I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – high school football coaches and players will use anything and everything as motivation.
Case in point, last week when I picked Jacksonville to lose 21-14 to previously undefeated East Duplin.
While on paper the Cardinals were still a favorite, I selected the Panthers to win, given their wins amid a strong early strength of schedule and Jacksonville’s first-half offensive struggles in recent games.
Of course I became public enemy No. 1 for both teams.
East Duplin coaches didn’t like me predicting them to win because football coaches are superstitious and don’t like their players reading into favorable picks. The Panthers are a solid team, but are young in key positions, and that youth showed Friday.
And I drew the ire of Jacksonville coaches, players and fans because I picked the Cardinals to drop their second game this season.
Jacksonville senior Josiah Benton scored on a 60-yard run on the game’s first play from scrimmage, and junior Domonic Williams returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown to quickly give the Cardinals a 14-0 lead.
Jacksonville only mustered 263 yards of total offense, but that’s because the Cardinals only ran 15 offensive plays. One of those was Benton’s 63-yard touchdown pass to senior SaRonn Thompson, and two others were senior Amari Pearson’s 19-yard touchdown and senior Montez Jimenez’s 59-yard score.
And for good measure, Williams added a 70-yard punt return for a score for the Cardinals, who allowed just 173 yards of total offense.
It was clear in the middle of the second quarter that this would be a deciding win by the Cardinals (3-1). And as the reserves were getting playing time in the fourth quarter, I stood next to Benton and senior defensive lineman Demari June as they playfully gave me the business for picking East Duplin.
I asked the players if my prediction made them upset, prompting June to quickly respond “Oh, I was (mad).”
The Cardinals certainly played inspired football Friday. Several players said they were tired of hearing the naysayers criticize them for their early season play, especially a 14-6 loss to Northside on Aug. 27.
Going forward, however, I am interested in if Jacksonville can carry on this momentum.
The Cardinals have an open date this week before they host New Bern on Oct. 2 in the Big Carolina 6-A/7-A Conference opener. While at the moment, I am leaning towards projecting the Cardinals emerge victorious, I have a feeling Jacksonville coach Beau Williams won’t mind me picking the Bears, who hosts Hertford County on Friday.
Either way, I encourage more players, coaches and fans getting excited over the weekly predictions, and I appreciate those who make it a point to remind me when I am wrong.
Chris Miller can be contacted via email at cmiller@jdnews.com. Follow him on X @jdnsports.