Week 9 Instant Analysis

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a wild Week 9, maybe the most chaotic of the year, so there's plenty to break down. From Southeast Raleigh putting Cleveland's state-long regular-season winning streak in jeopardy to a shocking Charlotte result, Week 9 had it all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here, I'm offering my raw thoughts and reactions. There will be time for Player of the Week Honors and in-depth breakdowns later. Here, I'm just reacting. What stood out in Week 9?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Week 9 Instant Analysis</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cleveland Survives Scare at Southeast Raleigh</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7A Cleveland is the top-ranked team in our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/team-database/?team_name=">Power Scores</a> algorithm, and the Rams also took a 59-game regular-season winning streak into Southeast Raleigh to face the 6-2 Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a defensive slugfest, with neither team finding much room in the running game. Cleveland defensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1698661' first='Daniel' last='Lugo']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1076281' first='Cameron' last='Melvin']</strong> clogged up the running lanes, preventing Southeast Raleigh running backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378921' first='Christian' last='Freeman']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1251476' first='James' last='Adams']</strong> from finding much room. That put the onus on <strong>Tydreke Powell Jr.</strong> to move the ball through the air, and he did a great job of pushing the ball, even without much help in the running game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a scary moment late in the third quarter, when star Cleveland receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1665459' first='Krisjon' last='Clark']</strong> went down and was tended to for several minutes for a serious injury. He was transported out via EMS. We'll update when we have more information on Clark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the game resumed, the score stood 10-7, and the Rams' offense rode running back <strong>Porter Bennett</strong> all the way down the field before <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1608325' first='Kaleb' last='Ferrell']</strong> punched it in from 18 yards out to take a 14-10 lead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From there, the offenses got going. Freeman broke off a 38-yard scamper late in the third quarter to put the Bulldogs in scoring position. A play after an <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318732' first='Adam' last='Saunders']</strong> touchdown was called back for a procedure penalty (the second touchdown called back for the Bulldogs), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1551045' first='Josh' last='Booth']</strong> picked off Powell on a tipped ball in the end zone to end the third quarter, and again later in the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ferrell added another score midway through the fourth quarter, his third of the game to push the score to 21-10 and give the Rams some breathing room. Cleveland QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1702810' first='Owen' last='Hulbert']</strong> capped the scoring with a one-yard sneak late in the fourth quarter to get to the final score, 28-10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Independence Flexes on Mallard Creek</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We knew there would be some surprising results in the Meck Power Six Conference, and we got one on Friday, as Independence not only beat Mallard Creek, but also blew out the Mavericks. The stars were out for Independence, as were the big plays. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='915835' first='Jared' last='Street']</strong> had a long touchdown to open the scoring before hitting receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1571334' first='King' last='Rhodes']</strong> for two touchdowns in the first half. Running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1124842' first='Jayden' last='Jones']</strong> opened the second half with a 60-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1332108' first='Ricky' last='Myers Jr'].</strong> added a late touchdown to extend the lead, as the Patriots poured it on. The defense shut down the Mavericks. I haven't heard much about who the stars were defensively, but I'll have more later this week on what was a complete win for the Patriots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Northside-Jacksonville Maintains Control of Coastal 5A/6A</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you'd asked me before the season, I'd have told you Havelock was the clear favorite in the Coastal 5A/6A Conference. Maybe West Carteret or Croatan could challenge. Dixon has <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604514' first='JJ' last='Gulat']</strong>, maybe the Bulldogs could cause issues. But Northside?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We knew there was talent on this Monarchs team, but wow, have they been better than expected. Between 2020 and 2024, the Monarchs had six wins. After a 50-39 win over Dixon on Friday, the Monarchs have seven wins this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534079' first='Rahlai' last='Anderson']</strong> scored a touchdown, while <strong>Gavyn Davis</strong> had a strong game as well. I should get more on this one through the week, but the Monarchs sit 4-0 in the conference. With tie-breakers, they can clinch the conference with a win in either of their final two games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other News &amp; Notes</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rocky Mount squeaked by Southern Nash, 22-20, while Northern Nash took care of business against Hunt. The Big East 5A/6A Conference is all but settled, but it does look like the Rocky Mount-Northern Nash game in the final week of the season could be for all the marbles.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Weddington shut out Porter Ridge, 42-0. After an early stumble against Myers Park, the Warriors have been incredible, especially defensively. The Warriors have allowed just over nine points a game, including just four points a game in conference play.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>There were a couple of big results among Charlotte private schools. Charlotte Christian defeated Charlotte Country Day behind a huge game from running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106930' first='Jamal' last='Rule']</strong>, who had four touchdowns and over 200 yards rushing. Providence Day continued its perfect, untested season, as the Chargers beat undefeated Charlotte Latin, 41-0. </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 -->