The New Bern Bears will be playing at home against the New Hanover Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. New Bern will be looking to keep their 16-game home win streak (dating back to last season) alive.
Two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but only New Bern walked away with it. They enjoyed a cozy 51-35 victory over Apex on Friday. This was one game where the offenses had no trouble playing at a high level.
New Bern's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Emmanuel Johnson, who threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns while completing 81% of his passes. Another player making a difference was Karvin Magwood, who rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown while picking up 8.5 yards per carry.
Meanwhile, New Hanover didn't have too much trouble with Hillside on the road on Friday as they won 23-6. The victory was just what New Hanover needed coming off of a 44-7 loss in their prior game.
New Hanover had a senior duo take command as Caleb Robles rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown on only nine carries and Mason Shand rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Robles was no stranger to the big play, turning on the jets for a run that went for 50 yards.
New Bern's win pushed their record up to 5-6, while New Hanover's bumped their own up to the opposite: 6-5.
Everything came up roses for New Bern against New Hanover in their previous matchup back in August of 2022 as the team secured a 40-3 victory. Will New Bern repeat their success, or does New Hanover have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
