Sampson County Football Week 2

SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
117
119
43
Union @ Southern Wayne
Union should be much improved this year all around but they are still years away. Southern Wayne has been bad for a long time but they showed so spurts against Midway in the Jamboree recently. They have size and athletes....Union has athletes no size. I expect Union to be good at what they run offensively and they have Tobias who is going into year 3 as starting RB. Waynes pass game will cause Union many issues because I don't think they are very sound defense wise. I think it will be close but I gotta go with Union to pull it off.
Union 35-28

Lakewood vs Lejeune
Not much to talk about here. Lejeune couldn't even get across the 50 yd line in the Sampson County jamboree vs Union. Running clock will be put in to use quickly and Leopards have 2 weeks to prepare for Midway.
Lakewood 60-0

Hobbton vs Triton
Hobbton got a spanking last week that could have been way worse but Midway bled the clock and the last 8 minutes or so were running clock due to weather. They run the wing t very well but don't have much size in the trenches. Triton looked solid in Jamboree and whooped willow springs week 1. I want to say Hobbton makes it a game but I just don't think they can this year. Tritons size, speed and depth will win them this ball game and Hobbton will fall off after quarter 1.
Triton 48-18

Midway vs Clinton
The game of the week in Sampson county by far..... Clinton looked pretty put together week 1 vs lakewood putting up good numbers on offense and stepping up when needed on defense. Jonah Boone is a problem for sure! Play breaks down? Okay he is just going to run 1000 mph the other way and you better hope you have back side contain for its going for 6 pts. Gavin Miller at RB is a good mix of size and speed. The QB is not afraid to tuck the rock and run for it. Midways offense took up where they left off last year, explosive plays and dominant o line play have become the normal in spiveys corner. QB Tanner Williams can beat you with his arm or legs, RB Wesley Tew will either run through you or run by you with his impressive top end speed, first year WR Ace Matthews takes the top off defenses. Midways defense had a few lapses that led to big plays but showed signs of growth. LB Brayden stowers was all over the field making plays and hard nose safety Weston Rawls was flying around like an extra LB. This game will be very entertaining and I feel like we only have had a sample size from both so far but I expect both teams to bring the full serving this week at Tommy Sloan Stadium. Midway has won the last 2 years after more than a decade of Dark Horse wins in the series. I am sure the dark horses want to take back ahold of the county but they will have to take that from the Raiders hands. I expect this game to go down to the wire with one team pulling away late. That team will be......
Midway 50-42
 

SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
117
119
43
What about the weather?
Teams are starting to move games to Thursday down this way. I don’t know of any Sampson county games being moved just yet. Midway vs Clinton JV will be played tomorrow due to possible storms on Thursday.
 

iMowLawnCare

All-Conference
Aug 20, 2025
954
2,144
93
Union @ Southern Wayne
Union should be much improved this year all around but they are still years away. Southern Wayne has been bad for a long time but they showed so spurts against Midway in the Jamboree recently. They have size and athletes....Union has athletes no size. I expect Union to be good at what they run offensively and they have Tobias who is going into year 3 as starting RB. Waynes pass game will cause Union many issues because I don't think they are very sound defense wise. I think it will be close but I gotta go with Union to pull it off.
Union 35-28

Lakewood vs Lejeune
Not much to talk about here. Lejeune couldn't even get across the 50 yd line in the Sampson County jamboree vs Union. Running clock will be put in to use quickly and Leopards have 2 weeks to prepare for Midway.
Lakewood 60-0

Hobbton vs Triton
Hobbton got a spanking last week that could have been way worse but Midway bled the clock and the last 8 minutes or so were running clock due to weather. They run the wing t very well but don't have much size in the trenches. Triton looked solid in Jamboree and whooped willow springs week 1. I want to say Hobbton makes it a game but I just don't think they can this year. Tritons size, speed and depth will win them this ball game and Hobbton will fall off after quarter 1.
Triton 48-18

