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Mirror, mirror, on the wall

Who's Northwest Guilford, after all?

The team that started 4-1 and raised expectations

Or that's lost four straight and caused palpitations?

They start just four seniors, so their best's still ahead

Yet the last month has made many leave them for dead

Their defeats, though narrow, bring an unwanted bounty

A date with last year's playoff foe, reigning champ Richmond County

So do the Vikings have problems, or still room for growth?

Coach Joe Woodruff, sans rhyme, says a little of both:

"I remember talking to you after we were 3-0 and saying I was disappointed, and people looked at me like I was on drugs or something. 'How are you upset about 3-0?' Well, I said, we're not as good as that 3-0 record is. By the same token, when you lose to East Forsyth by four and High Point Central by one, and with Parkland you leave the game on the 4-yard line, and you lose to Glenn by one ... I'd also say we're not as bad as that looks.

"Last year we lost games by points (five by a touchdown or less). This year we're losing them by plays."

A few here or there, and this team could still challenge

Take down Richmond in time to catch Jimmy Fallon

The Vikes lost by 30 last year, a wound that's still pending

Revenge would be sweet -- a fairy tale ending

TRYING TO SAVE THE BEST: Eastern Guilford head coach Scott Loosemore is hoping there's still a mountain in front of his team.

Last year's Wildcats posted the first 7-0 start in school history, but that proved to be their crescendo as they lost emotionally to fellow unbeaten Reidsville and proceeded to go 0-for the rest of the season, quietly getting pummeled by Pittsboro Northwood in the playoff's first round.

This year's team has already seen a valley that low after struggling to an 0-5 start, but having won three of its last four to take fourth in the Mid-State 3-A and leap into the playoffs, Loosemore thinks Eastern (4-7) has at least one thing on its side as it tries to upset top-seeded South Johnston (10-1) in the 3-AA East bracket: A little momentum heading into the postseason.

"We talked about it last year with the rising seniors, we said we need to be playing our best football at the end season, not the beginning," Loosemore said. "I think we actually are playing the best we have all year right now, and hopefully we can roll that in."

SIMS MAKING NOISE AT SMITH: Rodney Brewington could hardly hear himself yell. His Smith defense had just forced a turnover on downs at its own 1 against Southern Alamance last Friday, and even the crowd's lingering roar was drowned out by N.C. A&T's boisterous marching band, which was on hand for the Golden Eagles' Senior Night. Brewington was furiously trying to get his personnel in order and signal in a play that would keep the Golden Eagles from giving their momentum back on a safety.

From amongst the chaos, Jeff Sims seized order.

Sims, making just his second start at quarterback for the Golden Eagles, signaled to Brewington that he would sort things out. Calling the plays himself, Sims led Smith out of danger and on its way to an easy 48-16 victory.

"He called all the right ones," Brewington said as 15th-seeded Smith (5-6) prepares to face its rival to end all rivals, No. 2 Dudley (10-1), in the opening round of the 4-A West. "That was really impressive to us."

After studying from the sidelines for half the season, Sims is quickly rounding into form and is an intriguing X-factor as Smith tries to avenge a 22-0 loss at Dudley midway through the year. At 6-foot-5, Sims is not as mobile as his predecessor, Codie Davis, but he has better vision and more ability to get the ball down field. Davis, who has moved to wide receiver, was one of four receivers to catch scoring strikes on Friday from Sims, who went 11-of-16 for 267 yards and five touchdowns.

"Our offensive line gave him so much time to throw the ball, he was just so comfortable," Brewington said.

Equally important for Smith has been the return of senior running back Elijah Jordan, who missed three games with a sprained ankle. He came back to gain 98 yards against Page, 126 and two touchdowns against Grimsley and 216 on 25 carries last week.

"He's really the rock of our football team," Brewington said. "I can't say not having him full strength is the reason why we lost, but having him healthy helps us out. We are definitely a better ball club."

One of Jordan's absences came against Dudley, whose lead was just 8-0 late in the second quarter until Chris Simmons returned an interception 95 yards for a back-snapping touchdown.

"They're going to come at us hard again," Dudley safety David Amerson said. "We're definitely not taking them lightly."

Contact Tom Keller at 373-7034 or tom.keller@news-record.com