Tri-9 Friday Football predictions: Week 9

Holly Springs coach Jim Hynus is cartwheeling with joy to bring you this week's Tri-9 football predictions.

Game of the week

Panther Creek (4-3, 2-2) at Athens Drive (5-2, 3-1) 

Expect a shootout in this one, as two of the conference's most high-powered offenses go head-to-head. Athens Drive has scored no fewer than 26 points after its 21-14 win over Sanderson in week one. Panther Creek has scored no fewer than 28 points in any week. Athens has won four of its last five, and seems to be finally coming together to be as good of team on the field that they appear on paper. The Catamounts, on the other hand, have had to deal with a number of injuries on defense, but last week the team was stout against Green Hope (don't laugh, the Falcons were held to 18 points less than their previous game). In a barn-burner like this one, you have to go with the team with the better skill players, so it's Ben Snotherly-KyRee Green-Louis Wilder-A.J. Stewart vs Kameron Bryant-Kel Jackson-Graham Love-Jay Townsend. I'll take the latter, but not by too much.

Final verdict: Panther Creek by 6

Apex (1-6, 1-3) at Holly Springs (5-3, 4-1)

Look, I haven't picked Holly Springs much this year. In their four-game winning streak, I've picked them once. It's been amazing to see how many close games they can pull out. Winning four consecutive games in the final 61 seconds is rarely done on any level of football. For the record, I think they're better than Apex. J.J. Graves is punishing tacklers and Mike Roach has proven himself as a gutsy and poised quarterback. Their defense has stars all over it that don't get enough credit (hello!? they held Cory Hunter to 82 yards, no run longer than 22!). But, I'm sure coach Jim Hynus (seen cartwheeling above) knows his team has been equally close to four straight losses. I'm not making the mistake of picking against the Golden Hawks, but I'm guessing Apex forces this game to come down to the wire (again).

Final verdict: Holly Springs by 7 in the final minute, of course

Cary (4-4, 2-3) at Middle Creek (6-1, 4-0)

After learning how Cary's defense was torched for 34 second-half points in a 34-28 loss to Athens, Middle Creek quarterback Garrett Leatham (1,896 yards, 18 TD's) had to be licking his chops. The Mustangs need to bounce back stronger, much stronger, than they did against Lee County. The Mustangs were lucky to have won the game in regulation on a 46-yard Matt Frongello field goal to keep the game from going into OT. Cary has three running backs who are capable of running anywhere from 75 to 180 yards, but the Mustangs should have enough defense to key in and limit the Imps in that regard. I think this'll be a pretty good road win for Middle Creek, which will face Panther Creek next week in the first meaningful 'Battle of the Creeks' game to date.

Final verdict: Middle Creek by 14

Fuquay-Varina (6-1, 3-1) at Green Hope (0-8, 0-4)

I'll make this short and sweet. Fuquay lost last week. At home. In conference play. For the first time since 2005. You heard that correctly, right? Since 2005. Since the end of that season, Green Hope has won two games, period. And one came on a forfeit for using an ineligible player. One interesting note, however, will be former Green Hope coach Tim Paluzzi is now an assistant at Fuquay.

Final verdict: Fuquay-Varina by 35

Lee County is on its bye week. They will probably still lose by single-digits.