By Sonny Jones
Let the hyperbole begin! The much ballyhooed North Carolina Tar Heels are set to open their season tonight at Virginia Tech.
UNC has its sights set on dethroning ACC powerhouse Clemson and earning a spot in the College Football Playoffs. There’s certainly reason to be excited in Chapel Hill with quarterback Sam Howell leading an explosive offense and linemen Raymond Vohaseka and back Tony Grimes heading up a defense that needs to be better than allowing nearly 30 points per game as it did last season. Mack Brown has done a masterful job re-energizing the Tar Heels football program.
The opener certainly won’t be a breeze for the Tar Heels. UNC is 3-6 at Virginia Tech and lost there in 2019 in a classic 43-41, six-overtime contest. UNC beat the Hokies 56-45 last season inside Kenan Stadium.
Thank goodness for fewer cupcake openers for top teams. This is one that should be fun to watch. NORTH CAROLINA 49, VIRGINIA TECH 35.
Week 2 record: 3-1
Season record: 9-3 (75%)
Total postponed/canceled through Week 2: 11
Here’s the rest of this week’s picks.
HIGH SCHOOL
SOUTH BRUNSWICK 35, WEST BLADEN 6: After having their first two games called off, the Knights have a tough one to, hopefully, open their season. South Brunswick hasn’t allowed a point in two wins, including last week’s 33-0 rout of Midway when the Cougars had 11 sacks.
WHITEVILLE 27, EAST BLADEN 21: The Eagles have won six of the last seven meetings, including a thrilling 47-43 triumph in April. East Bladen got a much needed and impressive 32-27 win against West Carteret last week. The Eagles will need to contain Whiteville runners Brandon Tyson (140 yards, 4 TDs in a 54-13 win against North Brunswick) and Zion Wilson (144 yards, 1 TD) to give their offense a chance to score enough points.
WESTOVER 34, FAIRMONT 13: Fairmont lost two weeks ago to White Oak 38-14. Westover has had only one winning season since 2010, but this edition of the Wolverines looks competitive following their impressive 27-3 win against Southern Lee.
WEST COLUMBUS 26, SANDHILLS TITANS 20: Sandhills won 34-28 in Cerro Gordo in 2019. Look for the Vikings to flip the outcome in Fayetteville.
ST. PAULS 28, NORTHSIDE-JACKSONVILLE 14: Nothing better than Labor Day morning high school football. This one is set for 11 a.m. Monday kickoff at St. Pauls where the Bulldogs seek to open their season.
COLLEGE
DUKE 42, CHARLOTTE 21: The Blue Devils try to bounce back from a 2-9 season. They should get off to a good start tonight against the 49ers.
WAKE FOREST 49, OLD DOMINION 17: Old Dominion didn’t field a team last season because of COVID-19. It won’t be a pleasant return to the gridiron against the Demon Deacons.
LIBERTY 31, CAMPBELL 20: One thing we learned last season is that Campbell can give FCS teams a respectable game. Liberty was the feel good story in 2020, going 10-1 and losing only to N.C. State by a point.
FAYETTEVILLE STATE 41, ELIZABETH CITY STATE 24: The Broncos won the Southern Division title three seasons in a row lost in the CIAA championship game each time before the 2020 season was canceled. Fayetteville State is predicted to return to the title game again.
SHENANDOAH 30, METHODIST 23: The Monarchs lost to Huntingdon in the USA South championship game during the abbreviated 2020 season. Methodist should compete for league honors again, but opening with a tough nonconference foe on the road will be a challenge.
CANCELED OR POSTPONED
E.E. Smith at Clinton
Trask at Union
South Lenoir at Midway
East Duplin at Midway
Hobbton at East Columbus
UNC Pembroke at Winston-Salem State
Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com
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