MA at South Stokes
The Conference domination by the Bears continued last week in a far bigger blowout than anyone expected as they took the Ronda Cards to the woodshed in a game that was over truly super early. I expect more of the same this week expect maybe a little closer. South’s way more athletic than East , but East has the better line in my opinion. MA can never sleep on South in Walnut Cove given their history but should be a nice outing for the Bears.
Surry Central at Wilkes Central
WC’s season flipped last week as the NC State lineman returned from a supposed broken foot to help their defense out. However he still didn’t overly help as WC gave up a lot of points. For the Eagles to have a solid chance at upsetting East Surry they have got to become more tighter in all ways of the game the rest of the year. Coaching has got to improve. This week offers a great chance at that as they host longtime rival SC in their homecoming. These two have always had a back and forth series dating back to the 70’s. SC has spells winning and WC has their spells. Last year Surry Central won in a surprisingly close affair as they couldn’t put away WC as well as they played offensively. It showed kinks in the SC armor that broke when they played North and East Surry later in the year.
This year I expect it to be a W for WC. They are very athletic and have the bigger line than SC does. However they cannot afford to play mediocre like they tend to do vs lower tier teams. SC isn’t the team to ever sleep on and with momentum off their win last week they are wanting to start and upset run. I just don’t see it. With Smith back on defense it will cut the run off for SC if he can get a hold of the option. Without the run it will put a ton on Jewell to pass the ball. He can chunk it but WC’s secondary will be too fast for SC.
Elkin at East Wilkes
Last week was an affair to forget for the Ronda Cards. Elkin meanwhile continued their increasing improvement on offense as they scored 40+ on North Stokes; that may be a brush off point but they didn’t score hardly any the first two weeks. Elkin has a lot of momentum right now as their offense is more demonsional than it has been. East meanwhile badly needs to turn things around or it will be another collapse year under Wilmoth, and he can’t afford any more of those. Last year’s fall was embarrassing and they can’t afford another one of those with the talent they have available.
Elkin’s had the luck and the talent the past few years minus that one period for East in the mid 10’s, however East has started to turn the corner again recently. When it comes down to pure talent East just has more than Elkin does but they can’t afford to let them stay around or else it will be a hard fight for them to put it away.
Starmount vs North Stokes (at West Stokes)
The Rams took the week off last week after they badly underperformed vs Pine Lake in the pre season finale. The Rams consistency issues reared it’s ugly head as they couldn’t do much of anything vs Pine Lake in a game they honestly should have won. However thankfully they can overlook that game and move into conference play which is what truly matters. Up first is a matchup at West Stokes vs North Stokes who is having some track fixes.
North Stokes has struggled on defense the past few weeks and their offense is struggling to keep up. Starmount should take advantage of this and use it as a chance to take off into conference play. Dezern could have another candidate for a career night here.
Forbush at West Wilkes
In what will be another fun matchup these two squads will meet up in Millers Creek. This one is honestly hard to pick. West won solidly on JV last year and quite a few sophomores will be playing up for the Blackhawks, same for the Bush. However in the spring of 21 when these two played Forbush won easily with what upperclassmen they will have.
On paper Forbush should be the favorite due to having a little more experience but honestly it’s easier said than done. They haven’t won a game yet and have took some thumpings this year which is unusual for them. They did find some moral solace last game as they held an inconsistent Thomaville team to 26 but time will tell if that’s more due to Tville being inept or not. West meanwhile is improved but hasn’t played to their domination label many expected. They played CD close for a half before falling apart due to the talent difference and mental screw ups. Last week they laid an egg in Dobson and let SC get that field goal on them late to steal it. West couldn’t seem to match SC’s spirit or desire in a game they shoulda won. It seems the new HC hasn’t quite got their heads straight yet. That means as much to Football as does physicality after all.
I picked the Bush largely due to better older players and the athlete at QB. He is hard to stop and vs kids not as fast as he is he will exploit it. If West has a smart gameplan and don’t do anything epically stupid then this one could be super close or an upset. I think the matchup next fall will be insanely fun.
West Stokes at Walkertown
The Wildcats are still struggling to convert to the Air Raid as they haven’t seemed to click with it yet. Last week they couldn’t move the ball at needed times as McMichael looked more like the air raid squad as they passed it at will all over them. This week it won’t get any easier as they head to Walkertown to play the Wolfpack who was on break last week after destroying WS Prep.
Walkertown is really hard to figure. Their year has been solid however their non conference with the exception of Eastern Randolph has been poor. They started off bad vs Atkins but picked it up over Lexington and WS Prep who looked inept out there.
This game will show a lot as a result. West is way better than 3 of those 4 teams; Walkertown will have to play an actual game here and it’s hard to say if they can or not. I wouldn’t be surprised with a West win at all. If anytime they need to click this should be it. However it’s awfully hard to win in Walkertown it’s like a whole other world down there.
That might just be enough to pull it out.
Alleghany at Robbinsville
Much respect to Alleghany for even scheduling this matchup. They took it on hard early by even scheduling this one in 2021 but much props for that. These two didn’t play last year due to covid. Robbinsville is one of the best 1A west programs and they are still quite solid. They’ve played a hard schedule with Asheville and Smoky so they are battle tested. This is a straight up old school endowment matchup in a time where they don’t exist anymore.
Robbinsville will be a lot for Alleghany to handle; however if the Trojans manage to score here and there and make it annoying for the Black Knights then that will make up for the long haul. Next week should be a nice outing for them as they play North Stokes.
