Friday is Round 2 of the NC high school football playoffs. Here are previews, schedule
(Observer’s Sweet 16 rankings are included)
Mecklenburg County
No. 2 Chambers (10-1) at No. 8 Hickory Ridge (9-2), 4A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – It’s a repeat of possibly the Charlotte area’s best game of the regular season, which Chambers won 34-27 on Sept. 10. Chambers RB Daylan Smothers carried 28 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns against Hickory Ridge. Ragin’ Bulls’ QB Alex Bentley has passed for 2,203 yards and 25 touchdowns this season.
Charlotte Christian (5-5) at Providence Day (6-3), NCISAA Division 1 semifinal, 7 p.m. – Providence Day has surged over the past six weeks, going 5-0. One of those victories, on Oct. 15, was a 48-47 overtime decision over Charlotte Christian. The Chargers’ defense sparkled in its last game, two weeks ago against Charlotte Latin, holding the Hawks to seven points. Charlotte Christian QB Cameron Estep is coming off arguably his best game of the season – a 216-yard, three-touchdown outing last week against Christ School.
Charlotte Country Day (2-8) at Harrells Christian (10-1), NCISAA Division 2 semifinal, 7 p.m. – The host Crusaders have run the ball 396 times and passed only 36 this season. RB Devin Gardner has rushed for 1,957 yards and 27 touchdowns. But Buccaneer fans can take solace in this: The Bucs are 0-8 against opponents from Charlotte and points west, but 2-0 against teams from Eastern North Carolina. The Bucs forced a fumble and picked off two passes last week against North Raleigh Christian.
Charlotte Latin (8-2) at Rabun Gap (7-2), NCISAA Division 1 semifinal, 7 p.m. – Rabun Gap hammered the Hawks 38-3 on Oct. 15, scoring 35 straight points during one stretch. The host Eagles average nearly 250 rushing yards a game. Charlotte Latin WR Daniel Haughton has 64 receptions for 933 yards this season.
East Forsyth (9-1) at No. 10 Ardrey Kell (8-2), 4A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – Ardrey Kell’s defense has allowed only five touchdowns in the last four games. That unit will get a strong test from the visiting Eagles, who are averaging 49 points a game. Junior QB Jaylen Alexander-Rayner has passed for 1,891 yards and 17 touchdowns, and he’s run for 749 yards and 11 more touchdowns, with three 100-yard rushing games.
Kings Mountain (9-2) at No. 14 West Charlotte (7-3), 3A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – The host Lions have a deceptively explosive offense behind QB Josh Mahatha. Standing in the way of the offense is a tough Kings Mountain defense, led by junior CB Jake Lloyd. Check out these season statistics for Lloyd: 80 solo tackles, one interception, and three blocked punts.
Mallard Creek (5-4) at Asheville (9-2), 4A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – The Mavericks were superb last Friday in their 29-8 victory at Butler, but they’ve battled inconsistency this season. Asheville’s junior QB, Khalil Conley, has passed for 1,464 yards and 22 touchdowns and run for 550 yards and eight more touchdowns.
No. 9 Myers Park (8-3) at Glenn (8-2), 4A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – Myers Park QB Lucas Lenhoff shook off a short slump last week by completing 20-of-26 passes for 417 yards and five touchdowns against Mooresville. Glenn has a balanced offense, averaging 140 passing and 175 rushing yards per game. Junior WR James Smith has 40 receptions and 12 touchdowns.
No. 6 South Mecklenburg (9-2) at No. 1 Hough (11-0), 4A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – The Sabres have survived a series of close calls in recent weeks, while Hough has played only one tight game all season. South Meck might want to turn this into a low-scoring defensive struggle. This game features several outstanding linebackers – South Mecklenburg’s Matthew Reddick; and Hough’s Mike Pepe and Caden Ryan (five sacks this season).
