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2018 Brackets Finalized

Join our Facebook discussion of the brackets






11/18/2018 - Lambert Out at Charlotte, Looking Ahead to This Week's Games


11/25/2018 - Who Will Replace Fedora, What are the Big Games This Week?


12/2/2018: App State Wins the Sun Belt, ECU Makes a Coaching Change, and It's Regional Finals Week


12/9/2018: A Look Back at the Regional Finals



2018 ADMs Released

Relive last year's state championships

The FAIR rankings are based on the following criteria.

Fresh start - All teams in a particular class start the season with identical ratings, or none at all.
All games weighted equally - There is no distinction made between conference and non-conference games, and a week one endowment game counts just as much as a week twelve contest.
Ignore non-NCHSAA games - Because the quality of opponents outside the NCHSAA can vary widely and can be difficult to judge, only NCHSAA games will be counted. Any contests against NCISAA or out-of-state opponents will be treated the same as an open date.
Reproducible - The formulas used should be transparent and simple enough that coaches and members of the media can verify the calculations for a particular team.

Congratulations to Wake Forest, Charlotte Catholic, Randleman, and Mount Airy for finishing #1 in their classifications.

Class 4A FAIR Rankings
#1 Wake Forest (10-0) 99.0/10 + 613.00/110 = 15.473
#2 Mallard Creek (10-0) 100.0/10 + 522.00/109 = 14.789
#3 Richmond (10-1) 100.0/11 + 601.50/117 = 14.232
#4 Vance (10-1) 99.0/11 + 561.00/118 = 13.754
#5 East Forsyth (11-0) 105.0/11 + 485.00/120 = 13.587
#6 Hoggard (9-0) 84.0/9 + 402.00/95 = 13.565
#7 Cardinal Gibbons (10-1) 98.0/11 + 544.50/120 = 13.447
#8 Butler (9-2) 90.0/11 + 555.00/116 = 12.966
#9 Myers Park (10-1) 100.0/11 + 456.00/119 = 12.923
#10 South Central (11-0) 95.0/11 + 464.00/117 = 12.602
#11 Leesville Road (9-2) 90.0/11 + 445.50/120 = 11.894
#12 Hough (9-2) 89.0/11 + 433.50/119 = 11.734
#13 West Forsyth (8-2) 79.0/10 + 407.00/110 = 11.600
#14 West Mecklenburg (8-2) 80.0/10 + 375.50/109 = 11.445
#15 Pine Forest (9-2) 84.0/11 + 456.00/120 = 11.436
#16 Mooresville (8-3) 77.0/11 + 530.00/120 = 11.417
#17 South View (9-2) 85.0/11 + 438.50/119 = 11.412
#18 Pinecrest (8-3) 79.0/11 + 479.00/117 = 11.276
#19 Heritage (8-3) 80.0/11 + 463.00/120 = 11.131
#20 Middle Creek (7-4) 70.0/11 + 489.00/117 = 10.543
#21 Holly Springs (7-4) 70.0/11 + 487.50/118 = 10.495
#22 Enloe (8-3) 78.0/11 + 363.50/117 = 10.198
#23 Porter Ridge (7-4) 68.0/11 + 459.00/119 = 10.039
#24 Seventy-First (8-3) 77.0/11 + 348.50/118 = 9.953
#25 Hillside (7-3) 66.0/10 + 349.00/106 = 9.892
#26 Riverside (7-3) 64.0/10 + 356.00/109 = 9.666
#27 Reagan (7-4) 65.0/11 + 427.00/120 = 9.467
#28 Rolesville (6-5) 58.0/11 + 501.50/120 = 9.452
#29 Fuquay-Varina (7-4) 67.0/11 + 359.00/119 = 9.108
#30 Garner (6-5) 59.0/11 + 433.00/120 = 8.972
#31 North Mecklenburg (6-5) 59.0/11 + 415.50/119 = 8.855
#32 Wakefield (5-6) 49.0/11 + 525.00/120 = 8.830
#33 Scotland (5-4) 50.0/9 + 312.00/97 = 8.772
#34 Grimsley (6-5) 58.0/11 + 417.00/121 = 8.719
#35 Ragsdale (7-4) 63.0/11 + 357.00/121 = 8.678
#36 Jack Britt (5-6) 49.0/11 + 481.50/116 = 8.605
#37 Panther Creek (6-5) 60.0/11 + 374.50/119 = 8.602
#38 Knightdale (6-5) 59.0/11 + 387.50/120 = 8.593
#39 Providence (6-5) 60.0/11 + 370.00/118 = 8.590
#40 Page (6-5) 58.0/11 + 394.00/121 = 8.529
#41 West Charlotte (6-5) 60.0/11 + 359.50/118 = 8.501
#42 Broughton (6-5) 60.0/11 + 345.50/120 = 8.334
#43 Jordan (5-6) 49.0/11 + 400.00/117 = 7.873
#44 Ardrey Kell (5-6) 50.0/11 + 361.50/117 = 7.635
#45 Hickory Ridge (5-6) 48.0/11 + 377.50/119 = 7.536
#46 Green Hope (5-6) 50.0/11 + 336.50/117 = 7.422
#47 Glenn (5-6) 45.0/11 + 393.00/120 = 7.366
#48 Independence (5-6) 50.0/11 + 312.50/118 = 7.194
#49 Laney (4-7) 37.0/11 + 405.50/109 = 7.084
#50 Rocky River (4-6) 39.0/10 + 350.00/110 = 7.082
#51 Sanderson (4-7) 40.0/11 + 404.50/120 = 7.007
#52 Northwest Guilford (4-7) 37.0/11 + 394.00/119 = 6.675
#53 Lake Norman (3-8) 28.0/11 + 481.50/119 = 6.592
#54 RJ Reynolds (5-6) 42.0/11 + 304.50/117 = 6.421
#55 Cary (4-7) 40.0/11 + 306.00/119 = 6.208
#56 Overhills (4-6) 36.0/10 + 268.00/108 = 6.081
#57 Garinger (3-8) 30.0/11 + 387.00/117 = 6.035
#58 Davie (3-8) 27.0/11 + 416.50/120 = 5.925
#59 Apex Friendship (3-8) 29.0/11 + 334.50/119 = 5.447
#60 Corinth Holders (3-8) 27.0/11 + 346.00/119 = 5.362
#61 Purnell Swett (3-8) 29.0/11 + 312.00/116 = 5.326
#62 Olympic (3-8) 30.0/11 + 298.00/119 = 5.231
#63 McDowell (4-7) 32.0/11 + 273.00/118 = 5.223
#64 South Mecklenburg (3-8) 26.0/11 + 318.00/115 = 5.129
#65 Lumberton (2-8) 19.0/10 + 341.50/106 = 5.122
#66 High Point Central (3-8) 25.0/11 + 337.50/120 = 5.085
#67 Ashley (3-7) 26.0/10 + 254.50/104 = 5.047
#68 Millbrook (2-9) 20.0/11 + 375.50/120 = 4.947
#69 South Caldwell (3-8) 25.0/11 + 317.50/121 = 4.897
#70 Harding (2-8) 20.0/10 + 275.50/108 = 4.551
#71 New Bern (2-9) 17.0/11 + 345.00/115 = 4.545
#72 Hoke (1-10) 10.0/11 + 334.00/118 = 3.740
#73 East Mecklenburg (1-9) 10.0/10 + 291.50/109 = 3.674
#74 Athens Drive (1-10) 9.0/11 + 302.50/120 = 3.339
#75 Hopewell (0-11) 0.0/11 + 350.50/120 = 2.921
#76 Southeast Raleigh (0-11) 0.0/11 + 310.50/120 = 2.588
#77 Apex (0-10) 0.0/10 + 272.50/110 = 2.477
#78 Berry (0-11) 0.0/11 + 242.50/116 = 2.091

