A Garner coach tries to get his players in the game.
Aug 28, 2008
Last week:
Southeast Raleigh def. New Hanover, 27-20
Northern Vance lost to Ravenscroft, 39-21
Southeast Raleigh secured a win last week after a dominant second-half performance helped it erase a 14-point deficit. This week, the Bulldog coaching staff will expect to see a more complete performance from their team. Strong performances from quarterback Gabe Henderson and running back Kevin Howell, as well as a second half shut-out by the defense, gave the Bulldogs reason to smile last week, but they will need to avoid another slow start in order to prevent Northern Vance from pulling the upset.
This is the featured game for the Greater Neuse conference this week, so check out highschoolOT.com on Friday night for complete post-game coverage.
Last Week
Clayton lost to Sanderson, 25-19
C.B. Aycock lost to Bunn, 28-0
The Clayton offense produced more yards than Sanderson last week, but early mistakes left the Comets with too much ground to make up when they finally came alive in the second half. The Comets will need to get things going from the first whistle this week, and the defense will need to avoid giving up big plays in order to secure a win on the road.
Last week:
East Wake did not play
Wake Forest-Rolesville def. Riverside, 71-14
The Warriors will take on a formidable opponent in their opening game of the season, and coach Jimmy Williams has made it clear that in order to be competitive in this one, his team cannot make the typical first-game mistakes. The Warriors are excited about getting the season underway, and they’ll need to utilize that energy to slow down Cougar running backs Brexton Young and Trea Jones.
Last week:
Garner lost to Millbrook, 34-0
Middle Creek lost to Northern Durham, 41-15
After being blanked by Millbrook last week, Garner will be looking to make up for their sloppy play when they take on Middle Creek. The Garner offense should get a lift with the return of all-conference receiver Josh Brooks, but coach Nelson Smith said the Trojans will need to cut back on the penalties and turnovers that plagued them in their first contest in order to come up with a win against the visiting Mustangs.
Last Week
Holly Springs lost to Apex, 35-24
Wakefield def. Green Hope 34-14
Although a loss is still a loss, after falling to Apex 28-0 in 2007, Holly Springs’ 2008 performance against the Cougars featured a much-improved Golden Hawks squad. If they can tighten things up on special teams, maintain quality possessions on offense, and shut down Wakefield wide receiver Nigel King and quarterback Drew Wilkinson, Holly Springs could keep this one close and possibly come away with the program’s first win.
Last Week
Knightdale lost to Enloe, 28-21
Millbrook def. Garner, 34-0
The Knights will need to make the most of each scoring opportunity this week because the Millbrook defense won’t give them many. Knightdale coach Kamelio Johnson will be looking for another solid game from running backs Josh Gorham and Greg Jackson, but the defense, which only saw two pass attempts from Enloe last week, will need to be on their toes against a very balanced Millbrook offense.
Last week:
Smithfield-Selma def. Triton, 27-0
Nash Central lost to Tarboro, 50-7
The Spartans got their season off to a brilliant start last week with the defense holding the Triton offense to just 91 yards. After a slow start, the offense was consistent through the final three quarters. Another solid performance on both sides of the ball should help the Spartans come away with their second straight win against visiting Nash Central.
Last week:
West Johnston def. Athens Drive, 41-14
South Johnston def. Princeton, 55-7
Coming off of a convincing win, the Wildcats will look to keep their momentum going when they take on their county rivals this week. If the tough West Johnston defense makes its presence known early, and if the offense has another solid, mistake-free performance, the Wildcats should be able to redeem themselves for a 10-31 loss to South Johnston last season.
This story is closed for comments.
