LUMBERTON — With rain in the forecast for Friday in the area, several local high school football teams have moved their games up to Thursday to beat the weather and give a longer lead time into next week’s matchups.
While St. Pauls, Fairmont and South Robeson had not made decisions on their games on Wednesday, Purnell Swett, Lumberton and Red Springs will take on conference opponents a day earlier. The Red Devils will be playing on a days rest after falling 21-20 to East Bladen.
Hoke at Purnell Swett
Something has to give in this matchup as both the Bucks and the Rams are winless in conference play entering this game, and Hoke is without a win on the season.
Just like last week, Purnell Swett takes on an offense led by an athletic quarterback in Xavier Ford. Against Seventy-First a week ago, the Rams were able to control the offense for one half before the Falcons ran away with the convincing win. Purnell Swett will continue to work the ball to Chandler Brayboy, who has been one of the main sources of scoring on offense and special teams this year, and has returned the last two opening kickoffs for touchdowns.
Hoke does have the ability to hang tight with opponents, as it took Scotland to overtime before falling a few weeks ago, but the Rams have home field working for them.
Purnell Swett 21, Hoke 20
Lumberton at Scotland
Braylan Grice was reinstated to the Lumberton football team this week to add another chapter to the interesting season the Pirates have had. After falling to Richmond and Pinecrest in a five-day span, the Pirates now take on a Scotland team that has lost more conference games the last two weeks than it did in the last seven seasons.
Much like the other teams in the league, Lumberton will have to slow down another prolific running back in Scotland’s Syheam McQueen, who was selected to the Shrine Bowl this week. Lumberton’s ability to move the ball will be determined by if and how much time Grice sees against a Scotland defense that is allowing more than 27 points a game to its opponents.
Scotland 35, Lumberton 21
Red Springs at West Columbus
Oh, how the mighty fall. The Red Devils have went from the best team in Robeson County to on the fringe of the playoff picture in a matter of three games. To fight their way back in the conversation, the Red Devils have to win out, which is a very possible scenario, but first has to top a struggling West Columbus team.
The Vikings won their second game of the season in a 38-24 game against West Bladen. After surrendering big rushing yardage performances to opponents in the last three weeks, Red Springs will look to contain Shawn Taylor and Nigel Ceesay, the Vikings’ two-back combo, in hopes of stopping the bleeding.
Red Springs 48, West Columbus 14
