Entering Week 2 of the Eastern and Coastal Plains Conference slates, Friday’s matchups have the chance at either making or breaking all three county teams and the results will likely forecast how each local squad will finish come November.

One team in particular, No. 6-ranked Washington, is already comfortably sitting in the drivers seat after its primetime 13-12 road win over undefeated Farmville Central (ranked No. 9 in latest AP prep poll) last week. But it wasn’t just any victory.

The contest was one of those wins that can not only define a season, but also set some serious momentum moving forward, the game being capped off by a crowd silencing 89-yard touchdown run from senior running back Markel Spencer.

Speaking of momentum, the Seahawks have won their last three contests and are coming off a 37-6 beat down of Northside in Pinetown. Highlighted by a new quarterback and 300-yards on the ground, Southside picked up its first conference win in convincing fashion.

As for Northside, the loss as put them one step back in the conference, but that doesn’t mean head coach Keith Boyd is throwing in the towel. The first two games of the season are evidence of what this team is capable of doing on both sides of the ball.

 

WASHINGTON VS. SOUTHWEST EDGECOMBE @ 7:30 P.M.

WASHINGTON — After an unexceptional 5-7 finish to last season, Southwest Edgecombe is looking like one of the more underrated football teams in the Eastern Plains Conference, thus far. The Cougars capped off a respectable non-conference schedule with a 4-2 record, including surprising wins over Southern Nash and Rocky Mount.

As long as Washington and Farmville Central keep playing like they have, Southwest Edgecombe is hardly the team to beat in-conference, but this matchup is a trap game waiting to happen for a Pam Pack team coming off its biggest win of the season. The Cougars are averaging 37 points per game, the second-most only to Farmville Central in the EPC, and have the size at the line and athleticism in the secondary to compete with any team.

While the high ranking and 6-1 record may look good on paper for Washington, this game should be a lot closer than the prestige may suggest.

 

NORTHSIDE AT PAMLICO COUNTY @ 7 P.M.

BAYBORO — There couldn’t be a worse matchup for a Northside team searching for its first win since August. With the rather unexpected fall of Lejeune this season, Pamlico County has become the favorite to take the Coastal Plains Conference. The Hurricanes have pieced together a very reputable 3-2 record against 2-A opponents, with wins against Croatan, Ayden-Grifton (on the road) and Dixon. For just the second time in six games, the Panthers will have to step a bit out of their comfort zone, as the defense will be forced to defend the pass as well as the run. Hurricanes quarterback Josiah Simmons is averaging well over 100 passing yards per game and carries a quarterback rating of 117.2

The second critical piece to a balanced offense scheme for head coach Kevin Yost is senior running back Tony Credle, who is averaging almost 10 yards a carry.

If the Panthers enter this matchup with the same mindset they had against Southside, it’s going to be a long night for Boyd and the Northside faithful.

 

SOUTHSIDE VS. JONES SENIOR @ 7 P.M.

CHOCOWINITY — There were few teams in the state celebrating more than Jones Senior last week, as the Trojans picked up their first win in 18 games against Lejeune. It was a great morale booster for a program that’s been shutout three times in seven games this season.

Despite the high note for Jones Senior, Southside is averaging 47 points per game during its three-game win streak, all while its defense has looked better than ever. Head coach Jeff Carrow’s arsenal of running backs should have no issue picking apart an undersized Trojan defensive line.