Hough beats West Charlotte, finally going to NC football state championship game

Hough, finally, is going to an NCHSAA state championship football game.

After playing dominating football for several years in the Charlotte area, but losing twice in the state semifinals, the Huskies’ defense made sure the third time was the charm in Friday’s 24-0 win over West Charlotte in the 8A West regional final.

By shutting down a Lions’ offense averaging more than 35 points per game while playing in the state’s toughest conference (Meck Power 6), Hough on Friday earned a state final date with East region champion Millbrook High School of Raleigh in two weeks; Millbrook won 14-7 at No. 1 East seed Hoggard of Wilmington.

“We’re part of history,” Hough head coach DeShawn Baker said. “We’re the Kings of the Queen City. Everybody was talking what they could do, but they haven’t seen a defense like ours. We came out and played our style of ball.

“My kids worked so hard to get to this point. From the offseason to practice to the games. It means everything.”

The teams will get a bye next week and play the state final the following week on a date and at a site yet to be determined.

West Charlotte (10-3) was trying to reach back-to-back state finals for the first time after winning the 3A title last season, before offseason restructuring thrust the Lions into the state’s largest classification.

Hough (13-0) dominated Friday’s game from the start.

On a night when the Lions couldn’t move the ball, West Charlotte gave Hough a short field early in the second quarter when a punt snap sailed over Donte Nicholson’s head.

Hough got the ball at the Lions 25.

After a 22-yard pass to Jamarion “Boogie” Morrison on third-and-8, Huskies QB Ethan Royal ran it in.

“I told my kids all week there was going to be a big play in the special teams game because I know they don’t work on special teams they way we work on special teams,” Baker said. “And we got a big play on special teams before our first touchdown - and we just got it rolling from there.”

In the third quarter, Hough expanded its lead on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jayden White from Royal and a 35-yard field goal from Piercon Selland. Morrison put the game on ice with 68-yard TD run with 7:33 left.

“Once they got the two-score lead, we were playing uphill,” West Charlotte coach Sam Greiner said. “They’re too good a football team, and they played championship football tonight.”

Three who made a difference

Hough pass rushers Charles Puckett and Ryan Peterson: The Huskies LBs combined for six sacks of West Charlotte’s usually elusive QB Jamouri Nichols — Puckett had four and Peterson two. That helped limit the Lions to 194 yards total offense on 122 rushing and 72 passing. Jamarion “Boogie” Morrison, Hough: The sophomore RB had 131 yards rushing and one TD on 12 carries and his 22-yard reception in the second quarter set up the game’s first TD. Ethan Royal, Hough: The junior QB directed a turnover-free 196-yard offense that included a TD run and a TD pass.

Notable

— This was the 21st all-Mecklenburg County regional final dating to 1965, with the previous matchup coming in 2021 when Chambers won, 35-21 at Hough before later forfeiting that victory. Hough is now 2-1 including that forfeit win, while West Charlotte fell to 2-2. Other records in all-Meck regional finales are Independence 5-1, Butler 3-3, Mallard Creek 2-1, Chambers 2-4, Catholic 1-0, Harding 1-1, South Mecklenburg 1-1, Myers Park 1-3, Olympic 0-0-1, East Mecklenburg 0-1 and Garinger 0-2-1.

— This was the 16th meeting between the schools that were league rivals until this season. West Charlotte won 34-7 at Hough in their first matchup in 2010 before Hough won the past 15, including Friday night. The shutout was the Huskies’ fourth of those 15 victories.

— Sophomore RB Jamil Watson led West Charlotte with 93 yards rushing in 15 carries.

They said it

“We’re not looking over anybody. We’re going to prepare the way we prepare and do what we’ve got to do. We’ve got some injuries and we’ll let them guys get some rest and focus on being the best version of us and what we did to get us here. We just have to be focused and rooted in what we do.” — Hough head coach DeShawn Baker on his approach to a 13-day layoff before playing in the 2025 8A state championship game.

SCORING SUMMARY

West Charlotte 0 0 0 0 — 0

Hough 0 7 10 7 — 24

Second quarter

H: Ethan Royal 1 run (Piercon Selland kick)

Third quarter

H: Jayden White 14 pass from Royal (Selland kick)

H: FG Selland 35

Fourth quarter

H: Jamarion Morrison 68 run (Selland kick)

This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 9:32 PM.