Whitefield Academy at Pinecrest Academy
When, where: Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Pinecrest Academy Stadium in Cumming
Records, rankings: Whitefield is 2-5 overall, 1-4 in Region 6-A, Div. B and unranked; Pinecrest is 4-3, 3-2 and unranked
Series record: Pinecrest leads 3-0.
Last meeting: Pinecrest won 19-0 in 2015.
What to know: Pinecrest beat the Wolfpack handily on the road last season, in shutout fashion. Expect a similar game on Friday night.
Whitefield has fallen in its last two games by a combined score of 101-7, granted those games were against elite Class A competition in Mount Paran and Fellowship—the latter has cracked the top-10 in the latest polls. Pinecrest enters the game having fallen to Fellowship by just two touchdowns. The Paladins’ tough schedule has seemingly cost them a chance at re-taking a region championship, but the next two weeks will determine whether or not they can sneak back into the playoff picture. That makes Friday’s game and next week’s contest at St. Francis must-wins.
The Paladins have clearly had limitations against certain opponents this season—in their three losses they scored an average of just 10.3 points per game, while they’ve averaged 28.5 in victories. They should see a number closer to the winning formula against Whitefield.