MERRY HILL – Can lightning strike twice?

Nearly 10 years ago a Bertie County football coach saw his team finish in a three-way tie atop the conference.

He went to a meeting, drew the number one seed and secured home-field advantage throughout the state playoffs.

Roy Bond led his Bertie Falcons to the 1995 state football championship.

This season Alan Spencer will be looking to duplicate that feat.

After finishing in a three-way tie atop the northern division with Southampton Academy and Hobgood Academy, Spencer counted on Athletic Director Gennia Winslow to come up with the correct drawing when the teams met and Winslow obliged him, giving her team home-field throughout the entire playoff bracket.

&uot;That’s pretty good for us,&uot; Spencer said. &uot;We’re looking forward to playing in front of our folks.&uot;

But, while Spencer is pleased to be making the run in Merry Hill, he emphasized it didn’t matter when it come to playing the games.

&uot;It doesn’t matter,&uot; he insisted. &uot;We have to play the games on the field and we’re going to see the best teams in the state if we keep advancing, no matter where we play them.&uot;

The important part of drawing the number one seed is battling 4-5 St. David’s this weekend instead of hosting Wake Christian or traveling to Trinity.

&uot;It will help us in terms of getting a little more healthy,&uot; Spencer said. &uot;We’re still beat up and bruised up.&uot;

The coach said he was certain tightend/linebacker Joe Griesedieck and defensive lineman Zack White would be out for this week’s contest as they continue to recuperate from injuries they sustained this season.

As he looks for this week’s matchup, Spencer was asked if the Warriors would add any wrinkles to their offensive package. His answer was simple and blunt.

&uot;No,&uot; he laughed. &uot;All I can say is they better have their chin straps buttoned because we’re coming. We’re not going to do anything fancy, but we are coming at them.

The coach said his team would need to play as a unit to win this week.

&uot;We must have an over-all team effort,&uot; he said. &uot;We can’t have anyone not play for us to be successful. The offensive line is going to have to block well and we’re going to have to run the ball well.&uot;

To carry the ball, Spencer will rely on the four backs that have gotten him this far – seniors Chad Simmons and Daniel Waters along with Andrew Krawczyk and Jobie Thomas.

The Warriors will square off with St. David’s at 7:30 p.m. here Friday night.