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The 2018 high school football season in Cumberland County is going to have a lot to do with that famous line from the movie Forrest Gump.
 
Life, and football, are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.
 
That’s especially true as local teams return to the field this week after the prolonged delay caused by Hurricane Florence, the slowest storm in history.
 
When it finally departed the state some days ago it left a ton of devastation and uprooted lives behind.
 
Now our local coaches are trying to restore some degree of order after schedules have been disrupted and in some cases players and their families forced to relocate because of storm-related damage.
 
Here’s hoping everyone can return to normal life as quickly as possible. The biggest problem for the coaches and the players will be getting back into football shape and sync after the long delay. Don’t be surprised if execution isn’t razor sharp and conditioning a little suspect in the early games on the revised schedule.
 
That said, here’s a look at the Tuesday games this week. I’ll hold off on picking the next round of makeup games until these contests have been played.
 
The record: 23-13
 
The week before the hurricane arrived I had a terrible record, 5-4, putting the season total at 28-13. We’ll see if I can improve on that debacle.
 
Cape Fear at Overhills - The folks at Overhills have been complaining about being ignored after a 3-0 start. Yes, the Jaguars are unbeaten, but they’ve failed to mention they have wins over three winless teams and Brian Simmons of simmonsratings.com ranks the Overhills schedule as the weakest among all 77 4-A teams in North Carolina.
I think the Jaguars are going to get a rude awakening against Cape Fear.
Cape Fear 28, Overhills 14.
 
Pine Forest at Douglas Byrd - The Trojans got a big win over a much-improved Gray’s Creek team and should continue their success against a Douglas Byrd squad still trying to put things together.
Pine Forest 30, Douglas Byrd 14.
 
E.E. Smith at Gray’s Creek - I look for the Bears to rebound against a Smith team that is still seeking its first win.
Gray’s Creek 22, E.E. Smith 12.
 
South View at Westover - The unbeaten Tigers should remain that way against a Westover team that is playing pretty well.
South View 32, Westover 8.