East Surry at MA
Game of the year already for most people around here.. Not much more to say. MA has the athleticism but their line is young. East meanwhile has the experience but isn’t as athletic as MA is. Something is going to have to give here. East’s experience is going to be hard for MA to overcome when it comes to shove. MA”s backfield will be East’s best pre-season test; if they manage to shut MA down running it then East is for real. If MA hangs around and it stays close going into the 2nd half then it’ll show East has faults. Question is can Lowman manage to inspire the boys to play up and from behind if it happens? It hasn’t happened very much in recent years and it’s hard to say how they will respond to it.
MA is looking to be the force moving forward again the next few years taking East’s mantle away. Question is can the Cards rise for the bell and prevent it for at least a year. If they don’t an era will be coming to an end in a lot of ways.
I think East’s experience and line size will be enough to win out; but very hard to top that speed MA has. Very few teams around the west will be able to in 1A. East is probably sighing a breathe of belief at the fact they don’t have to worry about it in November.
West Wilkes at Elkin
In a game that was killed by covid last year; this is one that is going to be truly interesting to see fold out. The Blackhawks went down last week but put up a hell of a fight vs East Wilkes at home. It was a new generation debut for the blackhawks: new Cleveland Brown looking uniforms (pretty nice by the way!) and a midfield logo for the first time in ages. East Wilkes didn’t have an easy win but they pulled it out. However West has reasons for optimism moving forward. Elkin meanwhile flat out had omlet on their faces after an embarrassing loss in Hays to the new look Vikings. NW put the game away super early with a 29 point barrage and never looked back as their RB ran all over Elkin with ease. It never got any better in the Scott Wood tribute game for the Elks who desperately need a break.
This is Elkin’s first home game and only one of three for a solid month; couldn’t have picked a worse opener. This one will be an interesting test to see how far West has grown in terms of mental consistency and strength as they are back in the Wing T again. Last year on JV Elkin got the ball ran down their throat constantly to a solid loss despite having chances to make it close. I don’t expect a close one here due to Elkin’s lack of a run defense but I’ve seen stranger situations occur between these two.
Surry Central at East Wilkes
The Ronda Cards pulled out a W despite a rather ineffective offensive performance last week. West held the Cards to just 2 TD’s and a field goal despite East having it for more plays and getting more first downs. Hard to tell if it’s due to West being much improved or East just being that sluggish on offense. Regardless it shows the rivalry is still strong there between those two teams. SC meanwhile epically collapsed upon theirselves really hard last week letting Alleghany come back from the dead multiple times very, very to a last second win. SC’s lax defense struck again in a very hard way late.
This week it’s East’s return home for their home opener in another edition of these two’s rivalry dating back decades in what I call in this case the Jonathan Wilmoth Tribute Game. On paper this doesn’t look close as East has the talent and the experience edge; however they can’t find consistency to save their lives. This isn’t the week to let go because SC’s offense isn’t one to sleep on. East needs to find a way to stay consistent or an upset is always possible here.
Starmount at CSD
In what started out as a beautiful debut turned into a nightmare super fast as the Rams got big headed then destroyed by East Surry. The Rams just wasn’t ready to handle that onslaught and it showed. However it’s a new week and one they are super ready im sure to move on to. They face the long trek to the top of Mecklenburg county to play CSD. Last year when these two teams met Starmount surprised everyone to a solid win despite CSD looking much better beforehand. This year CSD looks like the favorite again however it would be foolish to overrun the Rams. CSD played an awful Bessemer City squad; looks can be deceiving. CSD’s always struggled versus physical teams (I know that from experience lol.)
CSD’s weakness has always been physicality granted they have gotten better over time. Starmount just has too many big dudes for the Spartans to handle. CSD will give the Rams a chance to shut down a wide open offense fully. Question is can they finally rise to the occasion to do it or not?
