Here’s your preview and primer for tonight’s NCHSAA state quarterfinal playoff football
Prep football preview, schedule
(Observer’s Sweet 16 rankings are included)
Mecklenburg County
No. 2 Chambers (12-1) at No. 4 Weddington (12-1), 4A quarterfinals, 7 p.m. – Defending 4AA state champion Chambers used its shut-down defense in the second half last week to power past Porter Ridge. The Cougars also got another 100-yard-plus rushing game from RB Daylan Smothers. Weddington has morphed from a defensive power early in the season to a team with a strong ground game, capable of scoring plenty of points. The Warriors, with about 700 fewer students than Chambers, have moved up from the 3A ranks successfully so far. But this will be Weddington’s toughest test of the season.
East Forsyth (11-1) at No. 1 Hough (13-0), 4A quarterfinals, 7:30 p.m. – The visiting Eagles have outscored their three playoff opponents by a combined score of 80-0. East Forsyth’s offense is generating an average of more than 410 yards per game. Junior WR Que’sean Brown has 40 receptions and 10 touchdown catches this season. On defense, LB Nick Martin has 21 sacks and DB William Montgomery has six interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Hough offensive line will need to give QB Tad Hudson plenty of protection. Hudson was bothered by Mallard Creek’s defense last week, completing only 37 percent of his passes and throwing two interceptions. The Huskies’ ground game, which has been erratic in recent weeks, will need a big night too.
Outside Mecklenburg
Dudley (12-1) at No. 6 Statesville (12-0), 3A quarterfinals, 7:30 p.m. – The visiting Panthers are probably the toughest team Statesville will have faced so far this season. RB’s Mehki Wall and Michael Shaw are explosive, big-play runners for Dudley. Statesville counters with a pair of quick RBs, in J.T. Harrison-Connor and Zamari Stevenson. Each of them is nearing 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
No. 3 Maiden (13-0) at East Surry (12-0), 2A quarterfinals, 7:30 p.m. – The visiting Blue Devils are coming off an impressive 32-20 victory over defending 2AA state champion Salisbury. Maiden is averaging about 400 yards a game total offense in the playoffs. East Surry’s explosive passing game was shut down by Monroe last week, so the Cardinals pounded out a 10-9 victory by rushing for 200 yards. Junior QB Folger Boaz has thrown for more than 3,000 yards this season.
Reidsville (12-0) at No. 5 Shelby (12-1), 2A quarterfinals, 7:30 p.m. – Reidsville’s football program is the standard by which 2A schools in the state measure themselves. The Rams have reached the state finals 11 times, winning nine championships. Their closest game this season was last week’s 50-35 victory over Hendersonville, and the Rams have easily handled a couple 4A opponents this season. Shelby is forcing opponents into an average of two turnovers a game, and the Golden Lion defense will need to make Reidsville’s offense slip up a few times in this game.
No. 9 South Point (10-3) at No. 7 Crest (10-2), 3A quarterfinals, 7:30 p.m. – Most fans probably would be happy with a repeat of these teams’ Oct. 1 meeting, which Crest won 27-26 with a big rally. Crest RB Mari Adams rushed for 189 yards and scored the winning touchdown in that game. South Point RB A.J. Riley carried for 235 yards. The winner faces the Dudley-Statesville winner next week in the 3A West finals.
-- Steve Lyttle
This week’s schedule
(all kickoffs at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted)
NCHSAA Playoffs
Friday’s quarterfinals
Class 4A
West
East Forsyth (11-1) at Hough (13-0)
Chambers (12-1) at Weddington (12-1), 7
East
Rolesville (8-5) at Leesville Road (10-2)
Panther Creek (10-3) at Cardinal Gibbons (11-2), noon
Class 3A
West
South Point (10-3) at Crest (10-2)
Dudley (12-1) at Statesville (12-0)
East
Jacksonville (10-2) at Eastern Alamance (10-1)
Scotland County (8-4) at J.H. Rose (9-4)
Class 2A
West
Reidsville (12-0) at Shelby (12-1)
Maiden (13-0) at East Surry (12-0)
East
St. Pauls (11-0) at Princeton (12-0)
Wallace-Rose Hill (11-2) at Northeastern (12-0)
Class 1A
West
Murphy (9-4) at Robbinsville (9-3)
Mitchell County (11-2) at Mount Airy (13-0)
East
Northampton County (10-2) at Tarboro (11-1)
Pender County (9-3) at Pinetown Northside (11-1)