Class 3A FAIR Rankings
#1 Charlotte Catholic (9-0) 83.0/9 + 409.00/98 = 13.396
#2 Hunter Huss (10-0) 88.0/10 + 491.00/108 = 13.346
#3 Havelock (10-0) 89.0/10 + 415.00/100 = 13.050
#4 Northwest Cabarrus (11-0) 95.0/11 + 523.00/119 = 13.031
#5 Rocky Mount (8-1) 71.0/9 + 449.00/92 = 12.769
#6 Southern Nash (9-0) 80.0/9 + 354.00/92 = 12.737
#7 Lee County (11-0) 101.0/11 + 402.00/114 = 12.708
#8 Northern Durham (10-1) 94.0/11 + 473.00/115 = 12.658
#9 Weddington (10-1) 93.0/11 + 478.50/117 = 12.544
#10 Cleveland (9-2) 85.0/11 + 556.50/121 = 12.326
#11 Watauga (11-0) 95.0/11 + 427.00/120 = 12.195
#12 Southeast Guilford (10-1) 90.0/11 + 456.50/121 = 11.955
#13 Jacksonville (7-1) 62.0/8 + 325.50/82 = 11.720
#14 AC Reynolds (10-1) 88.0/11 + 428.50/118 = 11.631
#15 Erwin (9-1) 77.0/10 + 393.00/106 = 11.408
#16 Terry Sanford (8-3) 75.0/11 + 543.50/120 = 11.347
#17 Western Alamance (10-1) 86.0/11 + 403.50/117 = 11.267
#18 Parkland (10-1) 89.0/11 + 376.50/121 = 11.202
#19 Eastern Guilford (9-2) 82.0/11 + 412.00/121 = 10.860
#20 Sun Valley (9-2) 81.0/11 + 396.00/115 = 10.807
#21 Kings Mountain (9-2) 81.0/11 + 401.00/118 = 10.762
#22 Clayton (9-2) 84.0/11 + 367.00/119 = 10.720
#23 Southern Alamance (9-2) 79.0/11 + 415.00/121 = 10.612
#24 Freedom (9-2) 79.0/11 + 409.00/121 = 10.562
#25 Rose (7-3) 65.0/10 + 409.50/107 = 10.327
#26 Alexander Central (9-2) 79.0/11 + 371.00/121 = 10.248
#27 New Hanover (8-3) 75.0/11 + 381.50/113 = 10.194
#28 Dudley (8-3) 73.0/11 + 424.00/120 = 10.170
#29 Crest (8-3) 69.0/11 + 450.00/117 = 10.119
#30 Cox Mill (8-3) 71.0/11 + 429.50/119 = 10.064
#31 Cape Fear (7-4) 64.0/11 + 497.00/118 = 10.030
#32 Mount Tabor (7-4) 63.0/11 + 493.00/120 = 9.836
#33 Northern Guilford (8-3) 73.0/11 + 373.00/117 = 9.824
#34 Conley (8-3) 71.0/11 + 374.00/112 = 9.794
#35 Central Cabarrus (8-3) 71.0/11 + 395.50/119 = 9.778
#36 Statesville (8-3) 70.0/11 + 384.00/119 = 9.591
#37 Topsail (9-2) 78.0/11 + 284.50/114 = 9.587
#38 Eastern Alamance (8-3) 68.0/11 + 395.00/117 = 9.558
#39 Southwest Guilford (8-3) 74.0/11 + 338.50/121 = 9.525
#40 South Johnston (8-3) 72.0/11 + 293.00/115 = 9.093
#41 Gray's Creek (7-4) 65.0/11 + 365.00/119 = 8.976
#42 Southern Lee (6-3) 55.0/9 + 255.50/95 = 8.801
#43 Stuart Cramer (7-4) 57.0/11 + 369.50/115 = 8.395
#44 Franklinton (7-4) 59.0/11 + 329.50/111 = 8.332
#45 Tuscola (7-4) 59.0/11 + 347.00/117 = 8.329
#46 Marvin Ridge (6-5) 56.0/11 + 381.50/118 = 8.324
#47 Robinson (6-5) 51.0/11 + 434.50/119 = 8.288
#48 Asheville (6-4) 54.0/10 + 306.50/108 = 8.238
#49 South Iredell (6-5) 54.0/11 + 389.00/118 = 8.206
#50 West Carteret (6-5) 53.0/11 + 363.00/112 = 8.059
#51 Monroe (6-5) 53.0/11 + 368.00/115 = 8.018
#52 Brown (6-5) 56.0/11 + 350.00/121 = 7.983
