Make up or break up

Published 10:15 am Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Week 13 has make-up games postponed from the weekend of Hurricane Florence (Sept. 14) and one conference match-up that could determine one team’s post-season. South Central visits Hertford County, Bertie is at Pasquotank, Northampton County visits Washington County, and Gates County is at Southeast Halifax.

SOUTH CENTRAL at

HERTFORD COUNTY

Last Thursday Hertford County beat Bertie in the conference finale for the Bears, allowing them to finish 4-1 in the Northeastern Coastal Conference and secure second place.

“We played good defense and it was a good win for us,” said Bears coach Terrance Saxby.

This Friday night it will be Hertford County (5-4) hosting Winterville South Central (10-0).

“South Central is a very good team,” added Saxby. “They have a good running back and a good wide receiver. They’re very athletic, and they’re also undefeated.”

Hertford County’s Jaylen Smith returns an interception in last week’s game. This week Smith and the Bears face one of the top teams in the East when South Central invades the Bears’ Den for a make-up game rescheduled from September. | William Anthony Photography

“It’s important for us to have no turnovers,” Saxby concluded. “Defensively, we must tackle well and we must execute on offense.”

It will be Senior Night for the Bears who have won their last four games in a row.

BERTIE at

PASQUOTANK

“We struggled offensively, but I thought we played good defense,” said Bertie coach Grantley Mizelle of his Falcons, who lost on Thursday to Hertford County.

This Friday, Bertie (4-5, 1-3, NCC) travels to Elizabeth City to face Pasquotank (3-7, 0-4, NCC).

“Pasquotank has a good running back, and it’s their Senior Night so we know they will be fired up,” said Mizelle. “We are also playing for a playoff spot.”

“We have to not turn the ball over on offense and if we do that and play good defense then we have a chance to win,” he concluded.

GATES COUNTY at

SOUTHEAST HALIFAX

Last Thursday Gates County continued their climb in the Albemarle Atlantic conference with a win over Camden County.

“We were able to get a conference win, and it was a good win for us to finish second in our conference,” said Red Barons head coach Matt Biggy.

This Friday night it will be Gates County (8-2) also playing a non-conference contest against SE Halifax (4-5).

“SE Halifax has good athletes; they also have a good quarterback and running back,” added Biggy. “We have to execute on offense and defense and play hard and play well.”

NORTHAMPTON at

WASHINGTON CO.

Northampton County didn’t conclude their football week until Monday night when they beat Weldon, giving the Jaguars their second straight Tar-Roanoke Conference championship.

This Friday it will be Northampton County (9-1) facing an old foe in Washington County (4-5), the consolidated former Plymouth and Creswell high schools.

“Washington County lost to Manteo last week,” said Jags coach George Privott. They also changed coaches in the middle of the season (when Robert Cody took a leave of absence), and they have good athletes. We have to not turn the ball over and play well offensively and defensively.”