Southeast Raleigh (4-0) hosts Clayton (1-3) tonight in both teams' traditional Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference football opener. Southeast leads the series, 3-1, since the two schools joined the GNRC in 2005.

Despite winning three games (and losing the fourth on a last-second field goal that bounced over the crossbar) the Bulldogs have never scored more than 22 points in a game on the Comets. Last year's game was a 14-9 win. The year before that, a 7-0 Bulldogs' decision. 

In the four-game series, the average score has been Southeast 12.5, Clayton 7.75. 

Now, I'm known for bringing up trends like this and seeing the whole thing shot out of the water in the next game, but I'd really be surprised if we end up with a 1980s Jets-Doplhins' score (like 42-38) in this one tonight.

Garner (2-2 overall) meets West Johnston (1-3) in the Trojans' and Wildcats' Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference football opener tonight at Trojan Stadium.

In addition to getting above .500 for the first time this season, a win would be notable on two fronts for Garner. Tenth-year head coach Nelson Smith would hit 100 career victories if the Trojans take the win.

Additionally, a win would give Garner 200 as a program since the 1990 season. The Trojans are 199-47 since 1990 entering tonight's game.

Smith is 99-21 with seven seasons of 10 or more wins.

Middle Creek 21, Garner 20

The Trojans rally from a 14-0 deficit for a 20-14 lead but the Mustangs run a kick off back for the deciding touchdown. 

Princeton 55, Dixon  6

The Bulldogs roll up the points and move to 3-0. Yep, Princeton is 3-0 folks. 

Fuquay-Varina 41, West Johnston 14

The Wildcats give up three first-quarter touchdowns and never recover.

Southeast Raleigh 42, Enloe 20

The Eagles give the Bulldogs a tussle for the second year in a row, but just for a half as Southeast moves to 3-0.

Fayetteville Pine Forest 39, Smithfield-Selma 26

Pine Forest leads 19-0 at the break and makes it hold up.

Jones County 35, North Johnston 20

The Panthers play better but fall to 0-3 on the season.

Montrelle Sanders ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns and Clayton forced three key South Johnston turnovers to take a 28-20 victory Thursday night at Ronald Avery Stadium. Vince Faison returned an interception for a Comet touchdown, while Donte Johnson had a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception as well.

South's Pat Dunigan threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. Dee Williams, despite not playing much of the second half, caught five balls for a pair of TDs and 115 yards.

Read more on the game in tomorrow's N&O and next week's editions of The Herald of Johnston County and the Garner-Clayton Record.