Hough stops Mallard Creek in third-round playoff, sets up showdown at Grimsley next week
Hough’s rematch with Mallard Creek followed virtually the same script as the regular-season meeting that determined the Queen City 3A/4A Conference title.
But it didn’t take long after Hough’s convincing 34-0 victory Friday night for talk to turn to another familiar opponent.
“We’re going to enjoy this moment and let the players enjoy this moment,” said Hough coach DeShawn Baker, whose 12-1 team will play at No. 1-seeded Greensboro Grimsley in next Friday’s Western 4A semifinals. “Then we’ll get on the film and see what we can do.”
Grimsley has ended the last two Hough seasons with high-scoring, heartbreaking home wins — 40-37 in triple overtime in the fourth round in 2022 and 42-35 in the third round last season.
The game will match two players who are among the 10 finalists for the state’s biggest high school football award, Mr. NC Football: Grimsley junior QB Faizon Brandon and Hough senior QB Trey Blakeney.
“We’re ready for the challenge,” Baker said. “And we’ll be ready.”
To get a third straight shot at Grimsley, Hough pretty much duplicated its regular-season effort against Mallard Creek.
In the 33-0 home victory Oct. 18, the Huskies outgained Mallard Creek 285 to 99 with 17 of the Mavericks’ 44 offensive plays going for losses.
On Friday, in a 34-0 home win, Hough outgained the Mavericks 351 to 98 and 10 of Mallard Creek’s 45 offensive plays went for losses.
The Huskies’ defense was most impressive in the middle of the third quarter at the end of a Mallard Creek drive from its own 33 to the Hough 3. But after picking up a yard on first down, the Huskies stopped the Mavericks for no gain on back-to-back plays and then senior defensive back Kar’Mel Quick sacked Mallard Creek quarterback Caleb Knight for a 13-yard loss on fourth down.
The defensive stand preserved a 21-0 lead and was the closest scoring threat in Hough’s seventh shutout in 13 games this season.
Three who made a difference
Trey Blakeney, Hough: He completed 13 of 23 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns and rushed six times for 29 yards.
Sean Brady, Hough: Caught eight passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Brady now has 16 TD receptions this season, which is a school record.
Jycen Anciso, Hough: Rushed 13 times for 62 yards and one touchdown.
Notable
Entering this season, Mecklenburg County teams have met twice in a season 82 times with 69.5 percent of the second (and postseason) matchups completing two-game sweeps.
Hough and Mallard Creek have now met twice in seven seasons — all since 2015. Hough’s Friday night victory completed its second sweep (the other in 2021), with Mallard Creek sweeping both games in 2016 and 2017 and the teams splitting the series in 2015, 2018 and 2022.
Mallard Creek has won won four straight games before losing Friday’s third round playoff game.
They said it
“I thought we were a little stagnant (offensively) in the first half but the defense really came through as they’ve done all season long.” — Hough coach DeShawn Baker
GAME SUMMARY
Mallard Creek 0 0 0 0 — 0
Hough 10 3 8 13 — 34
FIRST QUARTER
H: Kandler Happe 21 FG
H: Sean Brady 30 pass from Trey Blakeney (Happe kick)
SECOND QUARTER
H: Happe 32 FG
THIRD QUARTER
H: Brady 7 pass from Blakeney (Eddie Conover Jr. pass from Ethan Royal)
FOURTH QUARTER
H: Brady 61 pass from Blakeney (Happe kick)
H: Jycen Anciso 3 run (Kick failed)
This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 9:39 PM.
