this particular calendar spot is often used by coaches as the final opportunity to gauge their team's progress before the start of conference play.

Without further adieu, here is tonight's prep gridiron landscape:

North Duplin (4-0)

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Southside (4-0)

North Duplin, perhaps the biggest  sleeper outfit east of Interstate 95, travels to Chocowinity to face Southside,  the No. 4 ranked 1-A team in the state.

And the Rebels should find the circumstances familiar.

Very familiar.  

To begin, Southside leans on the run without apology, boasting three powerful rushers -- Trajan Rhome, Amari Peele and Jamison Bennett -- to prove it.

The group averages a manageable number of carries (29), production (214 rushing yards) and touchdowns (3.6).

In short, they share the wealth.

But so do these Rebels, who never step on the bus thinking they are someone's walk-through -- and who are no slouch between the tackles themselves.

Their option-action starts with senior quarterback William Archer, who has rushed for 400 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season. He's joined by edge speedster Kenny Sheppard, who has reached the endzone 10 times in four games and who sports a 10.5 yards-per-carry average. 

 Then there's Colby Bass.

A four year letter winner, Bass often gets North Duplin key first down yardage when the clock is shrinking and running room is scarce.

He's a classic grind-down guy, and could very well be the X-factor down the stretch.

Goldsboro (3-1)

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Nash Central (3-1)

Mirror mirror.

That is very much the case for Goldsboro High, who travels to Rocky Mount to face Eastern Plains 2-A member Nash Central.

And just like North Duplin, the Cougars will find a look-a-like in waiting. 

The Bulldogs boast leadership in the form of senior quarterback Travis Griffin and size in the form of a roster that utilizes 15 players who tip the scales at 200-plus pounds.

GHS will once undoubtedly lean on the power running of junior Xzavior Bowden, whose 753 yards and 10 touchdowns to start the season garnered him Maxpreps Mid-Atlantic regional honors this week.  

And, yes -- he'll also play the lead role in a linebacking corp that prefers to deliver jarring hits now and ask questions later.

If you're a fan of power formations, bone-rattling form tackles and sustaining drives the old fashioned way, this is the ticket for you.

North Johnston (3-1)

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C.B. Aycock (1-3)

It's been a struggle for the powder blues since winning their season-opener versus Rosewood, and one has to think a win against NoJo would go a long way toward getting the season back on track.

To do so, however, CBA will need to accomplish two things: one, stifle North Johnston quarterback Trey Whitley, who can do a little bit of everything and seems to specialize in making the right play -- and two, stay ahead of the chains by picking up quality yards on first down.

From there, it's not a stretch to think Aycock head coach Steve Brooks will employ much of the call-sheet lingo that prompted last week's second-half hysteria in the city.

Call it an air raid.

Princeton (2-1)

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Wake Christian (2-2)

When we last saw Princeton, it was after a game effort on the road against traditional down east power Farmville Central.

Odds are, they are better for it.

But the sledding gets no easier this week, as the Bulldogs travel to Raleigh for a date with Wake Christian.

Not much is known about WC from a statistical perspective, but that likely wouldn't alter the PHS mantra, anyway.

Come rain or shine, head coach Travis Gaster and Co. specialize in minding their business and running the football -- a recipe that has anchored the program's success in recent years.

South Lenoir (1-3)

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Rosewood (2-2)

Last week, Rosewood authored its own demise with a rash of untimely turnovers and a lack of the program's signature poise.

Here's thinking that won't be the case tonight when South Lenoir pays a non-conference visit to "the Nest."

Expect a bevy of yellow hats to the ball on defense and a crisp, focused RHS running attack led by the bruising Michael Reid.

This one will be over early.

Kinston (4-0)

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Southern Wayne (0-4)

Undefeated Kinston High visits Dudley tonight, and brings with it a wide range of athletes occupying posts all over the field.

The Vikings will make life difficult for the Saints, who played tough two weeks ago in a bitterly-contested battle at Goldsboro.

Ultimately, Southern Wayne's chances ride on the considerable talents of quarterback Demetric Wright and Shawntwon Leach, both of whom have a knack for improvisation between the lines.