By james art
BRYANT ROCHE Staff Reporter
The top two teams avoid looking ahead to a rivalry game, and No. 7 Northern Guilford survives a nasty scare.
The Whirlies had a season-high eight rushing touchdowns, three more than in any of their previous seven contests, while their 71 points were the most for the program in coach Daryl Brown’s nine years and the most overall in recent memory. The 71-0 loss to 1-7 Southwest spoke to an unusual level of struggle this season for a program looking at its worst season since 1-10 in 2012. The Cowboys have allowed an average of 54.6 points per game since winning 55 – 0 over High Point Central in their third game on Sept. 6. Previous: No. 1. Next: per page.
2. East Forsyth (8-0, 5-0)
The Central Piedmont 4A Conference favorite avoids looking ahead to bigger games, such as the Kernersville Cup against Glenn this week and fellow rival West Forsyth looming as their regular-season finale opponent. In its last two games, East has scored over 60 points on Parkland and Reynolds to give the offense 53.9 points per game on the season. The passing attack is completing at a 77.9% rate and averaging 12.4 yards per attempt. Previous: No. 2. Next: in Glenn.
It was a homecoming parade as the Panthers rolled to a 70-0 win over previously 5-2 Rockingham County, which entered averaging 16.6 points per game. The Panthers stayed disciplined when Jeron Blackwell picked off a trick pass. They remained the Triad’s top-scoring defense, allowing just 13 points in eight games, while their season-high 70 on offense gave them 52.8 per game to trail only the East and put them ahead of the rest of the unbeaten teams Grimsley (46 ,9) and Reidsville ( 45.6). Previous: No. 3. Next: in South Guilford.
4. Mount Tabor (6-2, 4-1)
The Shamarius Peterkin show continued against Glenn, as the Virginia Tech recruit had a 40-yard punt return for a touchdown, touchdown runs of 22 and 10 yards and an 18-yard touchdown reception. Peterkin also had another punt return of 64 yards and 740 all-purpose yards on the night. Twenty-six of Tabor’s points came in the second quarter. Previous: No. 4. Next: Against Reagan.
The Rams came back in the second half and pulled away for the second week in a row playing a one-loss team. Walkertown led 20-14 at halftime, but Reidsville won 41-26 with the help of four interceptions and two fumble recoveries, not to mention Jariel Cobb, who scored three of his five touchdowns in the second half and finished with 279 total yards. The biggest concern comes when starting quarterback and defensive back Dionte Neal left the game in the fourth quarter due to a hit to the head, according to Rockingham Now reporter Jim Sands. Jonius Sharp played quarterback the rest of the way. Previous: No. 5. Next: v. Andrews.
6. West Forsyth (6-2, 4-1)
CJ Blevins rushed for a season-high 165 yards as the offense dominated, completing just 45.2 percent of its passes in a 48-10 win over Davie County. The passing game averaged 17.4 yards per completion, second-best of the season, and gave them three of their seven touchdowns. Previous: No. 6. Next: v. Reynolds.
7. Northern Guilford (8-0, 5-0)
It could have been a hangover after last week’s rivalry win over Northwest Guilford. Page entered 3-4 and lost to quality opponents Dudley, Reidsville, Mount Tabor and Northwest by averaging 35.2 points and no fewer than 20. In that game, the Nighthawks needed a game-winning field goal from Kobe Guardado with 2.6 seconds left to beat the upset Pages 27-24. They remain one of only six undefeated Triad teams after surviving the scare. Previous: No. 7. Next: in West Guilford.
8. Northwest Guilford (6-2, 3-2)
The biggest takeaway was that the Vikings found a playmaker at receiver outside of Rakeem Hammock. Austin Mitchell, who entered the Ragsdale game with seven catches for 42 yards and no touchdowns, exploded for six catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-7 win over the Tigers. Hammock still had five catches for 84 yards, while quarterback Anders Mitchell completed 13 of 18 passes for a season-high 250 yards and matched his season-high three touchdowns. Previous: No. 8. Next: in Southeast Guilford.
9. High Point Christian (8-0, 2-0)
It reached 8-0 for the first time in program history with a 41-0 win over one-loss Hickory Grove Christian. HGC’s Anthony Hawkins had 18 carries for 101 yards, but the Cougars were the first team to keep the 922-yard rusher out of the end zone this season. The running back has 15 rushing touchdowns this year and three in each of the Lions’ last two games. Previous: No. 9. Next: Against Covenant Day.
The Grizzlies haven’t lost since week two against West Forsyth, and their 58-21 win over Ledford on Friday set a new record for scoring in the seven-game rivalry, surpassing last year’s 34-point win by Oak Grove. The offense posted a season-high 11-of-14 passing for 123 yards on a season-best 78.6% while posting its second-best rushing total of 331 yards and six rushing touchdowns on the season. Previous: No. 10. Next: at Montgomery Central.