By Staff
By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
On a night when Ethan Coltrain and Susan Cahoon were named Northside High School’s homecoming king and queen, the Panthers nearly crowned the visiting Manteo Hurricanes.
The underdog Panthers were tied with the Redskins 14-14 in the third quarter, but Manteo was able to escape with a 21-14 win on Friday night.
Northside quarterback William Rushton, who has filled in admirably for an injured Calvin Cox, punched it into the end zone on third-and-inches for the Panthers’ first score. He added the 2-point conversion run.
Trailing 14-8, the Panthers tied it up in the third on a 40-yard jaunt by D.J. Satterthwaite. He and the rest of the Panthers (2-6, 1-3 Atlantic Conference) had some holes to run through thanks to a strong effort up front.
Boyd praised sophomore offensive linemen Seth Boyd, Marquise Armstrong and freshman Kevin Chapman for their work during the night.
The Panthers weren’t able to find the end zone again, while Manteo (4-4, 3-1 Albemarle Conference) chalked up one more score to take the victory. Manteo had taken wins of 48-0 and 49-0 last year.
Northside, who lost two defensive stalwarts, tough-hitting linebacker Aaron McKinney along with safety and leading-tackler Josh Jackson earlier in the year, is taking an upbeat approach heading into next week’s game at Williamston.
Because Williamston (5-3, 2-2) and Roanoke (5-3, 2-2) both lost Friday night, the Panthers remain just one game behind the frontrunners in the Atlantic Conference race. Roanoke plays at winless Southside (0-7, 0-4) on Friday night.
Three of Northside’s losses have come to a pair of Top-10 ranked teams and a 3-A school. The Panthers fell 34-0 to North Duplin (7-0), which is ranked fifth in the latest Class 1-A state poll, and 44-0 to fourth-ranked Plymouth (8-0). Washington (6-2), a 3-A school, topped Northside 48-8.
The Panthers will close out regular-season play at Southside on Nov. 2 in the annual Anchor Bowl.
Tight conference races
In the Coastal, Albemarle and Tideland conferences, one game separates the leader from those knocking on the door with three weeks remaining in the regular season.
New Bern (6-2, 4-0) leads the 4A/3A Coastal Conference. The Washington Pam Pack (6-2, 3-1) ,who plays host to New Bern on Senior Night this Friday, and the J.H. Rose Rampants (5-3, 3-1) are both a game back.
Washington does hold a one-game lead over West Craven (5-3, 2-2) and D.H. Conley (4-4, 2-2) among the conference’s 3-A teams. They are followed by Havelock (2-6, 1-3), South Central (1-7, 1-3) and West Carteret (1-7, 0-4).
Plymouth (8-0, 4-0) holds a one-game lead over Camden (6-2, 3-1) and Manteo (4-4, 3-1) in the Albemarle Conference. The Vikings face those two teams, at Camden this Friday night and at Manteo on Oct. 26, in the next two weeks.
Perquimans (4-4, 1-3) is in the cellar.
After two lopsided losses in non-conference play, the Jamesville Bullets have been clicking on all cylinders in the Tideland Conference. Jamesville (5-2, 5-0) holds a one-game advantage over Creswell (4-1, 4-1), who was off last week. The Tigers play at Cape Hatteras on Friday night.
Mattamuskeet (3-6, 3-3), a 7-0 winner of Cape Hatteras (2-6, 2-4) on Friday, looks to snap the Bullets’ five-game winning streak in Jamesville on Friday night.
Columbia (0-8, 0-6) sits in last place.
COASTAL CONFERENCE
All Conf.
New Bern 6-2 4-0
Washington 6-2 3-1
J.H. Rose 5-3 3-1
West Craven 5-3 2-2
D.H. Conley 4-4 2-2
Havelock 2-6 1-3
South Central 1-7 1-3
West Carteret 1-7 0-4
Oct. 12 Games
J.H. Rose 19, Washington 7
D.H. Conley 18, Havelock 15
New Bern 28, West Craven 21
South Central 44, West Carteret 28
Oct. 19 Games
New Bern at Washington
J.H. Rose at D.H. Conley
Havelock at South Central
West Carteret at West Craven
Oct. 26 Games
Washington at Havelock
D.H. Conley at West Craven
South Central at J.H. Rose
West Carteret at New Bern
Nov. 2 Games
Washington at West Carteret
South Central at D.H. Conley
West Craven at Havelock
J.H. Rose at New Bern
ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
All Conf
Roanoke 5-3 2-2
Williamston 5-3 2-2
Northside 2-6 1-3
Southside 0-7 0-4
Oct. 12 Games
Camden 41, Roanoke 22
Perquimans 45, Southside 6
Plymouth 52, Williamston 13
Manteo 21, Northside 14
Oct. 19 Games
Northside at Williamston
Roanoke at Southside
Oct. 26 Games
Roanoke at Northside
Southside at Williamston
Nov. 2 Games
Northside at Southside
Williamston at Roanoke
ALBEMARLE CONFERENCE
All Conf
Plymouth 8-0 4-0
Camden 6-2 3-1
Manteo 4-4 3-1
Perquimans 4-4 1-3
Oct. 12 Games
Plymouth 52, Williamston 13
Camden 41, Roanoke 22
Perquimans 45, Southside 6
Manteo 21, Northside 14
Oct. 19 Games
Plymouth at Camden
Perquimans at Manteo
Oct. 26 Games
Plymouth at Manteo
Camden at Perquimans
Nov. 2 Games
Perquimans at Plymouth
Manteo at Camden
TIDELAND CONFERENCE
All Conf
Jamesville 5-2 5-0
Creswell 4-1 4-1
Mattamuskeet 3-6 3-3
Cape Hatteras 2-6 2-4
Columbia 0-8 0-6
Oct. 12 Games
Jamesville 35, Columbia 12
Mattamuskeet 7, Cape Hatteras 0
Oct. 19 Games
Mattamuskeet at Jamesville
Creswell at Cape Hatteras
Oct. 26 Games
Jamesville at Creswell
Columbia at Mattamuskeet
Nov. 2 Games
Creswell at Columbia
Cape Hatteras at Jamesville