#53 Southern Durham (5-6) 47.0/11 + 434.50/118 = 7.955
#54 East Rowan (6-5) 50.0/11 + 389.00/119 = 7.814
#55 Northeast Guilford (6-5) 53.0/11 + 331.00/117 = 7.647
#56 Eastern Wayne (5-5) 44.0/10 + 343.00/106 = 7.636
#57 West Rowan (6-5) 52.0/11 + 348.50/121 = 7.607
#58 Fike (4-6) 35.0/10 + 398.50/102 = 7.407
#59 Hickory (5-6) 44.0/11 + 393.00/120 = 7.275
#60 Williams (6-5) 52.0/11 + 303.50/121 = 7.236
#61 Ashbrook (5-5) 44.0/10 + 299.00/106 = 7.221
#62 West Brunswick (4-5) 38.0/9 + 276.00/94 = 7.158
#63 Union Pines (5-6) 43.0/11 + 337.50/112 = 6.922
#64 Hunt (4-6) 36.0/10 + 328.00/100 = 6.880
#65 North Buncombe (6-5) 50.0/11 + 262.50/116 = 6.808
#66 Aycock (5-6) 42.0/11 + 307.00/114 = 6.511
#67 East Wake (4-7) 36.0/11 + 369.00/118 = 6.400
#68 Northside-Jax (4-6) 34.0/10 + 294.00/99 = 6.370
#69 Byrd (4-7) 35.0/11 + 361.50/119 = 6.220
#70 Westover (4-7) 39.0/11 + 307.50/119 = 6.129
#71 Triton (3-6) 27.0/9 + 292.00/95 = 6.074
#72 St. Stephens (4-7) 35.0/11 + 341.00/121 = 6.000
#73 Orange (3-8) 27.0/11 + 373.00/114 = 5.726
#74 Northwood (4-6) 35.0/10 + 222.00/107 = 5.575
#75 Swansboro (3-6) 26.0/9 + 238.50/91 = 5.510
#76 Cuthbertson (3-8) 27.0/11 + 345.50/117 = 5.408
#77 Northern Nash (3-7) 27.0/10 + 270.50/103 = 5.326
#78 West Henderson (4-7) 34.0/11 + 255.00/119 = 5.234
#79 Roberson (3-8) 27.0/11 + 329.50/119 = 5.223
#80 South Brunswick (4-7) 33.0/11 + 249.50/115 = 5.170
#81 Forestview (3-7) 25.0/10 + 277.00/107 = 5.089
#82 Ben Smith (3-8) 26.0/11 + 329.50/121 = 5.087
#83 Carson (3-8) 25.0/11 + 324.50/121 = 4.955
#84 North Iredell (3-8) 24.0/11 + 324.50/120 = 4.886
#85 Rockingham County (3-8) 25.0/11 + 295.00/116 = 4.816
#86 Piedmont (3-8) 23.0/11 + 297.00/113 = 4.719
#87 North Brunswick (2-8) 18.0/10 + 286.00/105 = 4.524
#88 Southwestern Randolph (2-9) 16.0/11 + 369.50/121 = 4.508
#89 White Oak (2-8) 16.0/10 + 280.50/101 = 4.377
#90 Person (2-8) 16.0/10 + 279.50/106 = 4.237
#91 Western Harnett (2-8) 18.0/10 + 246.00/103 = 4.188
#92 Southern Guilford (2-9) 18.0/11 + 289.00/121 = 4.025
#93 North Gaston (2-9) 16.0/11 + 271.00/118 = 3.751
#94 Concord (1-10) 10.0/11 + 333.50/121 = 3.665
#95 Asheboro (1-10) 9.0/11 + 338.50/120 = 3.639
#96 Enka (1-10) 9.0/11 + 267.50/113 = 3.185
#97 Western Guilford (1-10) 8.0/11 + 290.00/120 = 3.144
#98 Harnett Central (1-9) 9.0/10 + 229.00/104 = 3.102
#99 Smithfield-Selma (1-10) 9.0/11 + 263.00/116 = 3.085
#100 West Johnston (1-10) 9.0/11 + 251.00/114 = 3.020
#101 Southern Wayne (1-9) 8.0/10 + 220.50/103 = 2.941
#102 East Chapel Hill (1-9) 8.0/10 + 218.00/106 = 2.857
#103 EE Smith (0-11) 0.0/11 + 334.50/120 = 2.788
#104 Parkwood (0-10) 0.0/10 + 288.50/106 = 2.722
#105 North Henderson (0-11) 0.0/11 + 259.50/118 = 2.199

