How Weddington’s defense willed the Warriors to a win over Independence
The offense was sputtering Friday night, so Weddington relied on its defense.
The Warriors picked off three Independence passes and shut down running back Jayden Jones in logging a 21-6 win in the teams’ NCHSAA West region semifinal.
Weddington (12-1), the West’s second seed, will travel to top-seeded Grimsley (13-0) next Friday in the West final. The winner will play in the 7A state championship game in two weeks.
It will be the fourth straight year that Weddington and Grimsley meet in the playoffs. The Whirlies beat Weddington, 35-23, last year in the 4A West final and went on to win the state championship a week later. The N.C. High School Athletic Association’s classification expansion has left the Warriors and Whirlies in the 7A class.
Despite the interceptions, the lack of a successful running game, and some costly penalties, Independence (10-3) was very much in the game until the closing minutes.
The Patriots, scoring on a pair of Jackson Finney field goals, were down 14-6 when they took possession at their 3 after a Weddington punt with 3:10 remaining.
The Warriors’ defense hounded Independence quarterback Jared Street mercilessly on that final possession. Street completed a 13-yard pass to Ricky Myers Jr.., but he was chased on five other passing attempts. Four of those fell incomplete, with Weddington’s Brennan Schauer batting down one of the throws.
Finally, on fourth down, Street was sacked by Aiden Harris. Moments later, Brody Anson ran 2 yards for Weddington’s clinching touchdown.
Earlier in the game, Weddington’s T.J. Davis picked off two passes, and Brayden Briles had an interception.
Independence’s defense gave a good accounting of itself too. The Patriots had two interceptions and recovered a Weddington fumble. They held Warriors’ quarterback Walker Powell to 102 passing yards.
One big difference was in the running game.
Weddington gave the ball to Brody Anson much of the night. Anson responded with 147 yards on 30 carries.
Meanwhile, the Patriots’ Jones, who had rushed for 1,122 yards this season, was held to 27 yards on 10 carries. Outside of one long run in the first quarter, he was surrounded by Weddington defenders each time he got the ball. The Patriots ran Jones only twice in the second half.
The Warriors’ offense came alive long enough to score midway in the second quarter, on a Powell pass to Jon Manley, and on a 36-yard run late in the second quarter by Kelson Tate.
Independence 0 3 3 0 — 6
Weddington 0 7 7 7 — 21
W — Jon Manley 24 pass from Walker Powell (Owen McNulty kick)
I — FG Jackson Finney 26
W — Kelson Tate 35 run (McNulty kick)
I — FG Finney 43
W — Brody Austin 2 run (McNulty kick)
This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 9:27 PM.