Watering plants ensures visits to nursing home by high school senior.

East Chapel Hill 20, Northwood 18: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/20/638609/northwood-at-east-chapel-hill.html

Triton 26, Smithfield-Selma 7: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/20/638622/triton-26-sss-7-082010.html

Cary 53, Broughton 26: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/20/638674/cary-53-broughton-20-082010.html

Millbrook 3, Garner 0: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/20/638714/millbrook-3-garner-0-082010.html

Holly Springs 28, SE Raleigh 27: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/21/638769/se-raleigh-holly-springs-082010.html

Wakefield 20, Green Hope 6: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/21/638790/wakefield-20-green-hope-6-082110.html

Fuquay-Varina 40, Knightdale 7: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/21/638807/fuquay-varina-40-knightdale-7.html

Clayton 33, Cardinal Gibbons 13: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/21/638975/clayton-33-cardinal-gibbons-13.html

DURHAM – Starting a new quarterback and tailback, Southern Durham coach Adrian Jones knew his team was going to go through some highs and lows this season. Unfortunately for the Spartans, they experienced more of the lows Friday night. 
Nigel Rainbow was a one-man wrecking crew for Greenville Rose, gaining 188 yards on 38 carries and two touchdowns, leading the Rampants to a 21-13 victory.
 

RALEIGH – It was a wild debut for David Riggs' first game for Holly Springs. But it was also a winning one.
The Holly Springs Golden Hawks blocked a would-be tying extra point by Southeast Raleigh with 3:21 to go then held off a final Bulldogs drive to hold on for a 28-27 win.
"It's great for these kids and the coaching staff. They picked up right where they left off last year and I think they lost a lot of [seniors] and didn't return a whole lot," Riggs said. "It was a great first ball game."

When East Chapel Hill and Northwood took the field Friday night for their first respective games of the season, a healthy dose of penalties were to be expected.

A win for East Chapel was not.

Both teams compiled plenty of penalty yardage — 235 yards combined — and the underdog Wildcats recorded just their third win in four seasons with the 20-14 victory.

PRINCETON – Hobbton High took advantage of its experience and punishing ground game in opening its season with a 41-0 victory over Princeton.
Lead by the 100-yard rushing effort of Eli Chestnutt, the Wildcats the amassed 231 yards against the rebuilding Bulldogs' defense.
Chestnutt scored touchdowns for four and 18 yards while running through and around the Princeton defense.

APEX – As expected with the first game of the season, there are going to be mistakes and missed assignments. Middle Creek looked like a team playing its fifth game of the season.

The Mustangs were in sync and took advantage of Northern Durham miscues with a 31-14 win over the visiting Knights on Friday night.

“We looked pretty sharp early,” Middle Creek head coach Sean Crocker said. “We want our practices to be harder than the games.”

The Mustangs took advantage of the Knights' fumbles setting up two early scores from the Northern Durham nine and five yard lines.

“Special teams and miscues will do you in, but give credit to our guys for capitalizing on them,” Crocker said.

Snapping miscues plagued the Knights early in the game. The Knights ran the option out of the shotgun and snaps sailed off target. QB Charah Wheeler and back Xavier Taylor were tackled for losses collecting loose balls.

An errant snap on Northern Durham’s first punt landed on the goal line and Middle Creek’s Jackson Rider recovered for the score for a 10-0 lead.

Crocker may want to rethink the preseason commitment to the run. Senior QB Garret Leatham’s first play from scrimmage was a 53-yrad pass to Kevin Jones. The Mustangs would settle for Chad Gunton’s 33-yard field goal. The pass however set the tone.

The Mustangs opened up with Leatham airing it out on 12 of their first 14 plays. The result was a 24-0 lead after the first quarter. Leatham had two TD passes, one to Chris Hubert and another to Kevin Jones. Leatham was 9-for-16 with 188 yards before being lifted midway through the second quarter for Sal Savarese.

“Our M.O. is we want to go with our strength and we come in with an All-State quarterback and three-year starter at that position and we got some really good receivers,” Crocker said.

Leatham started the third quarter with a 31-6 lead but Crocker’s commitment turned to the run, and killing the clock in the second half. Savarese would relieve Leatham again in the fourth quarter.

Northern Durham looked more settled in the second half, and utilized Wheeler on the run for his passing. Wheeler connected with DeAngelo Hopkins for his second TD of the game to bring the Knight to 31-14 with 7:29 remaining.

RALEIGH – Cary took advantage of three Broughton turnovers and made some big plays in the kicking game to open the season Friday night with a 53-26 win on the road.

“Taking advantage of what Broughton gave us was huge,” Cary coach Ben Kolstad said. “We were good on special teams tonight. We made some big plays. Plus, we had good field position from the second quarter on, which allowed us to pound the football on the ground.”

Josh Bailey rushed for 208 yards on 23 carries Friday to help South Granville High rally for a 24-20 victory over Chapel Hill.
Bailey scored a touchdown on a one-yard plunge, and also set up two one-yard keepers by quarterback Brandun Lickliter.
Cory Phillips supplied South Granville’s other points with a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter and then three PAT kicks.
“It was a good first win,” Bailey said. “The offensive line blocked really well, and I just followed them.”