There's just one week in the season, so it's time to get you caught up on the playoff picture.

Clayton High School will recognize members of the 1989 NCHSAA 2-A state championship football team and cheerleaders on Nov. 6 during the Comets'  football game against Smithfield-Selma.  Players and cheerleaders are asked to contact Clint Eaves or Cathy Paschal at 919-553-4064 for more information.

Cary coach Ben Kolstad suspended a number of starters before last week's 34-5 loss to Middle Creek. One of them was his most highly-touted player, offensive/defensive lineman Fre'Shad Hunter.

However, Hunter will not be returning to the team. While other starters were suspended for missing practice, Hunter broke an undisclosed team rule.

Hunter’s mother and Kolstad met, and decided it would be best for Fre’Shad to sit out the rest of the year.

“What happened is, there were some team rules broken, and it kind of became a mutual decision between me and his mom that he was going to focus on academics and nothing else,” Kolstad said.

The senior ranks among the best players in the state and recently committed to N.C. State. He projects as a defensive lineman at the next level, and is ranked by major recruiting databases Scout.com and Rivals.com as a four-star player.

“It’s probably not easy for him, but he’s doing fine,” Kolstad said. “This is something that we’ve been talking about for awhile anyway. It’s not that sudden of a thing for him. He’s handled it well I think.”

The Imps are 4-4 (2-3) heading into this Friday's game at home against Lee County. Hunter, meanwhile, will spend his time readying himself for college.

“He’s just preparing for next year,” Kolstad said. “And this gives him a chance to work on his academics and get himself prepared physically and mentally for next year.” 

Cary coach Ben Kolstad suspended a number of starters before last week's 34-5 loss to Middle Creek.

One of them was his most highly-touted player, offensive/defensive lineman Fre'Shad Hunter.

However, Hunter will not be returning to the team. The senior ranks among the best players in the state and recently committed to N.C. State.

It's not known why Hunter was kicked off the team. The Imps are 4-4 (2-3) heading into this Friday's game at home against Lee County.

Can you believe there's only three weeks left in the year? Three weeks and that includes this Friday? Although my weekly predictions have been a lot of fun, and I've been extremely accurate (78%), I'm not Nostradamus by any means. As Athens proved last week, even if you're predicted to lose by 6, you can still win by 40.

Game of the week 

Athens Drive (6-2, 4-1) at Fuquay-Varina (7-1, 4-1) 

Southeast Raleigh stays on top. Holly Springs, which has won four straight, breaks in at No. 6.

Athens Drive faces strong challenge against Cary, but most area ranked teams are solid favorites.

Matthew Butler and Charlotte Independence are Nos. 1 and 2. Southeast Raleigh is at No. 13.

With four weeks to go, here are the Tri-Nine Conference football standings. We'll have a preview of this Friday's games on Thursday here on the SWakeSports blog.

See 54 images from games around the Triangle on Friday night, Sept. 18, 2009.