Time: 7:30 p.m.
Records: R.J. Reynolds 4-2; Davie County 4-2
Series: Davie leads 15-13. RJR has won as recently in the series as 2009 when it jumped out early and held off the War Eagles 33-23
Last meeting: Davie wiped out the Demons 34-0 in 2010
Last week: Reynolds topped Virginia’s Fleming High School 27-14; Davie smashed Hibriten 56-12
Next week: R.J. Reynolds is home against Mount Tabor; Davie is at rival West Forsyth
Game notes: It’s the CPC opener for both teams.
Davie has changed its identity in recent weeks, transforming from a throw-it-around bunch that threatened to wear out the rotator cuff of QB Adam Smith to a here-we-come running team that features a massive line and RB Stephon Smoot.
Smith threw the ball 56 times the first two weeks — admittedly, it’s hard to run the ball against West Rowan or Page — but he’s averaged a modest 15 passes the last four weeks.
Davie has won four straight with its renewed reliance on a physical running game. And now Davie is about as balanced as it gets — 1,074 rushing yards and 1,057 passing yards.
Smith is still dangerous, picking hits spots to throw, and Davie has monster playmakers in Denzel Redmon and Nate Jones.
Defensively, after being torched early, Davie has given up 15 points per game during its winning streak. Caleb Mathis is creating turnovers, and linebacker A.J. Blaskievich played lights-out against Hibriten.
Damien Booe is the workhorse for the Demons, although coach Paul Hall may have to let QB Bailey Tyner air it out to move the ball vs. Davie. Reynolds lost to Parkland and East Forsyth and has yet to beat anyone with a winning record.