Class 2A FAIR Rankings
#1 Randleman (11-0) 92.0/11 + 407.50/121 = 11.731
#2 Pisgah (10-0) 78.0/10 + 404.00/106 = 11.611
#3 Northeastern (8-0) 61.0/8 + 293.00/82 = 11.198
#4 Hibriten (11-0) 91.0/11 + 333.00/120 = 11.048
#5 Reidsville (10-0) 85.0/10 + 267.00/105 = 11.043
#6 Ledford (10-1) 82.0/11 + 430.00/120 = 11.038
#7 Bandys (10-1) 81.0/11 + 420.00/120 = 10.864
#8 South Columbus (10-0) 75.0/10 + 347.00/105 = 10.805
#9 South Granville (10-0) 76.0/10 + 330.00/103 = 10.804
#10 Kinston (10-0) 79.0/10 + 269.00/105 = 10.462
#11 Wheatmore (10-1) 82.0/11 + 314.00/121 = 10.050
#12 Shelby (8-3) 66.0/11 + 485.50/120 = 10.046
#13 East Duplin (7-3) 56.0/10 + 432.00/101 = 9.877
#14 SouthWest Edgecombe (9-2) 71.0/11 + 386.50/116 = 9.786
#15 North Davidson (9-2) 73.0/11 + 355.50/120 = 9.599
#16 South Point (8-2) 67.0/10 + 308.50/108 = 9.556
#17 Wallace-Rose Hill (7-3) 57.0/10 + 381.00/100 = 9.510
#18 Eastern Randolph (9-2) 73.0/11 + 333.00/118 = 9.458
#19 Clinton (7-2) 57.0/9 + 284.00/93 = 9.387
#20 East Bladen (9-2) 67.0/11 + 366.50/112 = 9.363
#21 West Lincoln (9-2) 70.0/11 + 348.50/120 = 9.268
#22 East Rutherford (9-2) 71.0/11 + 334.50/119 = 9.265
#23 North Lincoln (8-3) 62.0/11 + 423.00/118 = 9.221
#24 West Stokes (10-1) 74.0/11 + 291.00/119 = 9.173
#25 Mountain Heritage (9-1) 62.0/10 + 290.50/99 = 9.134
#26 Southwest Onslow (9-2) 67.0/11 + 321.00/114 = 8.907
#27 Whiteville (9-2) 68.0/11 + 291.00/112 = 8.780
#28 Ashe County (9-2) 62.0/11 + 367.00/119 = 8.720
#29 Beddingfield (8-2) 66.0/10 + 199.00/106 = 8.477
#30 Smoky Mountain (8-3) 59.0/11 + 345.00/111 = 8.472
#31 Maiden (8-3) 65.0/11 + 291.50/120 = 8.338
#32 Salisbury (7-4) 56.0/11 + 367.00/120 = 8.149
#33 Brevard (8-3) 62.0/11 + 284.00/116 = 8.085
#34 West Craven (6-5) 49.0/11 + 417.00/116 = 8.049
#35 Thomasville (8-3) 60.0/11 + 305.50/118 = 8.044
#36 Hendersonville (6-5) 51.0/11 + 381.50/116 = 7.925
#37 Saint Pauls (8-3) 60.0/11 + 265.00/115 = 7.759
#38 Ayden-Grifton (7-4) 54.0/11 + 307.50/116 = 7.560
#39 Mount Pleasant (6-5) 50.0/11 + 344.00/115 = 7.537
#40 Morehead (5-5) 44.0/10 + 331.50/106 = 7.527
#41 Franklin (5-5) 39.0/10 + 356.50/102 = 7.395
#42 Hertford (5-5) 40.0/10 + 337.00/100 = 7.370
#43 Providence Grove (6-5) 49.0/11 + 332.00/118 = 7.268
#44 Foard (6-5) 49.0/11 + 333.50/120 = 7.234
#45 James Kenan (5-4) 41.0/9 + 231.50/92 = 7.072
#46 North Surry (7-4) 54.0/11 + 253.00/120 = 7.017
#47 Patton (6-5) 50.0/11 + 291.00/119 = 6.991
#48 Greene Central (6-5) 49.0/11 + 284.50/116 = 6.907
#49 West Stanly (6-4) 42.0/10 + 271.00/102 = 6.857
#50 Currituck (6-4) 42.0/10 + 268.00/102 = 6.827
#51 Burns (4-7) 34.0/11 + 437.00/118 = 6.794
#52 Richlands (7-4) 51.0/11 + 237.50/115 = 6.702
#53 Oak Grove (5-5) 40.0/10 + 291.50/110 = 6.650
#54 Bertie (5-5) 34.0/10 + 320.50/102 = 6.542
#55 Goldsboro (5-5) 40.0/10 + 246.50/102 = 6.417
#56 Roanoke Rapids (7-4) 46.0/11 + 239.00/112 = 6.316
#57 East Lincoln (5-6) 41.0/11 + 284.50/118 = 6.138
#58 Lexington (5-6) 40.0/11 + 295.00/120 = 6.095