Outside Mecklenburg
Burns (8-3) at Hendersonville (9-1), 2A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – This is a classic contrast of styles. Burns has one of the area’s best defenses, allowing an average of 13 points a game against a very strong schedule. Junior Cahari Haynes has 93 tackles (17 for loss), six sacks, two interceptions and three blocked field goals. Hendersonville counters with an explosive offense that has produced 520 points this season. Senior QB Gavin Gosnell has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards, and freshman RB Hezzle Rudisill is nearing the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
Bunker Hill (10-1) at No. 7 Salisbury (10-0), 2A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – The visiting Bears have lost only to Maiden this season. QB Carson Elder has passed for 1,495 yards, and RB Chadz Stevenson has 843 rushing yards. But Salisbury, the defending state champion, has been playing on another level. The Hornets are averaging 56.7 points on offense and only 3.3 on defense.
Cabarrus Warriors (8-2) at Metrolina Christian (10-1), NCISAA Division 2 semifinal, 7 p.m. – These teams produced a classic on Oct. 22, with Metrolina Christian winning 42-38. The Warriors’ sophomore QB, Tyler Green, passed for 295 yards and four touchdowns in that game. But Metrolina Christian junior QB Reid Eighmy threw for 418 yards and five touchdowns.
Chase (10-1) at Reidsville (10-0), 2A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – Three-time defending state champion Reidsville is 72-2 over the last five seasons under coach James Teague and has outscored opponents 455-95 this season. This week, that powerful defense must stop Chase junior RB Marqies McCombs, who has rushed for 2,662 yards and 36 touchdowns this season. McCombs leads the state in rushing yardage.
Jay M. Robinson (10-1) at No. 16 Monroe (7-1), 2A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – QB Khamoni Robinson leads the Monroe attack, with 1,475 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. He’s going up against a tough Bulldog defense, featuring Joshua Porch (five interceptions) and Caleb Johnson (four picks).
No. 15 Marvin Ridge (8-2) at No. 5 Weddington (10-1), 4A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – Here’s another rematch, this one of a regular-season finale that Weddington won 23-18. The Warriors led 16-0 midway in the fourth quarter, before Marvin Ridge QB Evan Medders threw two touchdown bombs to Luke Raykowicz.
East Lincoln (8-3) at No. 12 Statesville (10-0), 3A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – The visiting Mustangs are led by junior QB Tyler Mizzell, who has passed for 1,435 yards and 19 touchdowns. Statesville has been a dynamo this season, averaging 40 points on offense and nine on defense. The Greyhounds’ offense is balanced, gaining 1,600 passing yards and 1,700 on the ground.
Forest Hills (7-4) at East Gaston (7-4), 2A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – The host Warriors love a high-scoring game. The average score of their games this season is 39-28. They have two 1,000-yard rushers, and Justin Hill has nearly 2,000 yards on the ground. Forest Hills has a team total of 1,418 rushing yards, but the Yellow Jackets have thrived by taking advantage of opponents’ errors.
South Point (8-3) at Pisgah (10-1), 3A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – The host Bears are 10-0 against N.C. competition, losing only to a Tennessee team. They prefer low-scoring games and ball-control offense. South Point runs the ball nearly 95 percent of the time, and senior RB A.J. Riley has gained 2,054 yards with nine 100-yard games and 28 touchdowns.
West Lincoln (9-2) at No. 11 Maiden (11-0), 2A playoffs, 7:30 p.m. – And here’s another regular-season rematch. Maiden won 20-14 on Sept. 24, with QB Ethan Rhodes passing for a touchdown and running for another. West Lincoln had two 100-yard rushers in that game.
