There aren’t many things that are guaranteed in life other than death and taxes, but at this point we can add a November Plymouth vs. Manteo playoff battle to the list.
For years these two teams slugged it out biannually as members of the powerful Four Rivers Conference, with the first meeting being for the conference championship and the second being for the right to advance in the playoffs.
Though both teams now reside in the Atlantic Conference, why should this year be any different?
Plymouth topped Manteo 30-0 in its first go round this year en route to conference championship, and tonight the No. 1 Vikings (11-0) will play the rematch at home at 7:30 p.m. against the No. 4 seeded Redskins (8-4).
“I’m telling you every time you play them you know they’re going to be well coached. They’re going to know what you’re doing because you play them over and over again so there’s not going to be any surprises,” Plymouth coach Robert Cody said. “You just have to block and tackle and not turn that thing over. We love to play them and I’m sure they love to play us.”
The Vikings, the No. 2 ranked 1-A team in the state according to the final AP Poll, advanced to the second round in statement-making fashion, picking off seven passes to down No. 8 Creswell 44-0.
“(Linebacker) Devonte Spruill played really well and (DT) Devonte Keys did a great job,” Cody said. “And safety Adrian Moore did a great job, he had three interceptions.”
Demarkus Price had three interceptions as well, while Kevin Phelps had one. Cody said he could not remember a time where his defense picked off seven passes in a game.
“I very seldom see seven receptions by our offense,” Cody said.
The Vikings will look to their defense again tonight, and hope that running backs Price, Lazarus Barrow and Demetrius Davis can continue to churn out yards.
Cody said the key to victory lies in ball security.
“The thing I worry about the most is turning the ball over to them too many times,” Cody said.
The winner of tonight’s game will move on into the third round of the playoffs where the winner of the No. 2 Pamlico-No. 3 Northampton game awaits.