#59 Red Springs (6-5) 43.0/11 + 251.00/115 = 6.092
#60 Croatan (5-5) 36.0/10 + 267.50/108 = 6.077
#61 Cummings (4-7) 33.0/11 + 359.50/117 = 6.073
#62 Carrboro (5-4) 41.0/9 + 132.50/96 = 5.936
#63 Bunn (5-5) 36.0/10 + 222.50/102 = 5.781
#64 North Wilkes (5-6) 34.0/11 + 287.00/117 = 5.544
#65 Anson (3-7) 26.0/10 + 300.00/104 = 5.485
#66 Washington (4-6) 28.0/10 + 285.50/107 = 5.468
#67 Wilkes Central (4-7) 28.0/11 + 345.00/120 = 5.420
#68 Nash Central (4-6) 31.0/10 + 236.50/103 = 5.396
#69 East Henderson (5-6) 37.0/11 + 229.50/117 = 5.325
#70 Fairmont (5-6) 34.0/11 + 248.50/114 = 5.271
#71 Newton-Conover (4-7) 32.0/11 + 279.00/120 = 5.234
#72 Forbush (5-6) 38.0/11 + 213.00/121 = 5.215
#73 Vance County (4-7) 30.0/11 + 266.50/112 = 5.107
#74 Owen (4-6) 29.0/10 + 228.00/104 = 5.092
#75 High Point Andrews (3-8) 25.0/11 + 333.00/120 = 5.048
#76 West Iredell (4-6) 32.0/10 + 201.00/110 = 5.027
#77 Walkertown (4-7) 30.0/11 + 273.50/119 = 5.026
#78 Chase (4-7) 28.0/11 + 287.00/118 = 4.978
#79 Trinity (5-6) 32.0/11 + 246.50/120 = 4.963
#80 First Flight (4-5) 26.0/9 + 185.50/90 = 4.950
#81 Trask (5-6) 32.0/11 + 234.50/116 = 4.931
#82 Forest Hills (3-6) 25.0/9 + 200.00/94 = 4.905
#83 Farmville Central (3-8) 24.0/11 + 299.50/115 = 4.786
#84 Midway (4-7) 28.0/11 + 221.50/108 = 4.596
#85 South Rowan (3-8) 24.0/11 + 255.00/120 = 4.307
#86 West Davidson (3-8) 22.0/11 + 272.50/120 = 4.271
#87 South Lenoir (3-7) 22.0/10 + 205.00/105 = 4.152
#88 North Johnston (3-8) 20.0/11 + 255.50/114 = 4.059
#89 West Wilkes (3-8) 22.0/11 + 223.00/117 = 3.906
#90 East Davidson (2-9) 16.0/11 + 283.00/120 = 3.813
#91 Bartlett Yancey (3-8) 20.0/11 + 215.00/113 = 3.721
#92 Pasquotank (3-8) 18.0/11 + 222.00/111 = 3.636
#93 Lincolnton (2-9) 16.0/11 + 257.50/119 = 3.618
#94 Surry Central (2-9) 16.0/11 + 250.00/121 = 3.521
#95 R-S Central (2-9) 14.0/11 + 257.50/116 = 3.493
#96 Bunker Hill (2-9) 16.0/11 + 244.50/120 = 3.492
#97 Lake Norman Charter (2-8) 12.0/10 + 229.50/104 = 3.407
#98 East Montgomery (2-7) 14.0/9 + 164.50/95 = 3.287
#99 North Pitt (1-10) 8.0/11 + 296.50/117 = 3.261
#100 Carver (1-10) 8.0/11 + 286.00/120 = 3.111
#101 Draughn (1-10) 8.0/11 + 263.50/119 = 2.942
#102 Jordan Matthews (1-10) 6.0/11 + 262.50/116 = 2.808
#103 Dixon (2-9) 12.0/11 + 201.50/119 = 2.784
#104 East Burke (1-10) 8.0/11 + 246.00/120 = 2.777
#105 Central Davidson (1-10) 8.0/11 + 240.50/118 = 2.765
#106 McMichael (0-9) 0.0/9 + 262.00/96 = 2.729
#107 North Forsyth (0-11) 0.0/11 + 322.00/121 = 2.661
#108 Madison (1-10) 6.0/11 + 224.50/114 = 2.515
#109 West Bladen (1-10) 6.0/11 + 224.00/115 = 2.493
#110 Spring Creek (1-10) 6.0/11 + 208.00/110 = 2.436
#111 West Caldwell (0-11) 0.0/11 + 291.00/120 = 2.425
#112 Atkins (1-10) 8.0/11 + 195.50/120 = 2.356
#113 Graham (0-11) 0.0/11 + 262.00/113 = 2.319
#114 Webb (0-10) 0.0/10 + 229.50/102 = 2.250
#115 East Gaston (0-11) 0.0/11 + 219.50/119 = 1.845
#116 North Lenoir (0-10) 0.0/10 + 189.50/105 = 1.805

