A TRUE FOLLOWER. Southern Nash’s Jaquay Mitchell (leflt) follows the block of teammate Zack Foster during last Friday night’s opening-round football playoff decision against Burlington Williams.

STANHOPE - Southern Nash has plenty of reason to look forward to Friday’s second-round matchup against Eastern Wayne in the Class 3-A State Football Playoffs.
Not only will the Firebirds have a chance to advance, they will also get an opportunity to avenge last year’s narrow setback to the same Eastern Wayne squad -- in the same round of the postseason.

STANHOPE -- When Terri Jenkins arrived at Southern Nash Middle School this fall, it didn’t take long for word to spread that the new teacher had plenty of coaching experience along with her husband, Steve.
“The first week of school, I was told that we would make a lot of people happy if we coached soccer,’’ Terri Jenkins said.
Terri and Steve were interested in taking over the program, but wasn’t sure how the extra work would fit into their schedules -- especially since they reside in Bracey, Virginia.

RED OAK -- Northern Nash High School’s 2014-15 basketball campaign will kick off today with a home meeting against East Wake.
Northern’s complete ledger is as follows, with home games listed in CAPS:

CHAPEL HILL -- Here are last Friday’s results and this Friday’s second-round pairings for the Class 3-AA and Class 3-A State Football Playoffs.

A GREAT TIME IN TEXAS. Former Nash Central High School standouts Natalie Manning and Brian Williams traveled with Louisburg College to take part in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Cross Country Championships.

LOUISBURG -- Louisburg College’s first-ever cross country season was capped by a trip to Lubbock, Texas, for the NJCAA National Championships.
Two former Nash Central High School running standouts were a part of the traveling party as freshmen Natalie Manning and Brian Williams participated in the prestigious event.

ROCKY MOUNT -- North Carolina Wesleyan College’s football team honored its 2014 senior class last Saturday afternoon prior to its season finale with Huntingdon College at Bishop Stadium.
It was the Hawks, however, who came away with a victory, handing the Bishops a 37-20 loss.
The game marked an end to the NCWC careers of Jacques Alston, James Wallace, Brice Wordsworth, Albert Raynor, Logan Waters, Quentin Pittman, Samuel Herring, Isaiah Morrow and Andrew Brown.

UNDER CENTER. (L to R) Center Zollie Alford and quarterback Daylon Whitley were key players this season for the Nash County Firebirds in Eastern North Carolina Football League action.

MEBANE -- The Nash County Firebirds Varsity Football Team saw its campaign come to a close last Saturday during a semifinal matchup against Mebane in the Statewide Athletics Committee State Playoffs.
The homestanding Eagles were able to secure a 48-14 decision over the Firebirds in a contest that was held at Eastern Alamance High School.

NASH COUNTY -- The Nash County Parks and Recreation Fall Youth Soccer Season came to a close recently. 
The 4-5 and 6-7 year-old players finished the season strong, gaining soccer skills and new friends along the way. 
The 8-9, 10-12 and 13-17 year-old teams finished their season competing for league titles and championship medals. 
The 8-9 year-old league regular season and tournament was won by the Tigers, out of Spring Hope. 

NASHVILLE -- Listed are Nash Central Middle School’s 2014-15 wrestling and basketball schedules, with home events listed in CAPS:

GREENVILLE -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College men’s basketball squad tipped off its 2014-2015 season last Friday night in Greenville, dropping a hard-fought exhibition at Division I East Carolina University by a 99-81 score.
Led by a career-high 25 points from sophomore Eric Dortch-Jones, the Battling Bishops out-scored the Pirates 54-51 in the second half to quiet an ECU crowd in excess of 5,000.

Doug Sauls out of Spring Hope was the winner of the 10-12 Tournament Championship in the Nash County Parks and Recreation Department’s Fall Youth Sports League.

Southern Nash quarterback Zack Foster goes through an opening off a sneak during his club’s home playoff conquest last Friday against Burlington Williams.

Southern Nash’s Clinton Whitaker (left) comes up with a tackle for the Firebirds during their playoff decision over Burlington Williams last Friday.

The Spring Hope Team, representing the Nash County Parks and Recreation Department, won the 13-17 Division in the Wilson County Fall Youth Soccer League.

The Spring Hope Tigers won the 8-9 Tournament to cap off a successful undefeated season in the Nash County Parks and Recreation Department Fall Youth Soccer League.

Southern Nash running back Zimonia Knight (left) follows his blockers during last Friday night’s football playoff victory.