Two dominant signal callers in Kaleb Pone and DJ Davis are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The North Johnston Panthers are taking a road trip to face off against the West Craven Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Having struggled with three losses in a row, North Johnston turned things around against Washington on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 28-14 victory over the Pam Pack.
One reason for the win was North Johnston's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for four sacks. In that department, Eli Williard was the leader with two.
Meanwhile, West Craven took their contest last Friday with ease, bagging a 36-6 win over Washington. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Eagles' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina football rankings (they are ranked 110th, while the Pam Pack are ranked 323rd).
North Johnston better keep an eye on Xavier Cuthbertson. He was instrumental in West Craven's win, picking up 64 receiving yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 53 yards and one score on only six carries. Cuthbertson also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, forcing one fumble, making two total tackles, and defending two passes.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something West Craven proved: they limited Washington to a paltry two yards per carry. While five picked up at least two total tackles, Davis stood above the rest. He rushed for 138 yards and three TDs on only 11 carries, and also threw for 73 yards and one touchdown. West Craven's run defense has been on the up-and-up: they allowed 4.43 yards per carry earlier this season, but they've only allowed 7.37 on average over their last five games.
West Craven's victory bumped their record up to 5-1. As for North Johnston, they now have a winning record of 4-3.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. North Johnston has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 229.3 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like West Craven struggles in that department as they've been averaging 175.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more football content.
