In October of 2005, under the tutelage of current Washington line coach Dewayne Kellum, Southside was one of the most feared football teams in the East. Just six years removed from the consolidation of southern Beaufort County’s high schools, fresh off a 14-win season and state championship appearance, the Seahawks were off to a second-consecutive 7-0 start, the defense limiting opponents to just 12 points per contest.

Fast-forward a decade and a senior-laden Southside team is looking to repeat history, maybe even build upon it. Now under the direction of Jeff Carrow, a former assistant to Kellum, the defense is mirroring the 2005 team’s production, allowing 12.8 points per game, while the offense continues to rely on the ground game for success.

An undefeated regular season is certainly a possibility for a team that’s recorded double-digit victories in six of the seven wins. But the Seahawks face their toughest matchup to date tomorrow in Beaufort against first-year head coach Caleb King and East Carteret’s pass-heavy offense.

After beginning the season with two tough losses to Havelock and Tarboro, Washington is experiencing a resurgence on both sides of the ball, limiting normally solid offensive opponents (Plymouth, Farmville Central and Southwest Edgecombe) to 10 points per game over the three-game win streak.

Last week’s 53-13 shellacking of undefeated Southwest Edgecombe — a team with a dynamic defense, 1200-yard rusher and the conference’s best kicker — should be considered among the best wins of the Sport Sawyer era at Washington. The victory puts the Pack in the driver’s seat to secure a third-straight conference title and preserves its undefeated Eastern Plains Conference record (12-0). Jarquez Keyes notched 107 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries, while Clinton Pope averaged 7.3 yards per carry.

Washington will seek its fourth-straight victory tomorrow when it hosts Beddingfield at Choppy Wagner Stadium.

Northside’s heartbreaking loss to Pamlico County last week may have likely ended the team’s playoff hopes for 2015, but with two winnable games left on the schedule, there’s still much to play for.

The No. 1 issue for the Panthers last week was ball security, which ultimately decided the game with under a minute left, as a fumble on the 8-yard line sealed the win for the visitors. Running back James Barrow tallied a season-high 84 yards on 13 carries, while quarterback Jackson Midgette also had a productive evening under center.

Despite locking up a win last season in double-overtime, the Panthers can ill-afford costly turnovers against Jones Senior tomorrow in Pinetown.

 

WASHINGTON (5-3, 2-0 EASTERN PLAINS) VS. BEDDINGFIELD (4-4, 2-0 EASTERN PLAINS)

Location: Choppy Wagner Stadium

Time: 7:30 p.m.

A win tomorrow against the Bruins gives Washington a distinct advantage heading into the final two conference games (at North Pitt and vs. North Johnston), but this isn’t the same injury-plagued Beddingfield team as last year.

The Bruins have won three of their last four games and are coming off a 45-0 beat down of North Pitt. With three 300-plus-pound linemen and an active backfield, the Washington front seven will get yet another tough test.

But coming off games against Kinston, Plymouth, Farmville Central and Southwest Edgecombe, four sizable teams that have had success running the football, the Pam Pack defense has looked sharp, compensating for a lack of size with clear athleticism. Last week, Washington held Cougars running back Marcus Williams, arguably the conference’s top player, to 144 yards rushing, his second-lowest total this season.

If the Pam Pack can remain consistent on offense and contain Beddingfield’s running game, Washington should have little trouble walking away with the win.

PREDICTION: WASHINGTON 37, BEDDINGFIELD 13

 

NORTHSIDE (2-6, 0-2 COASTAL PLAINS) VS. JONES SENIOR (4-4, 1-1 COASTAL PLAINS)

Location: Bing Mitchell Stadium

Time: 7 p.m.

PINETOWN — After winning just one game a season ago, Jones Senior’s four wins are a positive step in the right direction for a program looking to reinstate a rich football history. Tomorrow, the Trojans have an opportunity to pick up yet another victory against a Northside team in the midst of a four-game slide.

Jones Senior may have lost to first-place Southside last week, but head coach John Davis’ front seven held the Seahawks to under 300 yards rushing, something few teams have been able to do in 2015. But after a mid-season slump, Northside has experienced relative success running the football of late, though red zone efficiency and turnovers have cost the team down the stretch. The Panthers have rushed for over 180 yards in each of the last three contests and will need to continue that success in order to stay competitive against the Trojans.

Head coach Keith Boyd will also need a big game out of quarter Jackson Midgette, who has completed just seven passes in the last three games.

PREDICTION: JONES SENIOR 20, NORTHSIDE 14

 

SOUTHSIDE (7-0, 2-0 COASTAL PLAINS) AT EAST CARTERET (6-2, 2-0 COASTAL PLAINS)

Location: Beaufort

Time: 7 p.m.

Despite finishing 5-8 last season, once head coach Caleb King was brought on board, the Mariners’ expectations skyrocketed. King, who spent time as an assistant at 3-A powerhouse Havelock, has lived up to the hype, so far.

East Carteret’s up-tempo, pass-heavy offense is averaging a remarkable 40 points per game, while the defense has been relatively inconsistent, allowing weakened Pamlico County to score 36 points two weeks ago. The Mariners have played quality teams in James Kenan and Croatan (both losses), but will be presented with arguably the toughest rushing offense to date in Southside.

Senior quarterback Brennan Lewis is having a stellar season, having thrown for 2898 yards and 28 touchdowns, completing 68 percent of his passes.

Southside Running back Lawrence Brown has rushed for 1072 yards this season, while Matt Baxter, Amari Peele and Brandon Sullivan have also served as viable compliments in the offensive scheme. As a whole this season, Southside’s offense has bailed out the defense, and vice-versa, but Carrow is looking for more consistency in the trenches.

PREDICTION: SOUTHSIDE 42, EAST CARTERET 38