It’s the penultimate week of the high school football season.
You read that correctly. After this week, there one remaining week of the regular season before the start of the NCHSAA playoffs.
The local game of week is Jacksonville’s at D.H. Conley in a game that should determine who second place in the Big Carolina 6-A/7-A Conference. The Coastal 5-A/6-A Conference clash between Northside and Swansboro is also an interesting contest.
Who wins Friday’s week 10 games? Here are my thoughts and predictions:
Jacksonville (5-2, 2-1) at D.H. Conley (6-2, 2-1)
Jacksonville had its best offensive performance last week in a 62-30 win over South Central. The Cardinals look to keep the momentum at D.H. Conley in a Big Carolina Conference clash.
Jacksonville, D.H. Conley and New Bern (6-2, 2-1) are tied for second in the league behind J.H. Rose (8-0, 3-0). New Bern and J.H. Rose play Friday.
The Cardinals have the advantage over the Vikings, judging by the scores against common opponents.
In addition to the victory over South Central, Jacksonville topped New Bern 47-6. D.H. Conley defeated South Central 26-22, but fell 42-35 at New Bern last week.
The Cardinals have won three consecutive games in the series, including 41-24 last year. The Vikings’ last win was a 34-28 victory in 2022. Jacksonville won the first meeting 53-8 in 2009.
Prediction: Jacksonville 35, D.H. Conley 17
Northside (8-0, 4-0) at Swansboro (6-2, 2-2)
Northside clinches at least a share of the Coastal Conference title with a win at Swansboro.
The Pirates look to play spoiler following their 53-19 loss at Havelock while the Monarchs look to handle business before next week’s showdown with the Rams.
The Monarchs lead the series 18-1 with the Pirates’ lone win a 34-0 victory in 2001 in the first meeting.
Prediction: Northside 34, Swansboro 13
Pender (3-5, 1-2) at East Duplin (7-1, 3-0)
East Duplin will virtually capture the East Central 3-A/4-A Conference crown with a victory over Pender.
The Panthers put themselves in this position with last week’s 35-21 win over Clinton. The Patriots ended a five-game skid with a 60-14 win over South Lenoir.
The series is tied 8-8 after East Duplin won the previous two meetings, 38-18 last year and 48-44 in 2021. Pender won the inaugural meeting 18-16 in 1979.
The Patriots beat South Lenoir 60-14 last week, but will likely be on the other end of the spectrum against East Duplin.
Prediction: East Duplin 42, Pender 7
Dixon (2-6, 0-4) at Richlands (1-7, 0-4)
Dixon and Richlands look to end long skids when they meet in a Coastal Conference contest.
The Bulldogs have dropped five consecutive games while the Wildcats have lost seven straight. Richlands leads the series 41-6, including 41-26 last year. The Wildcats have won four straight meetings with the Bulldogs’ last victory a 21-20 win in 2021.
Richlands won the first meeting 27-7 in 1967.
The Wildcats have struggled to score, but the Bulldogs have struggled to defend. Dixon’s single-wing offense will have an edge.
Prediction: Dixon 28, Richlands 13
South Lenoir (3-5, 0-3) at Southwest (3-5, 2-1)
Southwest has not won three consecutive games since a four-game streak in the second half of the 2023 season. The Stallions look to change that when they host East Central Conference foe South Lenoir, which has lost five straight.
Southwest has surpassed its win total from the previous two years. Look for the Stallions to have this contest settled by the third quarter.
Southwest leads the series 15-2 and has won nine consecutive games against South Lenoir, including 14-8 in overtime last year. The Blue Devils’ last victory was a 20-17 win in 2006 while their other triumph was an 8-7 win in the first meeting in 1979.
Prediction: Southwest 47, South Lenoir 12
Croatan (7-1, 3-1) at West Carteret (3-5, 2-3)
Croatan follows its open date by visiting Carteret County rival West Carteret in Coastal Conference action.
The Cougars last played on Oct. 9 when they topped Richlands 49-8. The Patriots snapped a three-game skid last week with a 14-13 win at Richlands.
West Carteret struggles to score against better competition.
The Patriots lead the series 22-4, but the Cougars ended an eight-game series skid with a 49-21 victory last year. The Patriots won the first meeting 7-6 in 1999.
Prediction: Croatan 42, West Carteret 12
Pamlico (2-6, 1-2) at Lejeune (2-5, 1-2)
Lejeune looks for its second consecutive win when it hosts Coastal Plains 1-A/2-A Conference foe Pamlico.
The Devilpups won 40-0 at Jones Senior last week. The Hurricanes have lost two straight following a 56-22 win over Jones Senior.
Pamlico downed Lejeune 42-19 last year while the Devilpups won 30-27 in 2024.
The Hurricanes lead the series 30-19 with the Devilpups winning the first meeting 44-6 in 1962.
Prediction: Lejeune 14, Pamlico 6
White Oak (2-5, 0-3) at South Central (3-5, 0-3)
White Oak visits Big Carolina Conference foe South Central looking to rebound from last week’s 62-0 defeat to J.H. Rose.
The Falcons lead the series 4-1, including last year’s 35-30 victory. South Central also won in 2009, 2010 and 2012 while the Vikings won 19-6 in 2011.
Prediction: 30, White Oak 14
Wayne Prep (2-3-1) at Liberty Christian (6-0)
Liberty Christian is favored to close its regular season with a nonconference win over second-year Wayne Prep Academy.
This marks just the second time this season the Heat have played games in two consecutive weeks as Liberty has had four open dates.
The Heat held off Sandhills Classical Christian 36-30 last week. Expect Liberty to score early and often in its inaugural meeting with Wayne Prep.
Prediction: Liberty Christian 48, Wayne Prep 8