One of the many interesting things about this job is the postgame of an in-county matchup between two of our five high schools, in football and in other sports — particularly after a close game.

It is incredible to experience the juxtaposition of human emotions, talking to the coach or players from one team who are giddy with joy after a thrilling victory, then walking a few feet to the other postgame huddle to, just seconds later, talk with the side that’s experiencing the agony of defeat.

COVID-19 has robbed Robeson County of the chance at in-county matchups on the gridiron three times this season — the Lumberton at Fairmont, Purnell Swett at St. Pauls and Fairmont at Purnell Swett games were each canceled due to one of the teams being in quarantine due to virus protocols.

Finally on Friday night — knock on wood — a matchup of two Robeson County schools will take place when Red Springs hosts Fairmont.

Regardless of the outcome — and considering the excitable personalities of both coaches and the youthful exuberance of the players — I look forward to the postgame chat with the enthusiastic victors. And then that walk to a more somber bunch.

Last week (Tuesday): 2-1

Season: 17-6

Fairmont at Red Springs

Things aren’t going well for Red Springs, coming off a 23-point home loss to West Bladen Tuesday. To make matters worse, while the Red Devils lost to the two Bladen schools Friday and Tuesday, Fairmont was on a bye week, able to rest after its first six games and spend a whole two weeks preparing for the Red Devils.

While they haven’t played in 14 days that doesn’t mean the Golden Tornadoes don’t have any momentum. After playing one of the state’s toughest 2A schedules they finally earned their first win on Oct. 1 with a 20-8 triumph over East Bladen.

I would have never imagined this prediction before the season, with Fairmont transitioning to a new coach after a one-win season and Red Springs having won the conference title in 2019 and played for it in the spring. But these programs’ recent outings suggest the Golden Tornadoes could avenge February’s 41-0 defeat.

Fairmont 30, Red Springs 20

East Bladen at St. Pauls

After walking off the field Tuesday night as the victors in a 56-38 game against Clinton that gave them the Southeastern Athletic Conference lead, St. Pauls coach Mike Setzer reminded his team not to let the following game become a trap game.

East Bladen comes to St. Pauls after running for about 400 yards against Red Springs last Friday. The Bulldogs, of course, counter with the fact that one player, Kemarion Baldwin, ran for that many, and the team ran for 511, against a tougher opponent on Tuesday.

The last couple of seasons the Bulldogs have beaten the Eagles in the fourth quarter; before that East Bladen had won 10 out of 11 in the series. This Eagles team has hovered around .500 all season, while St. Pauls hasn’t lost a regular-season game in two years. It’s the end of a stretch of four games in 11 days for St. Pauls, but the well-conditioned team will take care of business.

St. Pauls 40, East Bladen 16

Douglas Byrd at Lumberton

Two winless teams will meet Friday at Alton G. Brooks Stadium. While these two programs aren’t exactly playing quality football this season, these kind of games often provide a unique level of intrigue as each team knows they’re playing a team that’s struggling just as much and plays that much harder trying to earn a streak-ending victory; losing streaks of 12 and 16 games are on the line.

Lumberton’s defense has shown flashes here and there, and wouldn’t have allowed as many big numbers if they weren’t always stuck in poor field position. The Eagles have allowed 44 points or more in six straight games, and the Pirates did show slightly more efficiency moving the ball last week.

This is a game the Pirates should be able to earn coach Adam Deese’s first win.

Lumberton 26, Douglas Byrd 12

Purnell Swett at Seventy-First

Purnell Swett hasn’t scored an offensive touchdown in three games after having to wait until Oct. 2 to start its season due to COVID-19 protocols. Now they’ll face the toughest of their four opponents so far.

Seventy-First enters coming off a 33-7 win over South View Tuesday that not only moved the Falcons to first place in the United-8 Conference but made a statement in doing so.

With apologies to Ram Nation, there’s just not been any sign from either team so far this season that this could be a competitive game.

Seventy-First 41, Purnell Swett 6