Class 1A FAIR Rankings
#1 Mount Airy (11-0) 74.0/11 + 388.00/115 = 10.101
#2 Tarboro (11-0) 73.0/11 + 386.00/116 = 9.964
#3 Princeton (9-0) 63.0/9 + 254.00/92 = 9.761
#4 Granville Central (8-1) 58.0/9 + 266.00/95 = 9.244
#5 Thomas Jefferson (9-0) 56.0/9 + 258.00/87 = 9.188
#6 Pamlico (10-1) 68.0/11 + 317.50/118 = 8.872
#7 Holmes (9-1) 62.0/10 + 270.50/102 = 8.852
#8 Mitchell (7-2) 54.0/9 + 227.50/93 = 8.446
#9 Murphy (8-1) 52.0/9 + 194.00/80 = 8.203
#10 Northampton (10-1) 62.0/11 + 283.00/113 = 8.141
#11 North Rowan (9-2) 61.0/11 + 300.00/117 = 8.110
#12 North Stanly (8-2) 50.0/10 + 303.50/106 = 7.863
#13 Lakewood (7-2) 46.0/9 + 233.00/92 = 7.644
#14 East Surry (8-3) 52.0/11 + 323.50/116 = 7.516
#15 Gates County (9-2) 60.0/11 + 216.00/116 = 7.317
#16 Robbinsville (6-1) 39.0/7 + 104.00/62 = 7.249
#17 Rosewood (7-2) 46.0/9 + 194.50/92 = 7.225
#18 East Wilkes (7-4) 52.0/11 + 290.00/120 = 7.144
#19 Riverside-Martin (8-3) 50.0/11 + 279.50/118 = 6.914
#20 East Carteret (7-4) 52.0/11 + 247.50/116 = 6.861
#21 Mountain Island (6-3) 38.0/9 + 211.50/88 = 6.626
#22 Elkin (6-5) 46.0/11 + 281.00/120 = 6.523
#23 Cherryville (7-4) 46.0/11 + 241.00/108 = 6.413
#24 Alleghany (6-4) 40.0/10 + 249.00/107 = 6.327
#25 Starmount (5-6) 36.0/11 + 332.00/120 = 6.039
#26 South Stanly (7-4) 46.0/11 + 202.00/114 = 5.954
#27 South Creek (7-4) 44.0/11 + 223.50/119 = 5.878
#28 Bishop McGuinness (6-4) 40.0/10 + 185.00/105 = 5.762
#29 Weldon (6-3) 36.0/9 + 129.00/92 = 5.402
#30 Bessemer City (6-5) 38.0/11 + 204.00/108 = 5.343
#31 North Edgecombe (5-5) 30.0/10 + 236.50/105 = 5.252
#32 Manteo (6-5) 36.0/11 + 215.00/109 = 5.245
#33 CS of Davidson (5-5) 30.0/10 + 208.00/97 = 5.144
#34 Hobbton (5-6) 35.0/11 + 208.50/110 = 5.077
#35 Swain County (5-5) 33.0/10 + 160.00/91 = 5.058
#36 North Duplin (5-5) 34.0/10 + 160.00/101 = 4.984
#37 East Columbus (3-6) 20.0/9 + 244.50/95 = 4.796
#38 Polk (3-7) 22.0/10 + 253.50/104 = 4.638
#39 Southside (4-7) 26.0/11 + 250.50/119 = 4.469
#40 Albemarle (4-6) 24.0/10 + 211.00/106 = 4.391
#41 West Montgomery (4-6) 26.0/10 + 179.50/106 = 4.293
#42 Southeast Halifax (4-7) 24.0/11 + 239.00/115 = 4.260
#43 Louisburg (4-7) 26.0/11 + 205.50/112 = 4.198
#44 Warren County (3-7) 20.0/10 + 223.50/104 = 4.149
#45 Cherokee (3-5) 18.0/8 + 134.50/72 = 4.118
#46 Northside (4-7) 24.0/11 + 202.50/114 = 3.958
#47 Washington County (3-7) 18.0/10 + 223.50/109 = 3.850
#48 Highland Tech (3-6) 20.0/9 + 130.00/87 = 3.716
#49 Avery (2-8) 16.0/10 + 206.00/105 = 3.562
#50 Bear Grass (4-5) 24.0/9 + 65.00/87 = 3.414
#51 Rosman (2-8) 12.0/10 + 186.50/91 = 3.249
#52 South Stokes (2-9) 12.0/11 + 246.00/115 = 3.230
#53 Winston-Salem Prep (2-7) 14.0/9 + 158.00/96 = 3.201
#54 Northwest Halifax (3-7) 18.0/10 + 139.00/100 = 3.190
#55 KIPP Pride (2-9) 12.0/11 + 219.00/112 = 3.046
#56 Union (2-7) 12.0/9 + 154.00/91 = 3.026
#57 West Columbus (1-8) 8.0/9 + 192.50/95 = 2.915
#58 Chatham Central (2-8) 12.0/10 + 172.00/105 = 2.838
#59 Rocky Mount Prep (2-8) 12.0/10 + 151.00/100 = 2.710
#60 Andrews (1-6) 6.0/7 + 106.50/62 = 2.575
#61 South Robeson (1-9) 6.0/10 + 200.50/103 = 2.547
#62 North Moore (2-9) 12.0/11 + 155.50/112 = 2.479
#63 Pine Lake Prep (1-7) 6.0/8 + 133.00/77 = 2.477
#64 Pender (1-10) 6.0/11 + 216.00/114 = 2.440
#65 Union Academy (1-7) 6.0/8 + 131.50/78 = 2.436
#66 Jones (0-10) 0.0/10 + 236.00/107 = 2.206
#67 South Davidson (1-10) 8.0/11 + 160.50/115 = 2.123
#68 Perquimans (1-10) 6.0/11 + 177.00/116 = 2.071
#69 Camden (0-11) 0.0/11 + 207.50/111 = 1.869
#70 Hayesville (0-7) 0.0/7 + 111.00/61 = 1.820
#71 Lejeune (0-11) 0.0/11 + 183.00/115 = 1.591
#72 North Stokes (0-9) 0.0/9 + 150.00/95 = 1.579
#73 Columbia (0-7) 0.0/7 + 87.00/69 = 1.261

