SOUTHSIDE (2-2, 0-0 1A COASTAL PLAINS CONFERENCE) VS. TARBORO (5-0, 1-0 1A CPC)

LAST TIME OUT ON THE FIELD

Due to Hurricane Florence and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s rule that a football team needs three days of padded practice before playing again after not practicing or playing for at least five days, the Seahawks haven’t seen action since Sept. 7, when Southside lost at Gates County, 33-3. After showing improvement in a pair of wins in weeks two and three, the Seahawks regressed a bit against the Red Barons. Southside couldn’t get much going on the offensive side of the ball, putting up only 185 yards of total offense, while also turning the ball over four times. Things weren’t much better on defense, as Gates County moved the ball with ease, averaging 8.8 yards per play for 334 yards of total offense.

THREE THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. Will Southside’s extra time off help or hurt the young team? The Seahawks couldn’t return to action last week because they didn’t have enough padded practices to satisfy the NCHSAA’s rule. That means they had a week and a half to practice for Tarboro. The question remains though if the extra preparation will outweigh the rust that most likely set in from not seeing live game action for three weeks.

 

2. Will the Seahawks be intimidated facing off against the defending state champion Tarboro Vikings? Tarboro head coach Jeff Craddock’s squad went undefeated last year on the way to winning the 1A state title, and the Vikings look poised to repeat the feat after outscoring their opponents, 269-12, through their first five games of the season, all of which were victories. Tarboro looks to be, by far, the toughest opponent on Southside’s schedule, and if the Seahawks go into the game fearing the Vikings, the game will be over before it even begins.

 

3. What can Southside do against a stout Viking defense? Tarboro’s defense has allowed only one touchdown all year and has shutout its last two opponents. Southside came into the season heavily reliant upon Jonquil Haywood in the running game, but Chris Brinkley emerged as a contributor when Haywood missed time with a concussion. The Seahawks now lean on Haywood and Brinkley to supply the speed and athleticism in the run game, while Hayden Mayo brings the power. Southside might be able to keep Tarboro off balance and create space for its running backs if Seahawk quarterback Will Warren can also get the ball to his big targets in Sion Kinlaw and Hunter Tyler.