Tropical storm Hermine washed away scheduled football games late last week, forcing Northside and Southside to reschedule their much-anticipated showdown for Labor Day. After playing on Monday, both the Panthers and Seahawks face a quick turnaround as they return to action on Friday.

The four-day period between games forces both coaches and players to make all kinds of adjustments. Rest is a must — especially after a physical and emotional encounter such as Monday’s. There’s only so much rest to be had, though, as both groups had to quickly shift their focus to their Week 4 opponents.

Washington hit its first bit of luck this season as it gets a bye this Friday. The Pam Pack, which is winless through three games early in the season and has scored just one touchdown, is stepping back and focusing internally before preparing for next week.

Northside carries a good chunk of momentum into Friday. The Panthers handled Southside, 23-6, on Monday to improve to 3-0 early in the season. They’ve been dominant early in the season and will hope the trend continues at home against a winless South Creek team.

Southside’s home loss to Northside on Monday marked its first of the season. The Seahawks will travel to Riverside on Friday. The Knights were off last week and are a perfect 2-0 early on in the season. They own a season-opening win over Plymouth — albeit an underperforming Plymouth team — that ousted the Seahawks from the playoffs last December.

While Northside has momentum heading into this week, Southside is hoping to find some. North Duplin and Dixon weren’t the toughest challenges the Seahawks could have started the season with. They played a strong game on Monday, especially in the second half, but couldn’t finish drives.

Northside will look for more of the same while Southside is hoping for a bit of a bounce back.

 

SOUTH CREEK (0-3, 0-0 TWO RIVERS) AT NORTHSIDE (3-0, 0-0 COASTAL PLAINS)

Location: Northside

Time: 7 p.m.

Northside took a Southside team with plenty of talent in the backfield and held it out of the end zone throughout most of the game. The game plan will be very much the same Friday at home when the Panthers host South Creek.

The Cougars scored four touchdowns in their first two games against Perquimans and Southeast Halifax. However, they ran into a formidable Riverside team last week and could only muster nine points.

Size up front has been one of Northside’s biggest assets thus far. South Creek has size, too. The Cougars boast six linemen that weigh at least 270 pounds, including freshman Abrian Foster, who weighs in at an astounding 405 pounds. Foster is the lone underclassman of that bunch.

Offensively, South Creek has found most of its success moving the ball on the ground. Sophomore Jaylen Short has received the bulk of the carries thus far. Tyrek Byrum has also had plenty of opportunities, too.

The Cougars try to air it out, too. Sophomore Jahkene Clark has taken to the air a number of times through South Creek’s first three games, but hasn’t been very accurate. Northside defensive backs Matthew Marslender, Jackson Midgette and others shouldn’t have much problem keeping the opposition’s offense grounded.

The difference maker will be Northside’s depth. The Panthers have been starting 11 different players on each side of the ball. South Creek, on the other hand, only has 26 players listed on its roster. Look for Northside to blow the game open in the fourth quarter, whether it’s close or not.

PREDICTION: NORTHSIDE 42, SOUTH CREEK 6

SOUTHSIDE (2-1, 0-0 COASTAL PLAINS) AT RIVERSIDE (2-0, 0-0 TWO RIVERS)

Location: Riverside

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Less than a week removed from taking on a ground-based offense from Northside, Southside gets a completely different look from Riverside. The Knights dismantled Plymouth in the air in their season opener. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Beach connected with Markel Freeman and Jadakis Bonds for over 100 yards apiece. Each hauled in a pair of touchdowns, too.

Freeman is one of a trio of Knights that can move the ball on the ground, too. Fellow seniors Ricky Hardison and Jahkee Cooper can all run with the ball. The Knights, with only a handful of underclassmen, are able to attack in multiple ways, which should present defensive challenges for the Seahawks.

Hunter Sparks has excelled as the defensive leader Southside expected him to be. He will be tasked with organizing pass rush upfront and coordinating the Seahawks’ defensive backs. Zikajah Crawford and Joe Myers are typically players to watch on offense, but their work in the defensive secondary will be important to Southside’s success, too.

Special teams will be play a part in whether or not Southside can bounce back. One of the reasons the Seahawks struggled to find the end zone against Northside was because of unfavorable field position.

Riverside also has a punter — sophomore Daniel Buck — that can flip the field. The Seahawks have to do what they can to avoid being backed up deep in their own territory. That will be the key to completing drives with points.

PREDICTION: SOUTHSIDE 28, RIVERSIDE 22