Week 1 — Friday's prep football breakdowns

Kinston’s Will London hopes to start the season off with a running start. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

Here are the matchups slated for Friday:

Chocowinity Southside at Ayden-Grifton, 6 p.m.

Last season: Chargers finished 7-5 (NCHSAA 2A playoff appearance); Seahawks finished 5-8 (reached NCHSAA 1A second round)

Last matchup: Aug. 17, 2018 — Ayden-Grifton won, 61-0

Interesting tidbit: In the previous two matchups, the loser was shut out on the road — Southside won 26-0 in the 2017 season opener

Kinston at Farmville Central, 7 p.m.

Last season: Vikings finished 12-1 (reached NCHSAA 2A third round), Jaguars finished 3-8

Last matchup: Aug. 17, 2018 — Kinston won 28-23

Interesting tidbits: Of the eight previous matchups between the teams since the series began in 2009, Kinston has won seven — the last two coming by a combined 10 points

East Columbus at North Lenoir, 7 p.m.

Last season: Hawks finished 0-10, Gators finished 4-8 (NCHSAA 1A playoff appearance)

Last matchup: This is the first meeting between the programs

Interesting tidbit: North Lenoir lost five games by two possessions or fewer while East Columbus went 2-2 in games of that manner last season

Rocky Mount Prep at Arendell Parrott Academy (11-man), 7 p.m.

Last season: Patriots finished 5-4 (NCISAA 2A semifinals appearance), Jaguars finished 2-9

Last matchup: This is the first meeting between the programs

Interesting tidbits: APA defeated Bear Grass Charter 25-8 in its first 11-man game since 1989 on Aug. 31, 2018. This year, the Patriots start the season with two such contests

Jones Senior at Lejuene, 7 p.m.

Last season: Trojans finished 0-10, Devilpups finished 0-11

Last matchup: Oct. 6, 2016 — Jones Senior won 72-0

Interesting tidbit: Someone will break a long losing streak — Jones Senior has dropped 22 straight and Lejeune has a 33-game skid

Belhaven Pungo Christian at Bethel Christian, 7 p.m.

Last season: Trojans finished 4-4 (NCISAA 1A semifinals appearance), Raiders finished 3-6 (NCISAA 1A semifinals appearance)

Last matchup: Oct. 19, 2018 — Bethel won 54-0

Interesting tidbits: Neither team has been around for five years — Bethel brought back its football program in 2016 and last year was the first for Pungo

Greene Central at South Central, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Rams finished 6-6 (NCHSAA 2A playoff appearance), Falcons finished 11-1 (NCHSAA 4A playoff appearance)

Last matchup: Aug. 17, 2018 — South Central won 18-14

Interesting tidbits: The teams have split their four matchups since 2015 and Greene Central held a 14-0 halftime lead last season before South Central roared back

South Lenoir at North Duplin, 7:30 p.m.

Last season: Blue Devils finished 3-7, Rebels finished 5-6 (NCHSAA 1A playoff appearance)

Last matchup: Aug. 30, 2018 — North Duplin won 21-6

Interesting tidbits: The teams split the last six games since 2013 — South Lenoir’s margin of victory in its three wins was 6.3 points and North Duplin’s was 28.3