New Bern will hit the road Friday night to take on a tough White Oak squad, as the Bears look to put an end to their three-game losing streak. At 3-3 on the season, New Bern is still searching for its first conference victory — and so is White Oak (4–2), setting up a high-stakes matchup between two teams hungry to get back on track.
The Bears are coming off a tough loss to Jacksonville, where they surrendered over 600 yards of total offense — much of it on the ground. That puts the spotlight squarely on junior defensive linemen Braylen Cooper and Carel Spencer, who will need to step up in a big way to slow down White Oak’s dangerous rushing attack.
The Vikings are led by senior running back Josh Smith, who’s averaging an impressive 134.2 rushing yards per game, along with junior Montez Jimenez, who’s not far behind at 116.8 yards per contest. If White Oak’s ground game gets going early, it could be a long night for New Bern’s defense.
On the offensive side, the Bears will look to get senior quarterback Terrance “Pop” McCormick and senior wide receiver Kaishawn Taylor back in sync after a few quiet outings. Junior running back Karvin “Duke” Magwood, who started the season strong, will also be a key piece if New Bern hopes to find balance and regain momentum.
Both teams enter Friday night’s matchup winless in conference play, making this a crucial turning point in their seasons. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM at White Oak