Forbush at Trinity
The opener proved to be a fun night for anyone who isn’t a fan of Forbush. The big bullies of the block who have had a lot of people’s numbers the past 3 years got a taste of their own medicine from North Forsyth, who upset the Falcons in a lot of people’s minds. However when push came to shove the game showed a lot of the Falcons flaws quite early. Offensively they had no dominant player instead it was all spread along several kids. The QB showed out early but the rushing numbers just wasn’t that dominant for what Forbush has been the past few years. Time will tell if it’s a omen for challenges ahead or just due to North Forsyth playing well.
Up this week is a much improved Trinity squad who makes the long haul up from Randolph county. Last year the Falcons flat out humiliated the Bulldogs down their way to a 50+ landslide as the Bulldogs youth just couldn’t hang. This year the Bulldogs have improved quite a bit; they destroyed Chatham Central who they barely beat by 10 last year. I seen them in person at South Stokes 2 weeks back and they looked much more impressive last year. I felt they were rather soft on the line last year; but they took it to Starmount well. In fact they caught them sleeping with some deep balls they weren’t expecting. They had some speed in the secondary they didn’t have last year.
This game might be way more interesting than we all are expecting. Forbush has struggled a lot versus speed and the pass in the past; and if a team has both then it puts them at a disadvantage. Much like the main event this game will come down to the trenches and I think Forbush is better there. However if this one is close then I won’t be surprised.
Bishop at South Stokes
In what has been a fun and even filtered rivalry between these two; another edition will take off in Sauratown Friday.
Last week South came to King and overperformed from what many (including me,) expected. They managed to have the ball for way longer than South did and ran more plays which is something they never came close to managing last year. However they just couldn’t make the most of their opportunities like West did and they fell despite it. Bishop meanwhile got epically humiliated and beat by what looks to be an 8 Man Football program just making a transition upward.. Yeah.
This shouldn’t be much of a contest. South should win by as much as they want to here.
North Stokes at North Moore
The Danbury Vikings have the unpleasant drive of having to drive for hours down to Moore county to play one of the best 1A programs in the state. All I can say is.. ykes.
Game of the year already for most people around here.. Not much more to say. MA has the athleticism but their line is young. East meanwhile has the experience but isn’t as athletic as MA is. Something is going to have to give here. East’s experience is going to be hard for MA to overcome when it comes to shove. MA”s backfield will be East’s best pre-season test; if they manage to shut MA down running it then East is for real. If MA hangs around and it stays close going into the 2nd half then it’ll show East has faults. Question is can Lowman manage to inspire the boys to play up and from behind if it happens? It hasn’t happened very much in recent years and it’s hard to say how they will respond to it.
MA is looking to be the force moving forward again the next few years taking East’s mantle away. Question is can the Cards rise for the bell and prevent it for at least a year. If they don’t an era will be coming to an end in a lot of ways.
I think East’s experience and line size will be enough to win out; but very hard to top that speed MA has. Very few teams around the west will be able to in 1A. East is probably sighing a breathe of belief at the fact they don’t have to worry about it in November.
West Wilkes at Elkin
In a game that was killed by covid last year; this is one that is going to be truly interesting to see fold out. The Blackhawks went down last week but put up a hell of a fight vs East Wilkes at home. It was a new generation debut for the blackhawks: new Cleveland Brown looking uniforms (pretty nice by the way!) and a midfield logo for the first time in ages. East Wilkes didn’t have an easy win but they pulled it out. However West has reasons for optimism moving forward. Elkin meanwhile flat out had omlet on their faces after an embarrassing loss in Hays to the new look Vikings. NW put the game away super early with a 29 point barrage and never looked back as their RB ran all over Elkin with ease. It never got any better in the Scott Wood tribute game for the Elks who desperately need a break.
This is Elkin’s first home game and only one of three for a solid month; couldn’t have picked a worse opener. This one will be an interesting test to see how far West has grown in terms of mental consistency and strength as they are back in the Wing T again. Last year on JV Elkin got the ball ran down their throat constantly to a solid loss despite having chances to make it close. I don’t expect a close one here due to Elkin’s lack of a run defense but I’ve seen stranger situations occur between these two.
