Thursday Night Kickoff
A line of thunderstorms swept across North Carolina on Friday, prompting organizers to move the opening week of high school football to Thursday night. The postponement affected several matchups, but the most anticipated contest between Whiteville and West Columbus proceeded under the new schedule.
When the teams finally took the field, Whiteville came out firing, establishing a quick 21‑8 advantage in the first half. The momentum was underscored when DJ Graham was tackled in the end zone, resulting in a safety that pushed the lead to 31‑8 at halftime.
Early Dominance
The second half saw a burst of activity for the Wildcats. Quarterback Santonio Vereen connected on a 36‑yard pass that set up another score, and safety Trayvionne Williams intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown, extending the margin to 39‑8.
Whiteville continued to pull away, adding multiple scores in the third and fourth quarters. By the time the final whistle blew, the team held a 46‑8 lead before a late touchdown capped the night at 53‑8.
Around the State
Other opening‑week results included a 52‑0 shutout by Pender over West Bladen, a 49‑6 victory for James Kenan against Southern Wayne, and a 27‑13 win for Hoggard over Richmond Senior.