Eight Matchups Worth Keeping an Eye On Tonight

1A
#4 Northampton County (8-3) vs. #5 Northside-Pinetown (8-4)
Zakkai Wilson is all over the field for Northside and his efforts have helped the Panthers to an impressive 5-1 record on the road so far this season. The Northampton Jaguars are on a four-game winning streak and coach George Privott needs a win this week and next to have three straight double-digit winning seasons.

1AA
#4 Mount Airy (8-3) vs. #5 Mountain Island Charter (10-2)
Both teams sport solid running games with electric backs in Mountain Island’s Elijah Burris and Mount Airy’s Johnathon Smith. The Raptors have won ten games for only the second time in school history while the Granite Bears are no stranger to long playoff runs. Expect a lot of points and an early evening.

2A
#2 SouthWest Edgecombe (11-1) vs. #7 Whiteville (9-2)
Jvonte Davis and the Whiteville Wolfpack shocked a lot of people with their shutdown of a potent Wallace-Rose Hill team last week. But, Cortezz Jones are sure to give them a fierce level of competition this week. This is a matchup of two top ten teams that are playing way too early in the playoffs.

2AA
#4 South Granville (9-3) vs. #5 Currituck County (9-3)
Expect to hear Jayden Calloway’s name called a lot during the game. The senior is the key to success on offense for Currituck. On the other side of the field is a sensational sophomore in South Granville’s Micah Wilkerson. With a win, Mike Hobgood will have guided the Vikings to three double-digit wins in his four years as head coach.

3A
#2 Statesville (12-0) vs. #10 Kings Mountain (10-2)
These two teams might break the scoreboard by the end of the night. The two teams are averaging a combined ninety-nine points so far this season. Much of this is due to two outstanding quarterbacks in Kings Mountain’s Ethan Reid and Statesville’s Nebanye Moore. I’m expecting a healthy dose of running backs Rashaard Brooks and Caylon Imes tonight as well.

3AA
#2 New Hanover (11-1) vs. #7 West Brunswick (10-1)
This is a rematch of the Mideastern 3A title game from just a few weeks ago which New Hanover carried 28-7. West Brunswick scores little but gives up even less. There’s a good chance the number of carries Mikai Stanley has will have an impact on the game. More carries will be a good sign for the Wildcats.

4A
#2 South View (9-2) vs. #7 Jack Britt (8-4)
These two teams met to start the 2019 season in a great matchup that went to overtime. Jack Britt won that day, but they will have to travel to Hope Mills again if they do not want to bookend their season with South View. Expect to hear Matthew Pemberton’s name called a lot tonight if the Tigers are to move on to the third round of the playoffs.

4AA
#4 Myers Park (11-0) vs. #5 Ardrey Kell (11-1)
Scott Chadwick’s Myers Park team is loaded this season, but the Mustangs were forced to settle for the #4 seed in the 4AA west and a touch second round draw in Charlotte rival Ardrey Kell. The Knights get a lot out of senior quarterback Jared Joseph, but Ardrey Kell will have its hands full trying to defend The Mustangs’ lethal offensive combo of Drake Maye and Muhsin Muhammed.