Read the article in JDNews: (not on web Sunday 11-8-15 P. D1))

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

     For the second straight year, only four area high school football teams earned playoff spots, including three from the East Central 2-A Conference. 

   ECC tri-champions East Duplin (8-3), Northside (4-7) and Croatan (9-2) will all be playing this coming Friday night in the opening round of the NCHSAA 2-AA playoffs while Jacksonville (7-3) earned a bid to the 3-AA playoffs. 

   All four teams had earned guar   anteed berths. No wild-card bids were extended to area teams. Swansboro (5-6) and White Oak (5-6) were the top area candidates for a wild-card spot, finishing in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Coastal 3-A Conference. 

   East Duplin, which earned the No. 1 playoff seed out of the ECC in a drawing this past week, is the only area team that will be at home Friday night. The Panthers, seeded third in the playoffs, will play host to 14th-seeded Franklinton (5-6) in Beulaville. 

   Northside, who is the ECC’s No. 2 seed and is seeded No. 9 in the   playoffs, will hit the road to face No. 8 Washington (7-4), which lost 14-13 to East Lincoln in last year’s 2-AA state final. 

   Croatan, who is seeded No. 11, will go to No. 6 Greene Central (10-1) in a first-round game pitting teams with a combined 19-3 record. 

   Jacksonville, seeded No. 10, heads to No. 7 Gray’s Creek (8-3). 

   All games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

   East Duplin didn’t make the playoffs a year ago while Croatan lost to Northside 31-20 in the opening round of the 2-AA playoffs.   Croatan is 0-6 in the postseason since the school opened in 1999. The Monarchs lost in the second round 34-13 to Southwest Edgecombe. If both East Duplin and Croatan win, they will battle each other in the second round on Nov. 20 in Beulaville. The Cougars beat the Panthers 35-10 in Beulaville a week ago. 

   Jacksonville lost at Eastern Wayne 43-14 last year in an opening-round playoff game that pitted JHS head coach Beau Williams against his brother, Bubba, who led his team to the East Regional final.  

     FIRST ROUND All games Friday at 7:30 p.m. 

   3-AA 

   No. 10 Jacksonville (7-3) at No. 7 Gray’s Creek (8-3) 

   2-AA 

   No. 14 Franklinton (5-6) at No. 3 East Duplin (8-3) No. 9 Northside (4-7) at No. 8 Washington (7-4) No. 11 Croatan (9-2) at No. 6 Greene Central (10-1)