-- Steve Lyttle
This week’s schedule
(all kickoffs at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted)
NCHSAA Playoffs
Class 4A
Friday’s second round
West
South Mecklenburg (9-2) at Hough (11-0)
Mallard Creek (5-4) at Asheville (9-2)
Myers Park (8-3) at Glenn (7-3)
East Forsyth (9-1) at Ardrey Kell (8-2)
Marvin Ridge (8-2) at Weddington (10-1)
Cuthbertson (5-6) at Lake Norman (8-3)
Chambers (10-1) at Hickory Ridge (9-2)
Porter Ridge (7-2) at Grimsley (11-0)
East
Leesville Road (8-2) at Richmond Senior (10-1)
Knightdale (5-5) at Pine Forest (10-1)
Millbrook (10-1) at Hillside (8-2)
Rolesville (6-5) at New Bern (10-1)
Laney (9-2) at Cleveland (10-0)
Heritage (10-1) at Cardinal Gibbons (9-2)
South View (9-2) at Hoggard (10-1)
Panther Creek (8-3) at Wake Forest (8-3)
Class 3A
Friday’s second round
West
South Point (8-3) at Pisgah (10-1)
Forestview (6-5) at Parkwood (6-2)
Hickory (7-4) at North Davidson (7-3)
West Rowan (7-3) at Crest (8-2)
Ledford (8-3) at Dudley (10-1)
Kings Mountain (9-2) at West Charlotte (7-3)
Concord (7-3) at Hibriten (7-3)
East Lincoln (8-3) at Statesville (10-0)
East
Havelock (7-3) at Eastern Alamance (8-1)
North Brunswick (7-4) at Westover (9-1)
Southern Nash (9-1) at Lee County (8-3)
Jacksonville (8-2) at Hunt (9-2)
Williams (7-4) at Seventy-First (11-0)
Terry Sanford (7-3) at J.H. Rose (7-4)
Scotland County (6-4) at West Carteret (8-3)
Smithfield-Selma (8-3) at Northern Nash (10-1)
Class 2A
Thursday’s second round
East
Northeastern 50, J.A. Holmes 0
Friday’s second round
West
Polk County (7-3) at Shelby (10-1)
Forest Hills (7-4) at East Gaston (7-4)
Burns (8-3) at Hendersonville (9-1)
Chase (10-1) at Reidsville (10-0)
West Lincoln (9-2) at Maiden (11-0)
Bunker Hill (10-1) at Salisbury (10-0)
Jay M. Robinson (10-1) at Monroe (7-1)
Forbush (8-3) at East Surry (10-0)
East
Kinston (8-3) at Princeton (10-0)
South Granville (5-6) at Nash Central (6-5)
Roanoke Rapids (7-4) at St. Pauls (9-0)
James Kenan (6-3) at Whiteville (10-0)
Washington (10-0) at Cummings (9-1-1)
Wallace-Rose Hill (9-2) at West Craven (6-3)
Clinton (8-2) at East Duplin (10-1)
Class 1A
Thursday’s second round
East
Pinetown Northside 69, Hobbton 20
Friday’s second round
West
Draughn (6-5) at Eastern Randolph (9-0)
Murphy (7-4) at Mountain Heritage (8-2)
North Rowan (7-3) at Thomas Jefferson Academy (7-3)
Cherokee (6-4) at Robbinsville (7-3)
Swain County (5-5) at Mitchell County (9-2)
South Stokes (7-4) at Thomasville (8-2)
Andrews (7-3) at Starmount (7-4)
East Wilkes (5-6) at Mount Airy (11-0)
East
Southeast Halifax (5-6) at Tarboro (9-1)
Martin Riverside (6-3) at Perquimans (7-2)
North Edgecombe (4-5) at Rosewood (5-2)
Warren County (4-6) at Northampton County (8-2)
Gates County (4-4) at North Moore (9-1)
West Columbus (5-5) at Pender County (7-3)
KIPP Pride (6-3) at Southside (10-1)
NCISAA Playoffs
Division 1
Friday’s semifinals
Charlotte Latin (8-2) at Rabun Gap (7-2)
Charlotte Christian (5-5) at Providence Day (6-3)
Nov. 19 finals
Semifinal winners play at higher seed
Division 2
Friday’s semifinals
Charlotte Country Day (2-8) at Harrells Christian (10-1)
Cabarrus Warriors (8-2) at Metrolina Christian (10-1)
Nov. 19 finals
Semifinal winners play at higher seed
8-man Division 1
Friday’s championship
Carry Christian (8-2) at John Paul II Catholic (9-2)
8-man Division 2
Last Saturday’s championship
Wayne Christian 28, Halifax Academy 8
This story was originally published November 11, 2021 at 10:19 AM.