Surry Central at East Wilkes
The Ronda Cards pulled out a W despite a rather ineffective offensive performance last week. West held the Cards to just 2 TD’s and a field goal despite East having it for more plays and getting more first downs. Hard to tell if it’s due to West being much improved or East just being that sluggish on offense. Regardless it shows the rivalry is still strong there between those two teams. SC meanwhile epically collapsed upon theirselves really hard last week letting Alleghany come back from the dead multiple times very, very to a last second win. SC’s lax defense struck again in a very hard way late.
This week it’s East’s return home for their home opener in another edition of these two’s rivalry dating back decades in what I call in this case the Jonathan Wilmoth Tribute Game. On paper this doesn’t look close as East has the talent and the experience edge; however they can’t find consistency to save their lives. This isn’t the week to let go because SC’s offense isn’t one to sleep on. East needs to find a way to stay consistent or an upset is always possible here.
Starmount at CSD
In what started out as a beautiful debut turned into a nightmare super fast as the Rams got big headed then destroyed by East Surry. The Rams just wasn’t ready to handle that onslaught and it showed. However it’s a new week and one they are super ready im sure to move on to. They face the long trek to the top of Mecklenburg county to play CSD. Last year when these two teams met Starmount surprised everyone to a solid win despite CSD looking much better beforehand. This year CSD looks like the favorite again however it would be foolish to overrun the Rams. CSD played an awful Bessemer City squad; looks can be deceiving. CSD’s always struggled versus physical teams (I know that from experience lol.)
CSD’s weakness has always been physicality granted they have gotten better over time. Starmount just has too many big dudes for the Spartans to handle. CSD will give the Rams a chance to shut down a wide open offense fully. Question is can they finally rise to the occasion to do it or not?
Forbush at Trinity
The opener proved to be a fun night for anyone who isn’t a fan of Forbush. The big bullies of the block who have had a lot of people’s numbers the past 3 years got a taste of their own medicine from North Forsyth, who upset the Falcons in a lot of people’s minds. However when push came to shove the game showed a lot of the Falcons flaws quite early. Offensively they had no dominant player instead it was all spread along several kids. The QB showed out early but the rushing numbers just wasn’t that dominant for what Forbush has been the past few years. Time will tell if it’s a omen for challenges ahead or just due to North Forsyth playing well.
Up this week is a much improved Trinity squad who makes the long haul up from Randolph county. Last year the Falcons flat out humiliated the Bulldogs down their way to a 50+ landslide as the Bulldogs youth just couldn’t hang. This year the Bulldogs have improved quite a bit; they destroyed Chatham Central who they barely beat by 10 last year. I seen them in person at South Stokes 2 weeks back and they looked much more impressive last year. I felt they were rather soft on the line last year; but they took it to Starmount well. In fact they caught them sleeping with some deep balls they weren’t expecting. They had some speed in the secondary they didn’t have last year.
This game might be way more interesting than we all are expecting. Forbush has struggled a lot versus speed and the pass in the past; and if a team has both then it puts them at a disadvantage. Much like the main event this game will come down to the trenches and I think Forbush is better there. However if this one is close then I won’t be surprised.
Bishop at South Stokes
In what has been a fun and even filtered rivalry between these two; another edition will take off in Sauratown Friday.
Last week South came to King and overperformed from what many (including me,) expected. They managed to have the ball for way longer than South did and ran more plays which is something they never came close to managing last year. However they just couldn’t make the most of their opportunities like West did and they fell despite it. Bishop meanwhile got epically humiliated and beat by what looks to be an 8 Man Football program just making a transition upward.. Yeah.
This shouldn’t be much of a contest. South should win by as much as they want to here.
North Stokes at North Moore
The Danbury Vikings have the unpleasant drive of having to drive for hours down to Moore county to play one of the best 1A programs in the state. All I can say is.. ykes.
