Union Pines is having its most successful season in recent years, while North Moore is struggling more than it has in the past few campaigns. After a week off, Pinecrest will rejoin the football fray this week.
Union Pines
The Vikings bounced back from their first loss of the year in week four to get back on the winning track Friday night.
Union Pines pulled out a 7-6 win in a defensive struggle at home against Lee County. The win was a milestone one or the Vikings. Union Pines has played Lee County every year since 2013 and had never recorded a win. In the 11 previous meeting of the annual series, the Vikings had given up 533 points and scored just 96, an average margin of 48-11. Six times, they’ve given up at least 40 points, and Union Pines had been shut out five times, losing by at least 40 each of the last six years.
It was also the fewest points any opponent had held Lee County to since the 2015 season. That was also the last time Union Pines matched its 4-1 start to the season. The Vikings have shut out three of their opponents on the year and have a 1-0 record in the Sandhills.
This week, the Vikings host Scotland in another conference game, Friday at 7:30. The Fighting Scots are 2-3, 1-0 in the Sandhills and coming off a 45-32 home win over Hoke County.
Pinecrest
Pinecrest had the week off to enjoy their perfect non-conference record. The Patriots are 4-0, with a pair of home wins and two on the road. This week, Pinecrest heads into conference play, hosting Richmond at 7:30 PM on Friday. The Raiders are 3-2 and already have a 1-0 mark in the Sandhills Conference, thanks to their 41-7 win at Southern Lee last week.
Richmond has held three opponents to 10 points or less and are led on defense by linebackers Kmauri Morgan and Terande Spencer. On offense, quarterback Evan Hodges is among conference leaders in passing yards, and Pinecrest will also need to watch out for dangerous return man Jayden Hamilton on punts and kicks.
North Moore
The Mustangs dropped their fourth straight to open the season, falling at home to Southeast Alamance, 29-6. North Moore actually scored first, leading 6-0 on a Xander Greene touchdown run. The Mustangs also got several interceptions, but they couldn’t get their own passing game on track and struggled to contain Southeast’s offense.
North Moore is now 0-2 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. At 0-4, they already have more losses than any of the last three seasons. The Mustangs will look for their first positive result of the year at home against Jordan-Matthews in a conference game at 7:00 on Friday. The Jets are 2-3 on the year and 1-2 in the Mid-Carolina, coming off a 48-0 beating at the hands of Northwood.
Moore County Week Six High School Schedule:
Friday Sept. 27, 7:30 PM, Pinecrest Patriots (4-0) vs. Richmond Raiders (3-2, 1-0 in Sandhills)
*Sandhills Conference game
Friday Sept. 27, 7:00 PM, North Moore Mustangs (0-4, 0-2 in Mid-Carolina) vs. Jordan-Matthews Jets (2-3, 1-2) *Mid-Carolina Conference game
Friday Sept. 27, 7:30 PM, Union Pines Vikings (4-1, 1-0 in Sandhills) vs. Scotland Fighting Scots (2-3, 1-0) *Sandhills Conference game
