The Northern Guilford (Greensboro, NC) varsity football team will host West Cabarrus (Concord, NC) in a home playoff game today at 7:30 p.m. This matchup is part of the “2024 NCHSAA Football Championships – 4A” tournament.

West Cabarrus vs Northern Guilford Football Game Info:

What: North Carolina High School Football Playoffs
Who: West Cabarrus vs Northern Guilford
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m.
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Game preview: West Cabarrus vs Northern Guilford

This Friday night promises to be an exciting clash as West Cabarrus and Northern Guilford face off in a highly anticipated high school football game. Let’s dive into the teams’ rankings, records, and statistical breakdowns to preview this thrilling matchup.

Team Overview

West Cabarrus enters the game with an overall record of 5-5, having gone 4-2 in conference play. Despite a balanced win-loss record, the team has struggled on the road, posting a 2-3 record away from home. With 192 points scored and 267 points allowed, the West Cabarrus team has had a challenging season but remains competitive.

On the other hand, Northern Guilford has been dominating with a 9-1 record, including a 6-1 conference performance. The team has an impressive 5-0 home record and has outscored opponents by a wide margin, with 315 points for and just 157 points against. Northern Guilford’s overall performance this season has them ranked much higher, and they will look to carry that momentum into this game.

Scoring Averages:

• West Cabarrus averages 19.2 points per game, with their highest-scoring quarter being the second, where they put up 6.4 points. However, they have struggled in the third quarter, averaging just 2.8 points per game.
• Northern Guilford, by comparison, averages a dominant 31.5 points per game, scoring heavily in the first quarter (11.0 points) and maintaining solid offensive numbers throughout the game. The team has averaged 7.4 points per game in the third quarter, showing their ability to adjust and control the pace after halftime.

Team Stats Comparison:

• Rushing Game: Northern Guilford boasts a powerful running game, averaging 208.1 rushing yards per game, significantly higher than West Cabarrus, which averages 14.7 rushing yards per game. This marks a clear advantage for Northern Guilford’s offense.
• Passing Game: West Cabarrus has a more balanced attack, averaging 16.5 passing yards per game, while Northern Guilford averages 173.6 passing yards per game, demonstrating their ability to stretch the field through the air.
• Total Yardage: Northern Guilford again leads in total yardage, averaging 381.7 yards per game, while West Cabarrus trails at 31.2 yards per game. Northern Guilford’s potent offense has been a key to their success this season.
• Defense: On the defensive side, Northern Guilford also holds the upper hand with an average of 57.7 tackles per game compared to 3.8 tackles per game from West Cabarrus. Northern Guilford’s aggressive defense is highlighted by 2.3 sacks per game, making them a formidable opponent.

Key Players to Watch:

• West Cabarrus:
  • Daylon Fuller leads the rushing game with 105 yards per game, but the team’s offensive production will need to rely on their passing game, led by Jared Street, who averages 165 passing yards per game.
  • Liam Ray is the team’s primary receiving threat with 69 yards per game. Defensively, Kaleb Rinehart leads the team with 7 tackles per game.
• Northern Guilford:
  • Christian Leach is a standout in the rushing game with 89 yards per game. Quarterback Jaxson Kemp has been a key factor, with 173.6 passing yards per game and 206.4 total yards per game.
  • Defensively, Noah Smith stands out with 10.8 tackles per game, and Chance Crews contributes with 0.6 sacks per game.

Record Breakdown:

• West Cabarrus:
  • Home Record: 3-2
  • Away Record: 2-3
  • Conference Record: 4-2
  • Overall Record: 5-5
• Northern Guilford:
  • Home Record: 5-0
  • Away Record: 4-1
  • Conference Record: 6-1
  • Overall Record: 9-1

Game Prediction:

With a 9-1 record and dominant performances on both sides of the ball, Northern Guilford enters this matchup as the heavy favorite. Their well-rounded offense, led by quarterback Jaxson Kemp, and stout defense, spearheaded by Noah Smith, will be tough for West Cabarrus to overcome. However, West Cabarrus has shown resilience in the past, and they will need to leverage any advantage they can on the ground and through the air to keep this game close.

The key for West Cabarrus will be finding a way to stop the rushing attack of Northern Guilford and minimizing mistakes, as their margin for error is slim. If they can keep the game low-scoring and exploit any weaknesses in Northern Guilford’s defense, they might have a shot at pulling off an upset.

This game promises to be an exciting battle of contrasting styles, with Northern Guilford’s high-scoring offense facing off against West Cabarrus’ balanced approach. Fans can expect a thrilling contest this Friday night!