South Granville (4-2)

At Carrboro (6-0)

Carrboro had clearly established itself as the county’s top team. Now, the Jaguars are ready to see about the Carolina 2A Conference.

A former lower division team, South Granville has become a potent force in the league under head coach Mike Hobgood. He’s a disciple of coaches Kenny Browning and Gary Merrill at Northern Durham, under whom he played on multiple conference champions and later served as an assistant coach.

Hobgood keeps it simple: block and tackle harder and run better than your opponent, and you should win.

Series: South Granville leads 2-1, including a 17-6 win last year.

Orange (5-1)

at East Chapel Hill (4-2)

A pivotal game for both programs, both of which are looking to maintain the advances they’ve achieved so far.

The Wildcats’ running game and defense are substantially improved, helping them to their best midseason record in a decade.

They’ll be tested by Orange’s superb, multiplayer running game and the play of emerging QB Sean Motley, who put the accidental death of his girlfriend behind him and shredded Northern Vance for 179 passing yards in a 48-7 Panther win.

East must stop him, and a fleet of Panther running backs, to have a chance.

Series: Orange won 19-13 last year and leads the series 3-0.

Chapel Hill (5-1, 0-0)

at Cardinal Gibbons (5-0, 0-0)

The Tigers have never beaten Cardinal Gibbons. In fact, no one in the Carolina 3A has ever beaten the Crusaders.

Since joining the conference four years ago, Gibbons won 15 straight in conference games and has gone 39-7 overall.

This year’s set of Crusaders features junior Shawn Stankavage at quarterback, who was an excellent all-around athlete at St. Thomas More before matriculating to the Raleigh school.

RB Ben Grazen is one of the fastest players in the Triangle. The Gibbons defense has surprised even head coach Steven Wright with its abilities.

Series: Cardinal Gibbons leads 3-0 and beat CHHS 34-6 last year.