By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Given the infancy of Southeast Alamance’s existence, the second-year school has formed an interesting rivalry with Cummings.
The teams meet for the Mid-Carolina Conference football championship Friday night in the regular-season finale. It’s a winner-take-all situation.
“Here we are,” Cummings coach David Grimm said. “That’s why we play.”
Southeast (9-0 overall, 7-0 Mid-Carolina Conference) will be the visiting team. Cummings (8-1, 7-0) has won seven consecutive games.
“I wasn’t sure we’d get there (unbeaten in league play),” Grimm said. “I was pretty sure Southeast would. We’ve really got our hands full. It’s sort of a rivalry that started.”
Last year, Cummings topped the Stallions in the regular season only to fall to Southeast two weeks later in the second round of the Class 2-A state playoffs.
“They’ll be motivated because we beat them,” Southeast coach Tony Aguilar said.
It could be the final football meeting between the schools. New conference alignments will be in place for next school year, with Cummings’ dropping enrollment and Southeast now having four full high school classes meaning the schools likely no longer will be in the same conference.
But there’s lots at stake this week.
Cummings had a more difficult recent schedule, playing third-place Northwood and fourth-place North Moore across the past two weeks.
“I feel that we’ve been battle tested,” Grimm said. “I’m glad that we don’t have a whole lot of injuries.”
The Cavaliers expect to have Jah Thompson, the team’s second-leading receiver, in action after missing last week’s game with a hamstring ailment.
Southeast receiver Cardell West is out with a broken hand. Aguilar said it’s hoped he’s back for the postseason.
Cummings has a different dynamic than a season ago, when record-setting Jonathan Paylor was featured on offense and defense. This year, Jaidyn Briskey (1,173) and Devin Witherspoon (1,007) have eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
“A little harder to defend because not focused on the one guy,” Aguilar said.
Southeast has allowed a total of 19 points in seven conference games.
Briskey’s 22 touchdowns and Witherspoon’s 16 touchdowns account for more than 65 percent of Cummings’ touchdown totals.
Southeast spreads it out more. Twelve Stallions have scored multiple touchdowns, led by D.J. Callis with 12 and Bubba Sims and Daniel Bunker with eight apiece.
