Week 5 Not-So-Instant Analysis

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Believe it or not, the North Carolina high school football regular season is around halfway finished. Typically, I write a piece on Friday night as the games are just finishing to bring you my instant reaction. Due to some technology issues, I wasn't able to do that at my normal time, though. However, I did not look at scores or stats over a busy weekend, so this piece will work just the same. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the next few days, I'll collect stats, view film, and break down the ins and outs of the week's matchups, but here, you get my raw thoughts. Here's my Week 5, this time not-so-instant analysis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Week 5 Instant Analysis</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Impressive Performances For Top Teams</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some variation of this subheader gets used every week. The fun thing about this season is that the teams in question seem to change each week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Providence Day</strong> looks like the best team in the state after a blowout win over their rivals, Georgia private power Rabun Gap. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896157' first='Zaid' last='Lott']</strong> had arguably the best game of his career, with 583 total yards and eight total touchdowns, three through the air to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800901' first='Gordon' last='Sellars']</strong> and another to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1150380' first='Steele' last='Fletcher']</strong>, who had his best offensive game of the season. Defensively, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896158' first='Quintin' last='McCray']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496368' first='Charles' last='Ibe']</strong> were the stars, among others, in a 55-34 win that was never even that close.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After two close losses to top teams, I think we can call <strong>Mooresville</strong> a contender to make a deep playoff run. That's especially true after the Blue Devils scored 39 straight points after getting into a 14-3 hole to East Forsyth on Friday. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1608303' first='Chanse' last='Bost']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1593034' first='Jadarius' last='McCombs']</strong> each scored twice, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='612118' first='Brody' last='Norman']</strong> once again showed off his elite dual-threat abilities in a 42-14 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mallard Creek</strong> edged out <strong>Cardinal Gibbons</strong>, 20-16, in a matchup of top 8A and 7A teams, respectively. It was the two backup quarterbacks duking it out, but the stars were excellent for both teams. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320308' first='Xavier' last='Hasan']</strong> had a pick, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1044292' first='Skylar' last='Alston']</strong> had double-digit tackles, including four for loss, in a losing effort. Mallard Creek's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='338729' first='Khalil' last='Price']</strong> had a few impressive catches to lead the way offensively for the Mavericks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elsewhere, Weddington rolled a strong Charlotte Catholic team, and Hough easily dispatched New Bern.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">West Carteret Wins Another Shootout</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Carteret is 3-1, and few teams have had a more exciting few weeks than the Patriots. In their first game since winning on a two-point conversion, the Patriots scored 67, behind seven total touchdowns from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='870217' first='Tanner' last='Payne']</strong> and a 300-yard game from running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1702456' first='Joshua' last='Bauman']</strong>, who went for 133 on the ground and 173 as a receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dixon's two-headed monster at running back did the work for the Bulldogs, who themselves scored 51 in one of the odder scorelines you'll see. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604514' first='JJ' last='Gulat']</strong> had the yardage (371 yards on 30 carries) and <strong>Sean Delaney</strong> found the end zone (five scores on nine carries). Both teams should scare everyone left on the schedule in a fascinating Coastal 5A/6A conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Watch Out For Martin County</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3A classification might be my favorite right now in terms of pure intrigue. The heavy-hitters are now rolling after some tricky non-conference games, and the group of legitimately scary teams continues to grow by the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week, <strong>Martin County</strong> caught my eye. Heading into this week, the Gators were 2-2 with a one-score loss to 4A <strong>North Pitt</strong>, another close loss to 5A <strong>Hunt</strong>, and wins over two 2A teams by a combined score of 98-0. This was the first test: a road game at undefeated <strong>Greene Central</strong>, a team that beat that same North Pitt team just a week ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators passed with flying colors, holding star Greene Central back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1704830' first='Dejuan' last='Cobb']</strong> under 100 yards, the first team to do so all year. Two-way players <strong>Kamarion Larry</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1904171' first='Jah' last='Sheppard']</strong> are the stars, leading both sides of the ball. I'm not in the position to predict anything yet in 3A, but there are plenty of teams that could make deep playoff runs, and Martin County is among them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other News &amp; Notes</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I haven't mentioned <strong>Bear Grass Charter</strong> this season, but the Bears are 4-0 and put up another huge offensive performance on Friday. <strong>Vance Keel</strong> has over 700 rushing yards on the year, while quarterback <strong>Cody Beck</strong> hit on all three of his pass attempts on Friday, with two to <strong>Jamison Moore</strong>.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Wilson Prep</strong> got into the win column for the first time in the midst of its brutal non-conference slate. The Tigers were my preseason 1A stat champion pick, and I've seen nothing in a 1-4 start to change that. They'll face 4A SouthWest Edgecomb and independent school Mount Zion Christian before getting a late start on Eastern Carolina 1A Conference play. <strong>Travon Usher</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1580029' first='Nazir' last='Vines']</strong>, and <strong>Ethan Nelson</strong> all got going on the ground, averaging over seven yards a carry each in a 38-21 win.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cary won 38-20 to get to 5-0, the first 5-0 start I can find in school history, and the best win total in 12 years.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Obviously, I can't hit everything in this one piece, but what did I miss? Who do I need to write about this week? Let me know on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->