Playoff implications

J.H. Rose football coach Todd Lipe didn't bother explaining the implications of tonight's regular-season finale at New Bern with his players this week.

He just wants them to go out and win.

The Rampants complete the regular season in familiar fashion with a rivalry game against New Bern at 7:30. Like most years, tonight's game is full of importance and intrigue.

A win would guarantee Rose a playoff spot as the third seed from the Mideastern Conference. A loss could create a three-way tie for third place, which would affect playoff seeding and possibly keep one of the three teams out of the playoffs entirely.

“We don't want to win for a better seed or because of the playoffs or anything, we want to win because it's New Bern,” Lipe said prior to Thursday's practice.

Lipe said there were past years when Rose was projected to be a certain seed or playing a certain team, but that didn't happen when the brackets came out. He said he wants his team to focus on playing New Bern for now, and worry about the playoffs later.

“It's a rivalry game and our players know who we are playing,” Lipe said. “I believe they'll be ready to play.”

The Rampants and Bears are natural rivals, even with recent conference alignment. They used to consistently battle for championships in the Coastal Conference, but they both made the switch to the Wilmington-based Mideastern Conference prior to this season.

JHR (6-4, 2-2) enters tonight's contest on a two-game losing streak, but those losses were by a combined four points. Rose, while breaking in new quarterback Marquis Gorham, lost to conference leader New Hanover, 17-16, last week.

New Bern (4-5, 1-3) has also had some struggles this year. The Bears broke a three-game losing streak last week with a 33-7 win over Wilmington Laney.

Rose beat New Bern, 21-3, in Greenville last year and has won three of the last four meetings.

In other Pitt County action, South Central hosts D.H. Conley at 7. Ayden-Grifton will host Goldsboro and North Pitt hosts Kinston at 7:30. Farmville Central plays at Greene Central at 7:30.

D.H. Conley at South Central

The game between Conley and South Central has no real postseason implications, but that shouldn't limit the intensity on the field.

Win or lose, South Central (7-3, 4-2) is going to finish the season in third place in the Coastal Conference. Win or lose, D.H. Conley (0-10, 0-6) is going to finish last in the Coastal Conference and its season is going to be finished.

But that doesn't diminish the rivalry between the two teams.

The Vikings are searching for their first win after struggling offensively for most of the year. DHC lost at Jacksonville, 53-8, last week and has scored less than 10 points in four of its last five games.

SC has struggled offensively at times, but has won with defense. The Falcons have allowed 16 total points in their last two games, which were both wins. South Central beat Washington, 14-13, in overtime last week to solidify third place in the conference.

Kinston at North Pitt

North Pitt only has one more chance to get rid of the zero in its win column in the conference standings.

But that won't be easy to do tonight.

The Panthers (3-7, 0-5 Eastern Plains) conclude the regular season by hosting Kinston, a team that is ranked ninth in Class 2-A and full of speed. Kinston (8-2, 3-2 EPC) is explosive — averaging almost 35 points per game — and its only losses were to SouthWest Edgecombe and Tarboro, both ranked the Top 5 in the state.

North Pitt has had its moments on offense despite not recording a win during conference play. NP scored 28 points against Farmville Central and 26 against Greene Central, but its defense has had trouble stopping the opposition. North Pitt lost to Beddingfield, 26-12, last week and hasn't won since a 40-13 victory over Williamston on Sept. 18.

Farmville Central

at Greene Central

Greene Central prides itself on stopping the run. Farmville Central thrives on running the ball.

Something has to give.

The Jaguars (5-5, 2-3 Eastern Plains) close the regular season with a tough road trip to Snow Hill to face Greene Central (3-7, 1-3 EPC). Winning in Snow Hill isn't easy; two of the Rams' three wins have been at home.

FC gave up a season high in points in last week's 50-7 loss at Tarboro. The Jags are also locked in a battle with Beddingfield for fourth place in the EPC. The two teams are tied going into tonight's games and Beddingfield owns the tiebreaker. But Beddingfield has to play at Tarboro tonight.