As of 8/1/2019, 71 NCHSAA schools have made our Football Head Coaches changes list.

Latest news: Torrean Hinton replaces Antonio King at Cedar Ridge after King takes job at NC Central. South Davidson picks longtime assistant Tim Hill to take over. John Delle takes over as Lejeune football coach.

School	Old Coach	New Coach
Ardrey Kell	Kyle Brey	Greg Jachym
Ashley	Jeff Turner	Wilson Helms
Beddingfield	James Ward	Carl Smith
Bishop McGuinness	Drew Hackett	Charlie Jones
Camden	Josh Blood	Josh Sophia
Carson	Joe Pinyan	Daniel Crosby
Cedar Ridge	Antonio King (1)	Torrean Hinton
Central Academy	Tony Byrum	Drew Hackett
Cherokee	Kent Briggs	David Napert
Cuthbertson	David Johnson	Trey Kavanaugh
East Gaston	Sean Joyce	Jason Lippard
Eastern Guilford	Joe Glass	Tony Aguilar
Farmville Central	Scott Gardner	Eddie Rhodes
Foard	Derrick Minor	Ryan Gettys
Graham	Kerry Taylor	Derek Bryant
Green Level		Ben Goudeau (2)
Greene Central	Allen Wooten	Jason Wilson
Havelock	Caleb King	Allen Wooten
Hayesville	Kenneth Dockery	Chad McClure
Hibriten	Clay Lewis	Sam Mackey
Hickory Ridge	Sam Greiner	Jupiter Wilson
HP Andrews	Kelly Clark	Mitchell Jenkins
Hunt	Keith Byrum	Ryan Sulkowski
Jordan-Matthews	Marty Scotten	Sam Spencer
Lake Norman Charter	Mark Steele	Bob McKay
Lejeune	Jim Gardiner	John Delle
Leesville Road	Chad Smothers	Ben Kolstad
Lexington	Chuck Henderson	DeVore Holman
Lincolnton	Ledford Gibson	Joe Glass
McDowell	Andy Morgan	Darrell Brewer
Montgomery Central		Benji Brown (3)
New Bern	Steve Tapley	Torrey Nowell
New Hanover	Earl Smith	Dylan Dimock
North Forsyth	Pete Gilchrist	Jay Blair
North Henderson	Zack Wilkins	Jim Beatty
North Johnston	John Riba	Michael Barnett
North Moore	Antwon Murchison	Andrew Carrouth
North Surry	Danny Lyons	Patrick Taylor
Northwest Halifax	Eric McKnight	Tyrone Hargrove
Northwood	Brian Harrington	Cullen Homolka
Olympic	Jason Fowler	Brandon Thompson
Overhills	Mark Kirk	Chris McGee
Pamlico	Torey Nowell	Ron Cook
Parkland	Martin Samek	Laymarr Marshall
Person	David Kleine	Joey Carroll
Piedmont	Luke Hyatt	Jon Castator
Pine Lake Prep	Brett Hayford	Austin Trotter
Providence	Brad Bowles	Wes Ward
Rolesville	Wilson Helms	Martin Samek
Rosman	Matt Stack	Dan Essenberg
Sanderson	Ben Kolstad	Jeremy Buck
Shelby	Lance Ware	Mike Wilbanks
South Davidson	Chad Ellington	Tim Hill
South Mecklenburg	Rocky White	Joe Evans
South Robeson	Clay Jernigan	Mike Propst
South Stokes	Mike Holmes	David Diamont
Southwest Guilford	Eric Rainey	Chuck Doak
Swett	Jon Sherman	Robbie Brown
Trask	Jonathan Taylor	Brandon Proctor
Union Pines	Matt Quinn	Lonnie Cox
Vance	Aaron Brand	Glenwood Ferebee
Wakefield	Brandon Kelly	James Ward
Walkertown	Mitch Reeves	Rodney McKoy
Washington County	Wayne Rodgers (4)	William Hunt
West Bladen	Kris Williams	Jon Sherman
West Caldwell	DeVore Holman	Mike Biggerstaff
West Columbus	James Pierce	LeMonte Williamson
West Johnston	Robert Senseney	Jermaine Harper
West Lincoln	Tom Sain	Darren Ponder
West Mecklenburg	Jarvis Davis	Nick Mata
West Wilkes	David Hunt	Todd Rutz

1. School did not field a team for 2018 season
2. New school
3. New school
4. Interim coach for 2018 season

NEW ORLEANS — The R+L New Orleans Bowl turned into a season-ending coronation for the Sun Belt champions.

