This Week in History: Sept. 14-20th

This Week in History: Wayne County

Neuse News Sports · Week of Sept. 14–20, 2026

Wayne County’s football schedule brings familiar opponents back together this week. C.B. Aycock hosts Hunt, Goldsboro hosts Rosewood, Eastern Wayne welcomes North Johnston, and Southern Wayne faces Southern Nash.

Those matchups also give us a reason to revisit September games that left their mark on the county’s football history.

Aycock and Hunt: Four meetings, four different endings

The last four September meetings between C.B. Aycock and Hunt produced two wins apiece, with the scores showing just how much the series has changed from year to year.

Aycock won a defensive battle 10–7 on Sept. 16, 2022, improving to 4–0. Hunt answered with a 35–7 victory on Sept. 15, 2023.

The Falcons took their turn in 2024. On Sept. 20 at Hardy Talton Stadium, Aycock beat Hunt 54–14 and finished with a 608–129 advantage in total offense. Caleb Frederick rushed for 199 yards and three touchdowns.

Hunt responded on Sept. 19, 2025, winning the Big East opener 52–0.

This week, the teams meet again in Pikeville with another chapter to write.

County opponents meet again

Rosewood enters its matchup with Goldsboro a year removed from a 20–0 victory over the Cougars on Sept. 19, 2025. That result gave the Eagles their first win of the season, with a goal-line stand helping preserve the shutout.

Eastern Wayne also won on that date, defeating North Johnston 32–20. This week brings the Panthers back to Goldsboro.

Southern Wayne will look for a different outcome against Southern Nash. The Firebirds won last year’s meeting 56–6, forced six turnovers and led 35–0 after the opening quarter. That Sept. 19 game was the schools’ first meeting since 2006 and their first as 5A conference opponents.

Spring Creek’s triple-overtime comeback

On Sept. 16, 2022, Spring Creek turned a difficult first half into a memorable finish against Union in Rose Hill.

The Gators trailed 24–8 at halftime but recovered to force overtime with the score tied 30–30. Neither team could settle it in the first two extra periods.

Spring Creek finally prevailed 52–50, stopping Union’s two-point attempt in the third overtime.

Elsewhere that night, Eastern Wayne defeated Washington 21–6, while Southern Wayne fell to East Wake 23–6.

Seven years ago around Wayne County

Sept. 13, 2019, produced several notable county results.

C.B. Aycock defeated Goldsboro 21–14, ending a stretch without a win over the Cougars that dated to 2014.

Rosewood beat Pender 53–0 on the road. Will Harris completed all seven of his passes and threw three touchdowns.

Eastern Wayne lost an 8–6 defensive contest at Greene Central, while Spring Creek fell to Hobbton 59–27.

Two close games involving North Lenoir and a visit from Kinston also became part of that September’s record. These short excerpts preserve the wording of the original Neuse News coverage.

Southern Wayne falls 14–13 to North Lenoir

Game date: Sept. 13, 2019
Neuse News · By Junious Smith III · Published Sept. 14, 2019

“Southern Wayne’s ensuing onside kick was recovered and North Lenoir finished the game in victory formation.”

Read the original Neuse News report.

Eastern Wayne loses 21–20

Game date: Sept. 20, 2019
Neuse News · By Junious Smith III · Published Sept. 21, 2019

The original report described Justin Cobb’s decisive return:

“Cobb found a hole in the coverage and raced to the end zone for the 90-yard touchdown…”

Read the original Neuse News report.

Kinston defeats Southern Wayne 44–9

Game date: Sept. 20, 2019
Neuse News · Published Sept. 21, 2019

“Junior free safety Nicky Walters Jr. picked off two passes and the Vikings forced a total of five turnovers…”

Read the original Neuse News report.

Goldsboro and Southern Wayne through the years

Long before this week’s matchups, Goldsboro and Southern Wayne regularly met in the same September window.

• Sept. 16, 2005: Southern Wayne 43, Goldsboro 27

• Sept. 15, 2006: Southern Wayne 50, Goldsboro 20

• Sept. 14, 2007: Southern Wayne 40, Goldsboro 12

• Sept. 19, 2008: Goldsboro 20, Southern Wayne 6

• Sept. 16, 2011: Southern Wayne 41, Goldsboro 29

• Sept. 14, 2012: Goldsboro 37, Southern Wayne 14

From county rivalries to a triple-overtime comeback, this week’s history stretches across generations of Wayne County football. Friday’s games will add another set of results for future teams and fans to revisit.

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Email Destiny@magicmilemedia.com.