8 WNC high school football predictions, including North Buncombe at Roberson
It’s Week 6 of the Western North Carolina high school football season, meaning the regular season is halfway through.
Here’s a look at the top eight WNC games this week, and our score predictions. Sports writers Evan Gerike and Zachary Huber are making the predictions.
Game of the Week
North Buncombe (3-2) at Roberson (3-1)
When: 7 p.m., Friday
After starting the season 3-0, North Buncombe has lost its last two games by a combined score of 98-0. After two winless years, the team is still not ready to compete in the Mountain Athletic Conference despite bright spots like running back Hayden Burnette. Roberson should cruise behind Lex Dinwiddie and Reno Jeter.
Gerike's prediction: Roberson 49, North Buncombe 10
Huber’s prediction: Roberson 42, North Buncombe 17
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (5-0) at Robbinsville (4-0)
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday
Robbinsville, the Citizen Times’ No. 1-ranked team for the last two weeks, faces by far its toughest challenge of the year when it hosts Rabun-Gap Nacoochee. Both squads are undefeated, and Robbinsville is coming fresh off a bye week. If the Black Knights are to pull this game off, they’ll need a stellar performance from running back Cuttler Adams.
Gerike's prediction: Rabun-Gap 38, Robbinsville 28
Huber’s prediction: Rabun Gap-Nacoochee 24, Robbinsville 21
Hendersonville (2-3) at Polk County (2-3)
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday
Hendersonville and Polk County both won their Mountain Foothills 7 conference opener after a difficult nonconference schedule. Both teams are paced by strong quarterback play. Freshman Ja’Ron Ward leads the Bearcats. He has thrown for 708 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. On the other side, senior Lawson Carter has thrown for 1,016 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. However, Polk County is managed by first-year head coach Dustin Fry.
Gerike's prediction: Polk County 28, Hendersonville 24
Huber’s prediction: Hendersonville 31, Polk County 28
North Henderson (3-1) at Smoky Mountain (1-4)
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday
North Henderson’s offense needs a bounce-back performance after only offering 16 points vs. West Henderson. Quarterback Mason Fowler and running backs Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel and Mason Gasperson find their rhythm again against the Mustangs defense, which only allowed 16 points to Pisgah last week.
Gerike's prediction: North Henderson 28, Smoky Mountain 17
Huber’s prediction: North Henderson 21, Smoky Mountain 10
Asheville High (1-3) at Erwin (2-3)
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Asheville High will be happy to get into conference play after a brutal nonconference slate left the Cougars with a 1-3 record. Meek Slydell has been a top passer in the Mountain Athletic Conference and will look to outbattle his counterpart in Erwin’s Caden Ingle. Ingle and the Warriors are coming off a rivalry win over Enka but will need a cleaner performance to beat Asheville High.
Gerike's prediction: Asheville High 35, Erwin 14
Huber’s prediction: Asheville High 35, Erwin 13
Brevard (3-2) at R-S Central (1-3)
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday
Brevard has won three straight games after dropping its first two games of the season. The offense led by quarterback Benjamin Kessinger, running back Corey Matthews and wide receiver Eli Griffin has averaged 48 points per game over that span. The defense is also only allowing nine points per game.
Gerike's prediction: Brevard 30, R-S Central 7
Huber's prediction: Brevard 45, R-S Central 21
Providence Day (4-0) at Christ School (0-4)
When: 7:30 p.m, Friday
Christ School is hosting arguably the best team in North Carolina this week in Providence Day, which is winning by an average margin of 31 points. It has played the most difficult nonconference schedule of any WNC team but is only averaging 16 points per game behind freshman quarterback Mason Holtzclaw. The Greenies will likely be winless as they try to keep their 12-game winning streak vs. Asheville School alive next week.
Gerike's prediction: Providence Day 56, Christ School 14
Huber’s prediction: Providence Day 48, Christ School 17
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Tuscola (2-2) at Franklin (1-3)
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday
Since transferring from Smoky Mountain before the season, Tuscola quarterback Jed West has been as good as advertised. He has nearly 1,000 passing yards and over 300 rushing yards. The Mountaineers lost two tough games against Asheville High and Swain County. Franklin would need its biggest games of the year from quarterback Brock Bradley and running back Addix Sutton to win.
Gerike's prediction: Tuscola 29, Franklin 17
Huber’s prediction: Tuscola 35, Franklin 14
Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanGerike. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
Zachary Huber is the sports reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News and Asheville Citizen Times. Email him with tips, questions and comments at ZHuber@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News and Asheville Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: WNC high school football predictions: Picking N. Buncombe-Roberson, others