The Conference domination by the Bears continued last week in a far bigger blowout than anyone expected as they took the Ronda Cards to the woodshed in a game that was over truly super early. I expect more of the same this week expect maybe a little closer. South’s way more athletic than East , but East has the better line in my opinion. MA can never sleep on South in Walnut Cove given their history but should be a nice outing for the Bears.
Surry Central at Wilkes Central
WC’s season flipped last week as the NC State lineman returned from a supposed broken foot to help their defense out. However he still didn’t overly help as WC gave up a lot of points. For the Eagles to have a solid chance at upsetting East Surry they have got to become more tighter in all ways of the game the rest of the year. Coaching has got to improve. This week offers a great chance at that as they host longtime rival SC in their homecoming. These two have always had a back and forth series dating back to the 70’s. SC has spells winning and WC has their spells. Last year Surry Central won in a surprisingly close affair as they couldn’t put away WC as well as they played offensively. It showed kinks in the SC armor that broke when they played North and East Surry later in the year.
This year I expect it to be a W for WC. They are very athletic and have the bigger line than SC does. However they cannot afford to play mediocre like they tend to do vs lower tier teams. SC isn’t the team to ever sleep on and with momentum off their win last week they are wanting to start and upset run. I just don’t see it. With Smith back on defense it will cut the run off for SC if he can get a hold of the option. Without the run it will put a ton on Jewell to pass the ball. He can chunk it but WC’s secondary will be too fast for SC.
Elkin at East Wilkes
Last week was an affair to forget for the Ronda Cards. Elkin meanwhile continued their increasing improvement on offense as they scored 40+ on North Stokes; that may be a brush off point but they didn’t score hardly any the first two weeks. Elkin has a lot of momentum right now as their offense is more demonsional than it has been. East meanwhile badly needs to turn things around or it will be another collapse year under Wilmoth, and he can’t afford any more of those. Last year’s fall was embarrassing and they can’t afford another one of those with the talent they have available.
Elkin’s had the luck and the talent the past few years minus that one period for East in the mid 10’s, however East has started to turn the corner again recently. When it comes down to pure talent East just has more than Elkin does but they can’t afford to let them stay around or else it will be a hard fight for them to put it away.
Starmount vs North Stokes (at West Stokes)
The Rams took the week off last week after they badly underperformed vs Pine Lake in the pre season finale. The Rams consistency issues reared it’s ugly head as they couldn’t do much of anything vs Pine Lake in a game they honestly should have won. However thankfully they can overlook that game and move into conference play which is what truly matters. Up first is a matchup at West Stokes vs North Stokes who is having some track fixes.
North Stokes has struggled on defense the past few weeks and their offense is struggling to keep up. Starmount should take advantage of this and use it as a chance to take off into conference play. Dezern could have another candidate for a career night here.
Forbush at West Wilkes
In what will be another fun matchup these two squads will meet up in Millers Creek. This one is honestly hard to pick. West won solidly on JV last year and quite a few sophomores will be playing up for the Blackhawks, same for the Bush. However in the spring of 21 when these two played Forbush won easily with what upperclassmen they will have.
On paper Forbush should be the favorite due to having a little more experience but honestly it’s easier said than done. They haven’t won a game yet and have took some thumpings this year which is unusual for them. They did find some moral solace last game as they held an inconsistent Thomaville team to 26 but time will tell if that’s more due to Tville being inept or not. West meanwhile is improved but hasn’t played to their domination label many expected. They played CD close for a half before falling apart due to the talent difference and mental screw ups. Last week they laid an egg in Dobson and let SC get that field goal on them late to steal it. West couldn’t seem to match SC’s spirit or desire in a game they shoulda won. It seems the new HC hasn’t quite got their heads straight yet. That means as much to Football as does physicality after all.
I picked the Bush largely due to better older players and the athlete at QB. He is hard to stop and vs kids not as fast as he is he will exploit it. If West has a smart gameplan and don’t do anything epically stupid then this one could be super close or an upset. I think the matchup next fall will be insanely fun.
West Stokes at Walkertown
The Wildcats are still struggling to convert to the Air Raid as they haven’t seemed to click with it yet. Last week they couldn’t move the ball at needed times as McMichael looked more like the air raid squad as they passed it at will all over them. This week it won’t get any easier as they head to Walkertown to play the Wolfpack who was on break last week after destroying WS Prep.
Walkertown is really hard to figure. Their year has been solid however their non conference with the exception of Eastern Randolph has been poor. They started off bad vs Atkins but picked it up over Lexington and WS Prep who looked inept out there.
This game will show a lot as a result. West is way better than 3 of those 4 teams; Walkertown will have to play an actual game here and it’s hard to say if they can or not. I wouldn’t be surprised with a West win at all. If anytime they need to click this should be it. However it’s awfully hard to win in Walkertown it’s like a whole other world down there.
That might just be enough to pull it out.
Alleghany at Robbinsville
Much respect to Alleghany for even scheduling this matchup. They took it on hard early by even scheduling this one in 2021 but much props for that. These two didn’t play last year due to covid. Robbinsville is one of the best 1A west programs and they are still quite solid. They’ve played a hard schedule with Asheville and Smoky so they are battle tested. This is a straight up old school endowment matchup in a time where they don’t exist anymore.
Robbinsville will be a lot for Alleghany to handle; however if the Trojans manage to score here and there and make it annoying for the Black Knights then that will make up for the long haul. Next week should be a nice outing for them as they play North Stokes.
