Week eight of high school football
Game of the Week
South Johnston (4-1) @ Clayton (5-1) – 7 p.m. – Trevaun Richardson and Clayton will open Greater Neuse 3A conference play against Josh Schindler and South Johnston this Friday. Both teams began their seasons 1-1, and since then, neither have lost a game. Clayton has run the ball effectively throughout its current five-game winning streak. Eight different Comets players have scored on rushing touchdowns already this season, led by Richardson’s six scores. Meanwhile, South Johnston has flown under the radar, capitalizing on its weak non-conference schedule. The Trojans are led by junior quarterback Josh Schindler, who has thrown five touchdowns over the team’s past two games. Clayton might be without its starting quarterback, Austin Cagle, who sustained a left leg injury during last week’s win against Fike.
Players to watch this week
QB: Jacob Whittington, Clayton (Jr.) — If Cagle is hurt, Whittington will be making the first start of his high school career. In a backup role this season, he has only attempted five passes. Clayton head coach Hunter Jenks has opted for Whittington to hand the ball off to one of the Comets platoon of running backs. Should Whittington start, it’ll be interesting to see whether Jenks allows the junior to have free reign of the offense, or if he instead relies on his ground game.
RB: Trevaun Richardson, Clayton (Sr.) — Richardson is the Comets workhorse. The senior has rushed for 464 yards on 69 carries so far this season. When Cagle went out last week in the third quarter, Richardson’s legs kept the offense moving. He finished the game with 197 yards and one score. He’ll need to be at his best this Friday night, especially if Cagle is unable to go.
QB: Josh Schindler, South Johnston (Jr.) — In his first year as the Trojans starting quarterback, Schindler struggled out of the gate. He seems to have hit his stride the past two weeks, though. The junior totaled 311 passing yards and five touchdowns during wins against James Kenan and Western Harnett.
DT: Jaden McKenzie, Wake Forest (Sr.) — The three-star defensive tackle’s statistics are down, at least compared to years past. He’s still averaging a sack a game, though, and agonizing opposing offenses for the Cougars. Look for McKenzie to make his impact early and often against the Knights.
QB: Dax Hardy, Knightdale (So.) — Hardy hasn’t been spectacular for the Knights this season, but he hasn’t needed to be. The Knights are a defensive-minded team, holding their opponents to just 12.4 points per game so far this season. The sophomore has limited his turnovers — he’s only thrown two interceptions — and made plays when his number is called. One example of that occurred two weeks ago at Fuquay-Varina. Hardy found Evan McCray for a 43-yard, go-ahead touchdown with 2:14 to go, to help the Knights secure an upset victory.
RB/DB: Hamilton Moore, Enloe (Sr.) — There’s much ado about Moore’s ability as a running back, and for good reason. Two weeks ago, the senior ran for over 300 yards and six touchdowns in a shootout versus Sanderson. But Moore is also one of the Eagles foremost threats on the defensive side of the ball, too. Moore plays defensive back, and last week alone, he racked up 10 tackles.
QB: T. K. Paisant, Carrboro (Jr.) — Paisant is the engine of the Jaguars offense. A dual threat, he has accounted for 10 touchdowns in just four games — six through the air, and five on the ground. Standing at 6-foot-3-inches and weighing 200 pounds, he’s a difficult matchup for any high school defense — even Reidsville’s highly touted one. He’ll definitely need some help, though, if the Jaguars want to keep it close against the undefeated Rams Friday night.
RB: Travion Canada, Reidsville (Sr.) — Canada has stepped up in a big way this season for a Reidsville squad that replaced 22 seniors. The junior running back is averaging 8.9 yards per carry, and he’s already found the endzone for 15 touchdowns. Not to mention that his receiving statistics are better than those of many full-time receivers. Canada has caught 35 passes for 570 yards and six touchdowns.
Other top games to watch
Wake Forest (5-0) @ Knightdale (4-1) – 7 p.m. – Wake Forest and Southern Nash played one highly competitive quarter of football last Thursday night before a severe thunderstorm ended things early. Since neither team has any remaining open weeks, and the contest had already been postponed from Week Five due to Hurricane Florence, it’s unclear if the game will be completed. The Cougars are back in action this week at Knightdale. The Knights will be looking to upset a third undefeated foe in as many games, after taking down Broughton in Week Four and Fuquay-Varina on the road last Friday. Wake Forest, meanwhile, will be looking to extend its winning streak to 37 games. The Cougars have won 63 of 65 games dating back to 2014.
Broughton (4-2) @ Enloe (6-0) – 7 p.m. – Enloe barely stayed perfect last week, pulling out a 21-14 victory on the road at Millbrook — its third victory of the season decided by one possession. It was a back-and-forth affair late into the fourth quarter, when the Eagles pulled away for good on a three-yard rushing touchdown by Yale commit Hamilton Moore. That perfect record will be tested again this week, as the Eagles welcome conference rival Broughton. The Capitals dominated Southeast Raleigh 37-14 for their fourth win.
Reidsville (7-0) @ Carrboro (3-1) – 7:30 p.m. – Ken Lathan’s Carrboro Jaguars are off to their best start of his tenure at 3-1. The Jaguars, who had to forfeit games due to a lack of players as recently as 2015, won their first three games of the season, before getting punished 42-24 two weeks ago at East Wake. The Jaguars will have an opportunity to measure themselves against the best of Class 2A this Friday, when they’ll face perennial power Reidsville at home. The Rams have an explosive offense, spearheaded by senior running back Travion Canada.
Orange (2-3) @ Northern Durham (6-0) – 7 p.m. – If Northern Durham is to continue its quest for a perfect season, the Knights will have to snap Orange’s two-game winning streak.
