It’s Week 2 of the high school football season and time to find out if what happened in Week 1 was the start of something or just a one-week anomaly.
Remember, follow all of the News & Observer’s coverage of Friday night football by following prepsnow on Twitter or at our live blog at http://blogs.newsobserver.com/prepsnow/home. We will have updates on more than a dozen games throughout the course of the night, plus statistics of note and more throughout the night.
Friday's Area Prep Football Games
West Johnston (1-0) at South Johnston (1-0), 7:30
South Johnston's inexperienced defense got a big dose of experience last week, playing 95 snaps against Southern Lee. The Trojans' defense will be tested by a West offense that was solid in a Week 1 victory. South's offense, of course, was really productive, scoring 50 points. But last year's game between these two was a defensive struggle with the Trojans eking out a 10-7 victory on a late field goal.
Clayton (1-0) at Fuquay-Varina (1-0), 7:30
A rarity in these times, two teams driven by old-fashioned pounding running games square off again in a longstanding rivalry. The Bengals took a 14-7 victory last season, one of several close Comet loses early in the season.
Southeast Raleigh (0-1) at Sanderson (0-1), 7
The Bulldogs and Spartans both had forgettable nights in their season openers and have spent the week looking ahead. For Southeast, that includes a drop in penalties and turnovers. For Sanderson, that includes a better effort on defense than the 41 points allowed to Athens Drive last week.
Broughton (0-1) at Garner (0-1), 7:30
The two defenses were going in completely opposite directions last week. Garner held Millbrook to less than 100 offensive yards, while the Caps gave up 30-plus points to the Cary offense (and another 14 on defensive scores by the Imps). Lemond Johnson takes over full-time at quarterback for the Trojans. It'll be interesting to see which approach Garner takes on offense and if the Trojans' line improved.
Nash Central (0-1) at Smithfield-Selma (0-1), 7:30
The Bulldogs enter tonight's game looking for their first points of the season. If the Spartans' defense has a night like it did last week in a 26-7 loss to Triton that might be a tough task for Nash Central to accomplish. SSS was solid on defense but turnovers on offense led to several easy scores on defense.
Princeton (0-1) at North Moore (0-0), 7:30
North Moore makes it 2010 debut against the Bulldogs, who gained a lot of experience but didn't have much to show for it in a 41-0 loss to Hobbton last week.
North Lenoir (0-1) at North Johnston (1-0), 7:30
North Johnston turned timely special teams plays into a win last week at Clinton Union, blocking the Spartans' only extra-point attempt, converting their lone extra-point attempt and then getting enough rush during a potential game-winning field goal attempt to influence a kick that sailed wide left.
Cherokee (1-0) at Wake Christian (0-1), 7:30
Cherokee was willing to come more than halfway across the state to fill this playing date. The reservation-based school's teams are typically a very strong and physical group. It'll be a good test for a Wake Christian squad that spent a lot of time in the weight room during the off-season. The Braves topped Smoky Mount 22-15 in their opener last week.
Junior Varisty: Corinth Holders (0-0) at Cleveland (0-0), 7:30
Johnston County's two new high schools start their programs by meeting each other. It's sure to be a special night for both squads, look for a report on the night in next week's The (Smithfield) Herald or the Garner-Clayton Record.
