The North Moore football team’s last chance to break its losing skid until the 2013 season comes tonight when it entertains one of its closest and oldest Yadkin Valley Conference foes, Chatham Central, in the Mustangs’ homecoming game.

The Mustangs’ last victory on the field came against the Bears in the final game of the 2009 season by a 22-13 score at Bear Creek. Chatham Central won last year’s meeting 26-0 on the Bears’ home field.

Chatham Central invades Robbins with a 3-7 overall mark and 1-5 in league action. It appears the Bears have wrapped up a state playoff berth, and a win over the Mustangs would greatly improve their overall seeding in the 1-A playoff field.

The Bears have scored 122 points in conference games, with many of those points coming after the games were decided. Their lone conference win was a 40-14 win at South Davidson three weeks ago. Chatham Central lost at East Montgomery last week by a 28-9 score. The Bears have given up 213 points in conference contest or an average of 35.5 points a game.

The Mustangs come into the contest coming off a 56-0 loss to conference leader Albemarle.

North Moore will have to find a way to stop the junior trio of quarterback Chase Fuquay and running backs Zach Burke and LaQuinn Mordecai. Both running backs are capable of making the big plays, especially Mordecai, who sometimes lines up at the quarterback position in a wildcat formation.

Fuquay is a good passer with some good targets in senior Victor Stinson and juniors Jeremy Kerr and Andrew Jurdan. Their offensive line is anchored by juniors Banks Burke, Zack Pegram and Kevin Shamberger.

The Mustang defenders are led by senior linebacker Kyle Kidd, senior safety Landon Auman and senior lineman Ethan Sessoms, and will be counted on to contain the Bears’ explosive playmakers.

The Bears’ defensive line is led by Banks Burke while Mordecai, Brendan Robinson, Cole Garner and Radley Headen bring good support to the defense.

In the past two games, the Mustangs have been able to move the ball through the air with senior quarterback Xavier Richardson and sophomore Kirby Lambert splitting time at the position.

Auman has been on fire catching the ball the past two weeks, having eight receptions for 249 yards against two of the top teams in the league standings, Albemarle and South Stanly. Against South Stanly, he had a 79-yard touchdown reception from Richardson. Other receivers that have been able to get open are Cody Vaughn, Kidd and Ethan Morrison.

The Mustangs will probably use their air game to open their running game with Kidd, Auman, Morrison and Richardson getting most of the touches.

In order for the Mustangs to win, they will have to take care of the ball and find a way into the end zone when they’re in the red zone. They have struggled when they get close to the goal line. If they can stop the big plays, they have a good shot of ending the regular season on a high note.

The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m.