Quarterback Darius “DJ” Deal returns to “The Swamp” to run Spring Creek’s offense this season. The Gators will hold their Blue-Green exhibition game Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
High school football kicks off statewide in eight days.
However, in just 24 hours, local teams in the mountolivetribune.com readership area get to experience the live “popping” of shoulder pads against fresh opposition Friday evening.
Southern Wayne and North Duplin head to South Lenoir for a three-team scrimmage. Action begins at 6 p.m. inside Tom Salter Stadium in Deep Run. Admission is $8.
Postponed last week due to tropical storm Debby, Spring Creek takes the field for its intra-squad Blue-Green game. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. and are free to the public.
“It gives us a chance to scrimmage, hit each other and we will have the concession stand open,” second-year Gators head coach Ron Wise said. “I wanted it to be more of a family event where the community gets involved.”
Wise and his coaching staff compiled two manuals, including a lengthy playbook that includes a plethora of offensive schemes. He wants to increase the Gators’ passing attack.
And see how the run game unfolds.
“I’m going to evaluate our freshmen running backs and senior running backs, take a look at what they’ve got going on, see how they take the beating and banging … how they break through the holes [they see].
“We are very eager to get out there, throw the ball and run the ball around, have the kids stretch their legs and get involved.”
Meanwhile, the Saints and Rebels will participate in a more structured exhibition. Each team will battle for 10 plays on offense and defense.
Later in the evening, upon the coaches’ agreement, each team will duel for either 20 or 30 minutes of situational play. They’ll have a certain number of plays to get a first down on each series.
Southern Wayne is replacing every skill player it had on offense a year ago. Early-season injuries in 2023 caused the Saints to become one-dimensional offensively once conference play began.
Second-year head coach Matt Hine is anxious to see if the offensive line can sustain blocks and create some open real estate for its backfield. Reserves from last fall will be called upon to handle the pressure of toting the pigskin.
“We need to find some balance,” Hine said. “We can’t have just one guy to rely on to gain yards, make big plays. We’ve got to have some other guys do that. Defensively, I want to see where we are in terms of creating havoc on [opposing] offenses, cause disruption, tackle and take the ball away.
“We’re relatively happy with where we are. We’re excited to be able to go out and play somebody else Friday, and that will be a real test to see where we are.”
Reigning co-Carolina 1A champion North Duplin has several all-conference, two-way starters returning. Players who served up back-up roles last season are expected to get repetitions against live competition.
A total of 58 players will suit up for the night.
“We’re interested in seeing where some of these guys are against live competition rather than against ourselves,” Rebels head coach Hugh Martin said. “We’ll be looking at our overall execution on both sides of the ball, understanding our responsibilities … which of those [new] guys who haven’t seen live competition, but how they handle it.
“It’s not necessarily to notice if they make a mistake, but how they handle the hitting piece other than something that’s controlled in practice. I just want to see them in the fire.”
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or by calling/texting 919-709-9257.