Midway vs Clinton
The game of the week in Sampson county by far..... Clinton looked pretty put together week 1 vs lakewood putting up good numbers on offense and stepping up when needed on defense. Jonah Boone is a problem for sure! Play breaks down? Okay he is just going to run 1000 mph the other way and you better hope you have back side contain for its going for 6 pts. Gavin Miller at RB is a good mix of size and speed. The QB is not afraid to tuck the rock and run for it. Midways offense took up where they left off last year, explosive plays and dominant o line play have become the normal in spiveys corner. QB Tanner Williams can beat you with his arm or legs, RB Wesley Tew will either run through you or run by you with his impressive top end speed, first year WR Ace Matthews takes the top off defenses. Midways defense had a few lapses that led to big plays but showed signs of growth. LB Brayden stowers was all over the field making plays and hard nose safety Weston Rawls was flying around like an extra LB. This game will be very entertaining and I feel like we only have had a sample size from both so far but I expect both teams to bring the full serving this week at Tommy Sloan Stadium. Midway has won the last 2 years after more than a decade of Dark Horse wins in the series. I am sure the dark horses want to take back ahold of the county but they will have to take that from the Raiders hands. I expect this game to go down to the wire with one team pulling away late. That team will be......
Midway 50-42
2 straight weeks picking against Clinton. Fool me once……lol.
 

SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
117
119
43
Midway pulls out another DOMINANT win vs Clinton. Unfortunately this will be the close to the rivalry. Clinton declined to play Midway anymore non conference after this year. Midway ends the rivalry on a 3 game winning streak and looks to win the county for the 3rd year in a row next week @Lakewood.
maybe with realignment in a few years they get put back in each others conferences but if that doesn’t happen I don’t expect them to ever play again….. which sucks clinton and midway are separated by 20 minutes
 

Wizard of the East

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2001
18,319
4,181
113
Midway pulls out another DOMINANT win vs Clinton. Unfortunately this will be the close to the rivalry. Clinton declined to play Midway anymore non conference after this year. Midway ends the rivalry on a 3 game winning streak and looks to win the county for the 3rd year in a row next week @Lakewood.
maybe with realignment in a few years they get put back in each others conferences but if that doesn’t happen I don’t expect them to ever play again….. which sucks clinton and midway are separated by 20 minutes
Midway's won the last 3 in a row, but do you know what the series record is and how many in a row Clinton won before these last 3? With the most recent realignment and the 8 classifications, I doubt Clinton and Midway will ever be in the same conference again..
 

Pregame meal

Sophomore
Mar 20, 2016
67
105
33
If above statement is accurate, and Midway wanted to continue the series, why would Clinton not agree? County game, Midway usually travels well (better than Clinton recently) and as mentioned, close proximity. Any idea if they will play each other in other sports?

Clinton has five conference games so they would need five non-conference games. Seems this would be a no brainer.
 
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SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
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43
If above statement is accurate, and Midway wanted to continue the series, why would Clinton not agree? County game, Midway usually travels well (better than Clinton recently) and as mentioned, close proximity. Any idea if they will play each other in other sports?

Clinton has five conference games so they would need five non-conference games. Seems this would be a no brainer
You’re not wrong it is a no brainer. Just relaying information over here. Midway plays Clinton in just about every other sport. I don’t know the exact reason why they decided to end football but I personally believe it’s a pride thing.
 

SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
117
119
43
Midway's won the last 3 in a row, but do you know what the series record is and how many in a row Clinton won before these last 3? With the most recent realignment and the 8 classifications, I doubt Clinton and Midway will ever be in the same conference again..
The tide has changed
 
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Wizard of the East

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2001
18,319
4,181
113
Pride thing? Come on. Clinton has many long term
Non-conference team. They’ve played East Bladen since the 1940’s sometime the were in conference, recently not Same with Wallace-Rose Hill, same with Whiteville. These are 3 teams Clinton played before they ever played Midway. Generally teams like to play teams in their owing classification. This season Clinton is coming off they’ve worst 2 season. Let me assure you it’s not a long term thing. Certainly not a loss of pride. I don’t believe I’d question a teams pride particularly a program like the DarkHorses
Midway has a very good team this year, one of the better Midway teams s I’ve seen. With their schedule they shiuld run the table in regular season. Good luck to the Raiders!
 

