It’s high school football playoff time.

That’s right. It’s win and continue your season, or lose and pack up the gear until next year.

Of the area’s 10 area NCHSAA teams, nine were awarded a spot in the brackets. Fourth-seeded Croatan (9-1), third-seeded East Duplin (8-2), top-seeded Jacksonville (9-0) and third-seeded Northside (8-2) have first-round byes while White Oak, Richlands, Dixon, Southwest and Lejeune travel for their opening-round games.

Who wins Friday’s first-round playoff games? Here are my thoughts and predictions: 

No. 18 White Oak (4-6) at No. 15 Eastern Guilford (4-6)

Consider this a fresh start for White Oak as the Vikings visit Eastern Guilford in the first round of the 6-A playoffs.

White Oak has lost five straight, albeit against good competition and not because of a lack of effort. It’s not sugar-coating things to say that the Vikings have fought hard all season.

They have held their own at times against the likes of Jacksonville, New Bern and J.H. Rose. Eastern Guilford has dropped three straight and four of five.

The Wildcats seem balanced offensively. White Oak must get early stops to gain defensive momentum.

This will be a back-and-forth contest as I see both teams scoring often in the first half before things settle in the second half.

White Oak looks for its first playoff win since 2004, but I see Eastern Guilford scoring late to take the win.

Prediction: Eastern Guilford 34, White Oak 30 

No. 21 Richlands at No. 12 Havelock

Richlands got a playoff nod by winning its last two regular season games, but the streak will be tested at Havelock in the first round of the 5-A playoffs.

The Rams downed the Wildcats 49-20 in September in Coastal Conference action. Havelock has won four straight, including last week’s 19-7 upset over Northside, to share the league title.

Richlands held its own at times in the last meeting with Havelock, but the Rams have continued to grow throughout the season and now they have momentum.

Havelock will simply be too strong, but if Richlands can keep the game close in the first half, the Wildcats have the potential to make the Rams sweat it out.

Prediction: Havelock 42, Richlands 17 

No. 18 Dixon (5-5) at No. 15 Rockingham County (5-4)

Can Dixon’s JJ Gulat surpass 3,000 yards rushing for the season against Rockingham County in the first round of the 5-A playoffs?

The senior sits at 2,709 yards and 33 touchdowns. If Gulat rushes for the nearly 300 yards he needs for the milestone, I can see the Bulldogs earning a road win.

This game is the only first-round match-up involving an area team that features two teams with at least a .500 record. Rockingham has won three straight while finishing tied for second in the Mid-State 3-A/4-A/5-A Conference.

Dixon looks for its first playoff win in program history.

Dixon’s single-wing offense will provide scoring chances, but the Bulldogs must force turnovers if they are to win.

Prediction: Rockingham 40, Dixon 32 

No. 22 Southwest (2-7) at No. 11 SouthWest Edgecombe (5-5)

Will the real Southwest please stand up?

School-name bragging rights are on the line when the Southwest Onslow Stallions visit the SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars in the first round of the 4-A playoffs.

This is not the first meeting between the two squads as Southwest Onslow downed SouthWest Edgecombe 63-38 in the second round in 2017.

I see the Stallions giving the Cougars a fight but with SouthWest Edgecombe being too strong. Southwest Onslow has struggled to score and that could be a difference against SouthWest Edgecombe, which has a forfeit defeat and two other losses by four points or less.

I see the Stallions registering first downs to keep the ball out of the Cougars’ hands, but SWO must take advantage of any redzone opportunities to emerge victorious.

Prediction: SouthWest Edgecombe 27, Southwest Onslow 13 

No. 21 Lejeune (1-9) at No. 12 Northampton County (3-7)

Lejeune looks for its first postseason victory since its 2013 East Regional final trip as the Devilpups visit Northampton County in the 2-A playoffs.

While I expect the Devilpups to play hard and the Grady Mahaffey to Cameron McKinnis duo to make plays, Northampton has the edge.

This won’t be a high-scoring affair as neither team scores many points. I see Northampton having a touchdown lead before pulling away in the third quarter.

Prediction: Northampton 20, Lejeune 6