Preview: West Columbus Vikings vs. Pender Patriots
The West Columbus Vikings will be playing in front of their home fans against the Pender Patriots at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. West Columbus will be looking to keep their 11-game home win streak (dating back to last season) alive.
West Columbus put the finishing touches on their sixth blowout victory of the season two weeks ago. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat East Columbus 55-0 on the road. Given West Columbus' advantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina football rankings (they are ranked 184th, while East Columbus is ranked 387th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
West Columbus' victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jahan Lesane-Powell, who rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries. Another player making a difference was Unique Kelly, who threw for 146 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, with a playoff game on the line, Pender rose to the challenge on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 58-42 win over Warren County. The victory was some much needed relief for Pender as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Jeremiah Johnson was his usual excellent self, rushing for 410 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 11.7 yards per carry. The team also got some help courtesy of Mark Rawls, who rushed for 50 yards and two touchdowns.
Their wins bumped West Columbus to 9-1 and Pender to 5-6.
Everything went West Columbus' way against Pender when the teams last played back in October as West Columbus made off with a 47-24 victory. Does West Columbus have another victory up their sleeve, or will Pender turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
