It’s week nine of the high school football season, which means the games are getting bigger for teams with conference title aspirations.

East Duplin and Northside are two area NCHSAA squads sitting in first place in their leagues, and both are favored to win their remaining games to capture conference titles.

Speaking of the Panthers, East Duplin host the local game of the week as it welcomes nemesis Clinton.

The local schedule features nine games involving 10 teams with Croatan (7-1) having an open date.

Who wins Friday’s week nine games? Here are my thoughts and predictions: 

Clinton (5-2, 2-0) at East Duplin (6-1, 2-0)

While Clinton and East Duplin have only played two East Central 3-A/4-A Conference games, the winner likely wins the league title.

Following a 42-7 loss at Jacksonville, the Panthers have outscored Southwest and Trask 37-0 and 63-0. The Dark Horses followed a 34-21 loss to undefeated Whiteville with a 42-20 victory over Pender and a 37-6 win over South Lenoir.

East Duplin and Clinton share one common foe in Wallace-Rose Hill. The Panthers topped WRH 16-14 on Aug. 22 and the Dark Horses won 7-6 on Sept. 4.

Clinton leads the series 30-16, but East Duplin won 20-13 last year in the first meeting since the Panthers’ 28-27 third-round win in 2022. East Duplin has won three straight in the series. Clinton’s last victory was a 28-27 win in the 2021 spring season. The Dark Horses won the first game 25-6 in 1975.

Prediction: East Duplin 28, Clinton 14 

South Central (3-4, 0-2) at Jacksonville (4-2, 1-1)

Jacksonville hopes to rebound from last week’s 28-26 Big Carolina 6-A/7-A Conference loss at J.H. Rose as the Cardinals host South Central.

While this serves as a “Get right” game for Jacksonville before next week’s game at D.H. Conley (6-1, 2-0), the Cardinals can’t afford to overlook the Falcons, who have lost four straight games.

Jacksonville won 28-7 last year and leads the series 6-2 with South Central’s victories coming in 2009 and 2010.

Prediction: Jacksonville 33, South Central 14 

Swansboro (6-1, 2-1) at Havelock (4-4, 3-1)

A big game between Swansboro and Havelock? You bet.

The Pirates visit Havelock with the winner likely finishing no worse than third in the Coastal 5-A/6-A Conference.

Swansboro has handled business in games it’s been favored in, but a victory over the Rams would be a signature win.

Havelock leads the series 14-0, including 50-14 last year. The Rams won the first meeting 27-0 in 1960.

Prediction: Havelock 42, Swansboro 24 

Northside (7-0, 3-0) at Dixon (2-5, 0-3)

Expect Northside to remained focused at Dixon in a Coastal Conference game, given the Monarchs trailed 24-16 to the Bulldogs in last year’s meeting before pulling away for a 50-39 win.

Dixon’s best chance is to keep Northside’s offense off the field. That means the Monarchs need to stay disciplined against the Bulldogs’ single-wing ground game.

Northside’s offense has the upper hand against Dixon’s defense. The Monarchs lead the series 5-0, winning 14-9 in the first meeting in 2001.

Prediction: Northside 48, Dixon 14 

Trask (2-5, 1-1) at Southwest (2-5, 1-1)

Southwest aims for its second consecutive win as the Stallions host East Central Conference foe Trask.

A victory would surpass the Stallions’ win total from last year and 2024. Southwest leads the series 5-0, winning 21-14 last year and 43-14 in the first meeting in 2017.

Prediction: Southwest 35, Trask 6 

Sandhills Classical (2-2) at Liberty Christian (5-0)

Last week marked Liberty Christian’s fourth open date – a result of scheduled teams folding.

That means the Heat had two weeks to prepare for its toughest opponent in Sandhills Classical Christian, which fell 38-28 at home to Liberty on Sept. 4. Sandhills won both meetings last year.

Sandhills has not played since a 36-34 loss at Father Capodanno Sept. 25 while Liberty last played Oct. 2 in a 28-16 win at Community Christian.

Both teams may be rusty, but expect the Heat to settle down by the second quarter and pull away by the third.

Prediction: Liberty 34, Sandhills 22 

J.H. Rose (7-0, 2-0) at White Oak (2-4, 0-2)

White Oak’s tough schedule continues as the Vikings host Big Carolina Conference foe J.H. Rose, which downed Jacksonville 28-26.

The Rampants won the previous two meetings, 44-22 last year, and 21-19 in the first round in 2023.

Prediction: J.H. Rose 42, White Oak 6 

West Carteret (2-5, 1-3) at Richlands (1-6, 0-3)

Richlands has dropped six consecutive games and been held to just seven, zero and eight points in its last three entering its Coastal Conference game with West Carteret, which has lost three straight.

The Patriots lead the series 10-3, including last year’s 34-21 win. The Wildcats won 62-27 in 2024 and also won the inaugural meeting 48-6 in 2003.

Prediction; West Carteret 20, Richlands 14 

Lejeune (1-5, 0-2) at Jones Senior (0-7, 0-2)

Taking small steps is Lejeune’s plan, and there are two positives worth mentioning for Devilpups.

Lejeune has not been shut out since a 23-0 season-opening defeat to Lakewood, and the defense has kept it competitive in all but one contest.

Look for Lejeune to put it all together against struggling Jones Senior in this Coastal Plains 1-A/2-A Conference meeting.

The Devilpups won 21-0 in last year’s meeting and 58-14 in 2023. The Trojans’ last series win was a 48-21 victory in 2022. Lejeune leads the series 28-26 and won the first meeting 20-12 in 1969.

Prediction: Lejeune 20, Jones Senior 8