This is football season. The scorching, unpleasant summer nights are behind all three Beaufort County football teams. Now, each enters the heart of the NCHSAA slate, conference play just a week away.

Before Washington, Northside and Southside take the first step towards a Coastal or Eastern Plains Conference title, however, they must take care of business one more time against some tough out-of-conference opponents.

Riding a four-game winning streak, the Pam Pack is fresh off a demonstrative defensive performance against Riverside last week, holding the Knights to zero rushing yards and preventing any big plays through the air. Washington’s linebackers also notched three interceptions in the first half.

Northside is coming off a much needed bye week, while Southside’s week off was well deserved after a 48-12 rout of Spring Creek on Sept. 19. In a reversal of fortune, Northside put up a fight in the first half against a tough Edenton Holmes squad, but couldn’t stop the Aces in the second half, as the Panthers fell 48-12.

 

WASHINGTON VS. KINSTON AT 7:30 P.M.

Defensively, head coach Sport Sawyer was ecstatic with his front seven’s performance against Riverside last week, but still sees flaws in the offense and especially the special teams. On Friday, the Pam Pack will face off against a Kinston team in the midst of a three-game losing streak, one in which the Vikings defense gave up 46 points per game.

However, Washington should hardly underestimate Friday’s opponent. The Vikings three losses have come against three respectable teams in Fike, J.H. Rose and the defending Class 3-A state champion Havelock Rams. In the team’s two wins against more manageable teams in Jones Senior and Nash Central, the defense allowed just six points a game.

Linebackers Jamond Ebron and Rayekwon Satterwaithe will need to find ways to frustrate a Kinston offense, led by quarterback Raquise Bellamy, that knows how to score in the red zone.

 

NORTHSIDE VS. NORTH PITT AT 7 P.M.

The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Panthers, who are allowing 45 points per game during their three-game losing streak. Despite this week’s opponent being another Class 2-A match up, North Pitt is a much more manageable challenge for head coach Keith Boyd’s defense.

The North Pitt Panthers are 1-4 this season, but coming off a 21-7 win over Greene Central. Defensively, head coach David Boal’s team has had success, holding opponents to under 25 points in three out of their five games this season.

While sharing a mascot, these two teams rely on different aspects of the game to win — Northside its running game and North Pitt its linebackers.

Friday should be a good test of strength for Northside with conference play on the horizon.

 

SOUTHSIDE AT SOUTH CREEK AT 7 P.M.

Last week’s win gave the Seahawks the boost of confidence it needed moving forward, but that was against an undersized and understaffed Spring Creek squad. On Friday, head coach Jeff Carrow and company square off against South Creek, a team experiencing an unexpected revival under first-year head coach Grantley Mizelle.

After finishing last season 1-10, the Cougars have posted a 3-2 record, thus far, with wins over Perqiumans, North Pitt and Northside.

South Creek lives and dies by its deep core of running backs, four of which have notched over 150 yards rushing this season. Mizelle’s leading rusher, junior Rondrell Andrews, has been a workhorse, averaging well over eight yards a carry. Scat back Roman Frayer has also impressed, notching 329 yards on 33 carries.

This game will come down to whether or not Southside’s defensive line, led by senior Austin Jordan, can contain Andrews and Frayer, while adjusting to a variety of different looks.