FROM THE BEAR’S DEN
This week: Chatham Central (0-3, 0-7) travels to North Rowan (3-0, 5-3). Kickoff: 7:30 pm at North Rowan High School, Cavaliers Stadium.
Head Coach: Ben Hampton
Leading returnees for North Rowan: QB Kyre Mims, RB Malcolm Wilson, WR James Gladden, WR Denerio Robinson, LB Jordan Goodine, LB Caelan Stinson, FS Jaharion Graham, NG Malachi Turner.
Last week: Chatham Central bye; North Rowan 36, Albemarle 33
Last meeting: 2018; North Rowan 55, Chatham Central 0
Notable: Rumors of a closing of North Rowan in the near future continue to swirl but for now the Cavaliers are still alive and well in the Yadkin Valley Conference.
Game keys: After a week off to heal up and hopefully get some players back off the injured list, Chatham Central will have the daunting task of heading to Spencer to battle North Rowan, the preseason favorites of the YVC. To have a shot at the upset the Bears will have to find a way to sustain drives against what is a tough Cavaliers defense. Albemarle had some success last Friday night by keeping North Rowan off balance. Containing Sims, who’s a dual threat, and Wilson, who’s rushed for 672 yards and nine touchdowns, will be a key for the Bears. North Rowan can also stretch the field with Gladden and Robinson, both of who have caught 19 aerials thus far in 2019.
From the coaches: “We’ve had some time to get healthy and I think that will make a difference,” said Chatham Central coach Sherman Howze. “We need to get off to a good start and to play with some intensity.”
ON CHARGER BOULEVARD
This week: Northwood (3-0, 4-3) is traveling to Durham to battle Southern Durham (3-0, 6-1). Kickoff: 7 pm at Southern Durham High School, Spartan Stadium.
Head Coach: Darius Robinson
Leading returnees for Southern Durham: QB Omari Smith, RB Jaylen Wright, WR Xavier Rhodes, LB Jakhari Dowd, DE Jamae Blank, SS Jaquez Warren, LB James Shaw, DE Aaron Hall.
Last week: Northwood 27, East Chapel Hill 24; Southern Durham 34, Vance County 0
Last meeting: 2018; Southern Durham 20, Northwood 7
Notable: Northwood has won four straight including three 3A Big Eight Conference contests to set up a showdown with Southern Durham for first place outright in the league standings.
Game keys: Northwood will need to keep riding the momentum its built and to get off to a good start. Southern Durham is easily the best and most athletic team the Chargers have faced since the Lee County debacle and how the locals deal with the speed of the Spartans will be telling. Smith is a can hurt you with his arm and legs at QB while Wright has rushed for 643 yards. With that said, the real tale of the Spartans is a rugged and aggressive defense that has good size and speed. Dowd and Shaw spearhead a unit from their linebacker spots that has two shutouts and that has allowed just 14 points in Big Eight play.
IN THE JET HANGAR
This week: Jordan-Matthews (0-3, 1-7) hosts Trinity (0-2, 0-7). Kickoff: 7:30 pm at Jordan-Matthews High School, Phil E. Senter Stadium.
Head Coach: Brett Andrews
Leading returnees for Trinity: QB Chandler Shell, RB Kweisi Poole, LB Logan Simpson, LB David Makupson, DE Brandon Wagenor, NG Terrell Walker
Last week: Randleman 69, Jordan-Matthews 0; Providence Grove 49, Trinity 7
Last meeting: 2018; Trinity 49, Jordan-Matthews 0
Notable: Jordan-Matthews will host Homecoming this Friday night when Trinity rolls into Siler City. After running the proverbial PAC 7 Conference gauntlet, this is a big opportunity for the young Jets and a program that’s in the process of rebuilding from the foundation up.
Game keys: Jordan-Matthews needs to make some things happen early and to get the momentum and what will be a big Homecoming crowd behind them. The Jets have the speed advantage and need to finish off drives while forcing some Trinity turnovers on the other side of the ball. Special teams will also play a key and Jordan-Matthews must win that battle.
From the coaches: J-M’s coach Sam Spencer says his team will have to “play focused and to have fun. Friday night is a big chance for this program to take a step forward and I think our kids will leave it all on the field.”