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By Sonny Jones

Winning 60% of your football games will get you into the state playoffs. Getting 60% of your football predictions correct will make you a loser.

Guess you can figure out how Week 1’s football predictions went.

It’s on to Week 2 and a better week is in store … maybe … as East Bladen plays at South Columbus and West Bladen at West Columbus with both local teams in search of their first victories. Should be a pair of interesting and entertaining contests. Time to flip the coin.

Last week’s record: 6-4
Season record: 6-4 (60%)
High school record: 6-4 (60%)
College record: 0-0
Pro record: 0-0

EAST BLADEN at SOUTH COLUMBUS — The key question is pretty simple. Can the Eagles keep the speedy South Columbus runners from getting outside and picking up big chunks of yardage? Keep the Stallions runners inside and East Bladen can get a nice win on the road. If not, then ask West Bladen, a 34-13 loser against South Columbus last week, what happens. Looking forward to the match-up. It also will give us an early comparison for the two Bladen teams. South Columbus 28, East Bladen 21.

WEST BLADEN at WEST COLUMBUS — Cameron Eady ran for four touchdowns and James Craven Axelberg threw for three scores as the Vikings blasted Union 55-0 in their opener. Nice win for the guys from Cerro Gordo. However, Union was playing its first game since April 8, 2020 when it capped a winless spring season. The Spartans didn’t field a team in 2021. It will be interesting to see if the Knights can bounce back. West Bladen 34, West Columbus 31.

FLORIDA A&M at NORTH CAROLINA — The Post-Sam Howell Era begins in Chapel Hill. Drake Maye will get the first crack as the starting quarterback. The Tar Heels should win comfortably, but Florida A&M won nine games in the Championship Subdivision last season so the Rattlers may not be a pushover. North Carolina 38, Florida A&M 17.

OTHER GAMES
South Brunswick 35, Midway 18
Wallace-Rose Hill 33, Clinton 17
Marshville Forest Hills 27, Red Springs 8
Purnell Swett 19, Fairmont 16
St. Pauls 28, Westover 26
Hobbton 41, Heide Trask 16
Pender 48, Union 6
West Brunswick 20, Whiteville 14
Wake Forest 30, VMI 10
The Citadel 27, Campbell 20

FRIDAY’S PICK TO CLICK

Look for Patrick Cantley to make a move in the second round of the Tour Championship after opening with an uninspiring even-par 70. The defending champ will do much better Friday.

WEDNESDAY’S PICK: Houston pitcher Framber Valdez, who played in Buies Creek in 2017, has turned into a solid major league pitcher. Only one Minnesota player has more than four at-bats — Jorge Polanco with 12 — against the left-hander. That should result in a solid seven-inning outing and a win for Valdez. RESULTS: Valdez got the win after giving up a run on two hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings.

WHAT TO WATCH TODAY

• DP WORLD TOUR: Omega European Masters, 7:30 a.m., GOLF

• LPGA: CP Women’s Open, 9:30 a.m., GOLF

• PGA: Tour Championship, 1 p.m., GOLF

• TENNIS: Winston-Salem Open, 2:30 p.m., TENNIS

• NFL PRESEASON: Carolina at New England, 7 p.m., WSFX, WRAL

• LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL: Home Run Derby, 7 p.m., ESPN

• NCAA MEN’S SOCCER: Indiana at Clemson, 7 p.m., ESPNU

• NASCAR XFINITY: Wawa 250, 7:30 p.m., USA

• MLB: Atlanta at St. Louis, 8 p.m., MLBN

• NFL PRESEASON: Seattle at Dallas, 8 p.m., NFLN

• MLS: LAFC at Austin, 8 p.m., ESPN