skip navigation

Game of the Week: Africentric Looks for First League Title

By Danny Fogarty, 10/20/21, 6:00AM EDT

Share

photo credit: Kyle Robertson, Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With the final week approaching, the City- South league title still hangs in the balance.

But Thursday night at 7 p.m. all will be decided as Africentric (6-1, 4-1 City-South) takes on Eastmoor Academy (4-2, 3-0 City-South).

A win would give the Nubians their first league title ever.

Africentric coach Jemel Davis said that although the stakes are high for this title game, his team will still keep their same strategy Thursday night.

"We definitely made aware that it was the championship game," Davis said. "We let them know that but we still keeping it what we do, we still do what we do."

Although Thursday's game is listed as a home game for Eastmoor, the Warriors have actually been playing their home games at Africentric this year essentially giving the Nubians home-field advantage.

This is good for Africentric as they are undefeated at home this year and have performed at a higher level in their own stadium.

This year the Nubians have had their first sold-out crowds, their first time being first place in the league, and culminating in their best regular season record coming into Thursday.

Davis, who is in his first year as head coach at Africentric, is enjoying all of the success his team has had this year especially considering the lack of success they had before last season.

"Before the season, they were tied for the worst team in Columbus City League," Davis said. "We keep having a lot of firsts, and they're excited to be that class to do it."


Eastmoor Academy senior receiver Diamonte Salley gets set during a preseason game this year.

Eastmoor is the defending champion of the City-South and will hope to retain this title against Africentric.

The Warriors may have not have as good a record as the Nubians, but they come into Thursday off a two-game winning streak while Africentric comes off a 42-6 loss to Africentric last week.

Davis said that his strategy will be to have his players win the line of scrimmage and ensure that his best players, such as junior running back Antonie Moss, get the ball.

"We're going to continue with the same thing that we've been doing thus far," Davis said. "It's our job to win the battle up front and get the ball in the playmakers' hands."

Thursday night there will be a lot on the line for both teams.

For Africentric, it is their first league title, and for Eastmoor, there is a chance at back-to-back City-South championships.

All will be decided this Thursday night at Africentric at 7 p.m.

Davis said that his team has a good chance to win the game and the title, and he does not look to change his strategy against the Warriors.

"If we do things right, and we could win," Davis said. "And we don't change it for the opponent we're playing or anything like that."

The Registration "" is not currently available.