A heat index that exceeded North Carolina High School Athletic Association guidelines shortened the Pinecrest football team’s practice time and ability to work out in pads and helmets on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Even after adding that limitation to concerns the coaches and players have about actions pending from the fighting incident in last week’s game against Union Pines, Patriot coach Chris Metzger indicated preparations have gone well for tonight’s home contest against Overhills.

The Patriots are 2-0 after the 69-14 victory over the Vikings.

Tonight’s kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. The Jaguars of the Cape Fear Valley 3A Conference opened the season with losses to West Johnston (6-27) and Lumberton (7-41). The Patriots were 42-18 winners in last year’s first-ever meeting between the teams.

Tyree Massey of Overhills rushed for 106 yards on 18 carries against a Lumberton squad that is ranked No. 16 by Carolina Preps this week. Parish Young had a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against West Johnston the week before.

The Jags allowed 281 yards ­rushing against Lumberton and now face a Patriot team that rolled up 453 yards on the ground against Union Pines. Quarterback Travis Scales and running backs Raphael Alston and Damion Pride each exceeded 100 yards rushing in the game.

Scales has thrown only nine passes in the first two games combined, completing four for 84 yards. An opportunistic Patriot defense has recorded a total of 12 turnovers.

Three Patriot players and three Vikings were ejected as a result of the flareup that happened at midfield after a second quarter kickoff in last week’s game.

In addition to the suspensions that followed from the final disposition of that situation, two starters will be on the sidelines because of injuries.

Offensive lineman Jerod McKenzie will miss his second game in a row. Safety Hunter Ocheltree had surgery on Wednesday to set a fractured finger and could be out for up to six weeks.

Contact Charlie Bergmann at cbergmann@ nc.rr.com.