White Oak is 5-0 against Croatan since September of 2017, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. After each having a week off, both will dust off their jerseys to take on one another at 7:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Croatan is hoping to do what Swansboro couldn't two weeks ago: put an end to White Oak's winning streak, which now stands at three games. White Oak simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Swansboro 51-6 at home. Given the Vikings' advantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina football rankings (they are ranked 121st, while the Pirates are ranked 331st), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Joshua Smith was his usual excellent self, rushing for 154 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries, while also throwing for 160 yards and two touchdowns on only 15 passes. He really tore up the turf during one magnificent 75-yard run.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, White Oak was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 325 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 198 rushing yards in 16 consecutive contests dating back to last season.
White Oak's defense was in the mix too, especially the secondary: they snagged two passes before it was all said and done. The picks came courtesy of Jayden Nickelberry and Yeshua Solin.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Croatan, who bounced back after a loss on the road back in September. They blew past Beddingfield, posting a 37-6 win at home.
Croatan's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Coleman Davis, who threw for 100 yards and three touchdowns, and also picked up 30 receiving yards and a touchdown. Andrew Boucher was another key player, rushing for 113 yards and a touchdown on only ten carries.
On the other side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Croatan's defense and their nine sacks. Leading the way was Cutter Bryant with two. He is on a roll when it comes to sacks, as he's now sacked two or more in the last three games he's played dating back to last season.
White Oak's win bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Croatan, their victory was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 4-1.
Friday's matchup might be decided in the on the ground. White Oak has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 352.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Croatan struggles in that department as they've been averaging 151.6. It's looking like Friday's game might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Everything came up roses for White Oak against Croatan in their previous meeting back in September of 2023, as the squad secured a 49-0 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for White Oak since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