Wizard of the East

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2001
18,319
4,181
113
I bet Clinton keeps Midway on the soccer schedule.
Other sports are a little different because of the number of games played. Football only plays 10 regular season games, basketball, baseball and soccer play twice the number games. Non-conference wise you can go out and schedule teams you might play or certainly prepare for the playoffs.
RPI is a consideration since the association uses it in playoff seedings
 

Pregame meal

Sophomore
Mar 20, 2016
67
105
33
I understand how the RPI works.

Wonder if Clinton will still play Lakewood? East Bladen and Lakewood are both 2A schools.

Worst two seasons? See below:

2009 3-8
2010 4-6
2011 1-9
2012 5-8

Granted it was a little while ago, but I bet you would be hard pressed to find other "football" schools in the area with a four year stretch like that in the same timespan.
 

Pregame meal

Sophomore
Mar 20, 2016
67
105
33
Question for Midway fan, do the Raiders intend to keep both Hobbton and Lakewood on their football schedule? I mean they are in a different classification and teams generally like to schedule teams in own classifications.
 

SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
117
119
43
Question for Midway fan, do the Raiders intend to keep both Hobbton and Lakewood on their football schedule? I mean they are in a different classification and teams generally like to schedule teams in own classifications.
Yes Midway will always play those 2 teams. Unless hobbton or Lakewood goes into a period of hopelessness like Union has. Haven’t been in a conference with them in over a decade. Rivalries are important. People of Sampson county deserve to see these games.
 

SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
117
119
43
Clinton will not play county teams anymore. When I say pride this is what I mean…. I believe they think the other county schools don’t deserve to play the dark horses. Just disappointing all around.
 
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Wizard of the East

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2001
18,319
4,181
113
Clinton will not play county teams anymore. When I say pride this is what I mean…. I believe they think the other county schools don’t deserve to play the dark horses. Just disappointing all around.
That’s your opinion, I don’t think you know what pride really means. Pride is listed across the top of the DarkHorse press box. That wasn’t accomplished by not beating great teams I’ve been around DarkHorse football for over 50 years and never sensed the attitude.you describe. Maybe you should become athletic director. Making multiple team/sport schedules within the concept of an athletic association that is constantly changing classifications/conferences is no easy task.
 
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JK0713Tigers

Senior
Aug 6, 2024
472
782
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Some parents from Clinton, was on Facebook talking about how Midway players were using the N-word a lot last night. Maybe that might have something to do with them not wanting to play Midway in the near future.
 

SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
117
119
43
Some parents from Clinton, was on Facebook talking about how Midway players were using the N-word a lot last night. Maybe that might have something to do with them not wanting to play Midway in the near future.
One kid did last night and he’s been suspended. I don’t think this has anything to do with that. Future schedules for most schools were completed weeks ago.
 
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SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
117
119
43
That’s your opinion, I don’t think you know what pride really means. Pride is listed across the top of the DarkHorse press box. That wasn’t accomplished by not beating great teams I’ve been around DarkHorse football for over 50 years and never sensed the attitude.you describe. Maybe you should become athletic director. Making multiple team/sport schedules within the concept of an athletic association that is constantly changing classifications/conferences is no easy task.
Okay wizard tell me why they shouldn’t play midway? Classification? They are separated by one class and Clinton has maybe 150 more students? Competition? Midway has beat them 3 years in a row thats competition for your horses. I understand clinton now playing lakewood, Union or hobbton….. but with how Midway has been as of late it makes perfect sense for the two schools to play. It’s not the “BYE Week” it used to be when Clinton dominated the series.
And from an athletic director standpoint point they are gonna worry about the gate and competition among other things. Midway vs Clinton brings great money to both schools (midway fans travel very well) and the competition aspect is there as well. I am not here to argue I was just letting everyone know this was unfortunately it for the Midway vs clinton series. I gave my thoughts on why they declined to reschedule. I’d love to know your logic on it.
 

