Pasquotank vs. Northeastern — Spooktacular Showdown
Written by Christian Bateman
Pasquotank County High School enters this week facing its inner-city rival, renewing the annual conference matchup against Northeastern High School. This year’s meeting will be hosted at Pasquotank and carries major implications under the Friday night lights.
The game—dubbed the “Spooktacular”—features hometown pride, friendships, rivalries, and a potential conference title on the line. If Pasquotank can upset the powerhouse Eagles, they could strip Northeastern of the Northeastern Coastal Conference crown.
A New Era of Panther Football
The Panthers enter Friday night with a milestone season—six regular-season wins, four at home and two on the road. It’s a mark the program hasn’t hit in quite some time. Pasquotank has shown real growth this year, staying competitive in nearly every game. They are just three scores away from sitting atop the conference after tight losses to both Currituck County and Martin County.
Eagles Aiming to Finish the Job
Northeastern enters the final week tied at the top of the standings, with Martin County and Currituck also in contention. The Eagles have been strong once again, and this matchup is being viewed as one of the most competitive meetings between these programs in years—with “the key to the city” on the line.
Following Friday’s rivalry, both teams will await NCHSAA 3A playoff brackets on Sunday to learn their postseason destinations.
Key Players to Watch
Pasquotank Panthers
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RB Jayon Harris (Sr.) – 67 carries, 704 yards, 12 touchdowns; the offense will lean heavily on him.
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QB (Jr.) – Has begun spreading the ball around, involving RB Tyshawn Spencer and the receiving corps.
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LB Dudley Bradshaw – A tackling machine, averaging 11 tackles per game.
Northeastern Eagles
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QB Zak Ishmael (Jr.) – Among the state’s top passers.
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WR Uzziah Harney – One of the top receivers in 3A football.
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DL Jermaine Dashiell & Mekkhei Williams – Dominant defensive duo combining for 14 sacks this season.
Postseason Outlook
Playoff action begins next Friday. Current projections have:
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Pasquotank likely hosting South Lenoir in the first round—something the Panthers haven't done since the 2010–11 season.
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Northeastern potentially earning a first-round bye, a familiar position for the Eagles under head coach Antonio Moore.
The NCHSAA playoffs run from early November through mid-December, with neither program yet claiming a state championship—adding extra hunger to this postseason push.
A Rivalry With History
This matchup marks nearly two decades of dominance by Northeastern over Pasquotank. The Panthers’ last win in the series came back in 2007, when they defeated the Eagles 39–33 at home. Under head coach Marcus White, Pasquotank has made undeniable progress, pushing conference contenders like Currituck, Martin County, and Hertford County to the wire.
White will have his Panthers ready on senior night—but Northeastern has survived several high-scoring road battles this season and will be determined to avoid another stumble like their loss to Currituck.
Will Northeastern secure a 20th straight win in the rivalry, or will Pasquotank break the streak on Friday night?