We all remember sitting in math class and learning what common denominators were.
You probably wondered at some point the importance of common denominators.
The Roanoke Rapids Football team will have to take a crash course this week on common denominators in order to solve the problem with East Duplin.
The common denominator is defined as a trait, characteristic, belief, or the like common to or shared by all members of a group.
The Roanoke Rapids Yellow Jacket (11-1) varsity football team will travel to the home of the East Duplin Panthers (11-1).
The first common denominator is obvious with matching records at 11-1. The Jackets finished the regular season 4-1 at home where the Panthers finished 6-1.
The Jackets offense has scored 435 points and the Panthers have put up a strong 528 points.
Jacket running back Da’raj Watson is averaging 119.8 a game The Panthers are averaging 121.6 yards rushing per game.
The Yellow Jackets quarterback Cameron Rogerson is averaging 85.7 yards passing and Panther quarterback Cameron Hall is averaging 46.6 yards per game.
On the defensive side of the ball the Jacket Marcus Allen continues to average 8.6 tackles per game and the Panther Tony McKinzie is averaging 8.8 tackles.
The numbers tell us that both teams have played very good football. The Jacket defense has allowed 188 points where the Panthers have only allowed 72.
The Jacket coaching staff will have to watch film and really prepare for a fast East Duplin team that plays very good defense.
The first thing that might come to mind is who beat East Duplin. Let’s go back to early fall and look where Wallace-Rose Hill defeated East Duplin 17-7. It was a defensive battle with Wallace-Rose Hill having 275 yards total offense with nearly half of that coming on two pass plays.
The teams combined to make 18 stops for negative yards and 11 more tackles for no gain. The Wallace-Rose Hill victory shows us that East Duplin can be beat.
The common denominator between the Jackets and Wallace-Rose Hill is the fact that both quarterbacks have the ability to pass.
Passing may be the key to beating a tough Panther defensive line. The Panthers have size and speed and could be problematic for the Jackets.
The Jackets share many common denominators with East Duplin. The Jackets are fast and have great team speed. The Jacket linebacker core is one of the best in the state.
East Duplin, Wallace-Rose Hill and Roanoke Rapids are all 11-1 for a reason.
If the Jackets keep the score close they could very well advance to round three.
The one common denominator that both teams have clearly demonstrated is a passion to win.
Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Jacket fans can also tune in to WPTM FM 102.3