Wizard of the East

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2001
18,319
4,181
113
Okay wizard tell me why they shouldn’t play midway? Classification? They are separated by one class and Clinton has maybe 150 more students? Competition? Midway has beat them 3 years in a row thats competition for your horses. I understand clinton now playing lakewood, Union or hobbton….. but with how Midway has been as of late it makes perfect sense for the two schools to play. It’s not the “BYE Week” it used to be when Clinton dominated the series.
And from an athletic director standpoint point they are gonna worry about the gate and competition among other things. Midway vs Clinton brings great money to both schools (midway fans travel very well) and the competition aspect is there as well. I am not here to argue I was just letting everyone know this was unfortunately it for the Midway vs clinton series. I gave my thoughts on why they declined to reschedule. I’d love to know your logic on it.
Maybe you’re right, Clinton’s just afraid to play them anymore. If that the case, it’s a first in that to my knowledge they’ve never avoided anyone before. I think Clinton plays a pretty competitive schedule. You must know over the years in the different classification Clinton was put in a conference where they were the westernmost team or the were put in a conference where they were the easternmost team. They are the westernmost team in their conference now, before when they were in what I called the I-95 conference they were the easternmost team. Whatever the case may be I think schedules are made up for two year period. The NCHSAA will change things up again. It’s all about the money forthem. They say the kids but it’s about the money. That’s why they have 8 classifications . The did this before when they split the classications, same thing, different name. They should have gone to 5 classifications with the 5A being smaller in member schools with the really large schools, same with 1A being few school with the really small schools and the 2A, 3A 4A being divided equally with what’s left. Better competition, larger conferences (less non conference games if any) 8 classification is the problem. Everybody shouldn’t go to the playoffs
Anyway good luck to the Raiders , I don’t see anyone giving they problems regular season Their problem has been winning in the later rounds of the playoffs
 

SouthEast

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2025
117
119
43
Maybe you’re right, Clinton’s just afraid to play them anymore. If that the case, it’s a first in that to my knowledge they’ve never avoided anyone before. I think Clinton plays a pretty competitive schedule. You must know over the years in the different classification Clinton was put in a conference where they were the westernmost team or the were put in a conference where they were the easternmost team. They are the westernmost team in their conference now, before when they were in what I called the I-95 conference they were the easternmost team. Whatever the case may be I think schedules are made up for two year period. The NCHSAA will change things up again. It’s all about the money forthem. They say the kids but it’s about the money. That’s why they have 8 classifications . The did this before when they split the classications, same thing, different name. They should have gone to 5 classifications with the 5A being smaller in member schools with the really large schools, same with 1A being few school with the really small schools and the 2A, 3A 4A being divided equally with what’s left. Better competition, larger conferences (less non conference games if any) 8 classification is the problem. Everybody shouldn’t go to the playoffs
Anyway good luck to the Raiders , I don’t see anyone giving they problems regular season Their problem has been winning in the later rounds of the playoffs
Raiders problem has been depth. Great 1st group but after that bit of a talent drop at certain positions. Season ending injuries to key players last 2 seasons have hurt them in playoffs. I think Clinton is on right path, I think there will be some growing pains this year but they’ll get better week by week. Lot of talented youth over there as well might take 2 or 3 years to get back to true dominance. I do find the conference they are in odd, lots of traveling for the horses. 8 classifications was definitely over kill. I don’t expect a chance though because of money. Only change I could see is combing 1A and 2A classifications.
 
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FootballFan13

Redshirt
Aug 27, 2025
13
10
3
Talk about domination in the Midway cLinton game! cLinton may not be as back as what many have said, think that's just the buddy system with it being Arnette to be honest. I wasn't impressed with Clinton week one when they played Lakewood, looked more like Lakewood lost it than it did Clinton won it, lots of penalties, and alignment issues for LW made them susceptible to big plays, thought they honestly should have won. Midway absolutely embarrassed them and their fan base. The previous two loses everyone blamed on the players going to Marlboro and Johnny Boykin, however they are not giving Jason Arnette that same criticism...hmmm???

Although I thought Lakewood should have won week 1, seeing the display on the field in week 2 vs a terrible camp lejeune team makes me question where they stand long term, lots of pieces over there in Salemburg, but doesn't look like a well oiled machine, if they can put it together, it could be an exciting game between them and the raiders this week, but that's a big if.

cLinton makes the trip to Wallace Friday, I think they will match up well, that cLinton defensive front 7 is probably the best part of the team, however, not sure how the cLinton O will match up..Wallace has some playmakers on D and cLinton seems to be going through an identity crisis on offense right now, nonetheless, should be a interesting game.
 
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