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Game Preview: South Central (3–1) vs. Northern Nash (2–1)

IMG_3283by: Trey Scott09/19/25TreyScott_NC
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South Central (3–1) vs. Northern Nash (2–1) — Non-conference Spotlight

Kickoff: Thu., Sept. 19 • 7:00 p.m. • Winterville

Series & backdrop

  • All-time: Northern Nash leads 4–1 and rides a 4-game win streak over South Central (2010–12: 37–10, 14–12, 21–0, 17–14).
  • Recent form:
    • South Central: 3–1 with wins over Kinston, Farmville Central, North Pitt; fell at Laney.
    • Northern Nash: 2–1 with wins vs J.H. Rose, Nash Central; lone loss at powerhouse Cleveland.

RPI snapshot (statewide & East)

  • South Central (7A): #17 statewide, #8 East.
  • Northern Nash (6A): #11 statewide, #4 East.
    (Different classifications, but both are firmly in the playoff picture in their brackets.)

Tale of the tape

South Central Falcons (3–1)

  • Offense: ~145 pass / 168 rush yds per game. QB Jaylen Butts (436 yds, 4 TD, 4 INT) spreads it around; RB Clevon Akande (258, 3 TD) and Kaden Smith (145) keep the ground game ahead of the chains. WRs Bobby Williams (150, TD) and Colby Tucker (88, TD) are the top targets.
  • Defense/Special: 168 solo tackles / 19 TFL / 4 sacks / 3 INTs through three games; edge duo Justin Blo & Cayden Harmon (2 sacks each) set the edge. Playmakers on the back end: Meachem, Hyman, Tucker with INTs; T. Walker (40 FR yds) flipping fields. Tucker is also steady on kicks (7/9 PAT, 1/1 FG).

Northern Nash Knights (2–1)

  • Offense: ~107 pass / 156 rush yds per game. Two-QB usage with Hylan Wheeler (261, 3 TD) & Gehrig Miller(60, TD). RB Myles Eatmon is the bell cow (277 rush, 3 TD; long 59). Big-play threat Kamren Freeman (119 rec, 2 TD; 120 KR yds) plus Jah’Marzea Williams (70).
  • Defense/Special: 219 total tackles in three games, led by Caleb Mayfield (42) and Jesse Wade (34). Pressure has flashed (4 sacks, all in the opener). Takeaways: 3 INT, 3 FR, plus a blocked punt and blocked FG. Walston 6/10 on PAT.

Three keys

  1. South Central’s balance: 145 pass yds/gm vs. 168 rush yds/gm. If they keep that even split, NN can’t load the box.
  2. Northern Nash’s punch: 156 rush yds/gm vs. 107 pass yds/gm. Eatmon is the engine — if SC holds him under 100, Falcons control tempo.
  3. Turnovers: SC has 7 giveaways, 3 INTs forced; NN has 5 takeaways (3 INT, 2 FR). Whoever wins the margin likely wins the game.

Prediction

These rosters mirror each other: workhorse RBs, QB platoons that can stress horizontally, and defenses that swarm. NN owns the history, but home field + special teams nudge the needle.

Pick: South Central 27, Northern Nash 24
Eatmon piles up yards, but a late SC red-zone stop and a Tucker kick make the difference.