Malik Williams and the rest of the Mountaineers threw quite a Black and Gold party in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Williams delivered two trick-play touchdowns on wide receiver passes, including one to quarterback Zac Thomas, and the defense made several important stops under tough circumstances to help Appalachian State maintain its perfect bowl record with a 45-13 victory against Middle Tennessee on Saturday night.

With App State alum Mark Ivey serving as the interim head coach, college teammate Shawn Clark making aggressive play calls for the offense and 23-year App State assistant Dale Jones coordinating the defense, the Mountaineers (11-2) rolled after persevering through a slow start against the Conference USA runners-up.

"We knew, as tough as these players were, if they smelled any fear or weakness or confusion out of us, you can't fake it," Ivey said. "We decided we'd have fun with it and make sure they'd get exactly what they've been getting all along. If we did that, they'd give us exactly what they've been giving. That's what they did, and they were phenomenal."

App State is the only FBS program with no losses or ties in at least four bowl appearances, and it has accomplished that feat in just four postseason-eligible seasons. It also matched the 2015 team for the best final record since the transition.

Appalachian led 24-6 at halftime Saturday even though Middle Tennessee (8-6) reached the App State 30 on four first-half drives, with Josh Thomas' red zone interception in the first quarter serving as a key momentum swing, and senior Okon Godwin accounted for 2.5 of the defense's six sacks. Anthony Flory, Demetrius Taylor, and Chris Willis contributed in that category, and Tae Hayes also posted a first-half interception.

In addition to becoming the first App State quarterback to catch a touchdown pass in at least 35 yards, New Orleans Bowl MVP Zac Thomas threw three touchdown passes, including his ninth and 10th connections of the season with Corey Sutton. With Thomas Hennigan catching Williams' first touchdown pass and Henry Pearson also scoring on a Thomas throw, the Mountaineers totaled five TDs through the air.

Darrynton Evans rushed for 108 yards to go over 100 for the seventh time in the last nine games, and true freshman Camerun Peoples' 63-yard score on his second carry of the night gave the Mountaineers a 38-6 lead midway through the third quarter.

"The culture we have here at App State, you really can't explain it," said two-year captain MyQuon Stout, whose work at nose tackle played a key role for a defense that didn't allow 20 points in any of the team's 11 wins. "It's great coaches, great staff, great players. We break it down on 'Family' every day, like two or three times a day. We really care about each other and work hard for each other."

App State's first two touchdowns came on passes from Williams, but two turnovers in the first five offensive plays created an uphill battle for the Mountaineers.

Middle Tennessee, which had missed a 47-yard field goal to cap the game-opening series, followed a quick interception on App State's first series with a 24-yard field goal. The Blue Raiders faced a second down from the Appalachian 5 before Godwin and Noel Cook combined on a tackle for loss, and Desmond Franklin broke up a third-down pass to the end zone.

A fumble on the second play of App State's next series gave Middle Tennessee possession at the Mountaineers' 21, but Cook's pressure contributed to an interception by Josh Thomas at the 15 as left-handed quarterback Brent Stockstill rolled to his right.

"Making turnovers, that's just what our defensive backs have talked about all year," Thomas said. We're real greedy when it comes to picks."

Zac Thomas' 35-yard completion to Jalen Virgil was the big play on a drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal from Chandler Staton, whose kick followed a long snap from fill-in true freshman Max Durschlag.

Hennigan and Tyler Bird helped stuff a fourth-and-2 rush on a fake punt from the Middle Tennessee 43 a few minutes later, and Hennigan gave the Mountaineers the lead for good with a 30-yard touchdown on an accurate deep throw from Williams, the former high school quarterback who had caught a backward pass from Thomas near the right sideline.

That was the second time in two seasons that App State had scored with Hennigan catching a pass from Williams, whose next TD throw of the night followed a Hayes interception that resulted from Elijah Diarrassouba's quarterback pressure.

"Before the game, Coach (Justin Watts) told me I was going to have two passing touchdowns before this game was over," Williams said. "After that, I told Zac it felt better throwing him a touchdown than receiving one from him."

In last year's bowl win, Williams tried to throw a short touchdown pass to quarterback Taylor Lamb but kept the ball for a score when Lamb was unavailable as a target. On Saturday, after taking a reverse handoff from Evans, Williams rolled right and lofted an 8-yard touchdown pass to Thomas in the right side of the end zone for a 17-3 advantage with 6:38 remaining in the half.

The only other touchdown with an App State quarterback reaching the end zone on a pass play in recent memory occurred in 2010 when DeAndre Presley was credited with a TD "reception" on a play in which he recovered his receiver's fumble against Chattanooga and ran the final 33 yards with the ball.

"I've had my eyes on that play for a while, so today it was the perfect call," Thomas said.

Evans' 62-yard run set up Pearson's 1-yard touchdown reception in the final minute of the half, and Middle Tennessee advanced to the Appalachian 16 before settling for a 33-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.

Clark, App State's run game coordinator and offensive line coach before Scott Satterfield's departure created the need for a new play-caller, had planned to coach from the seventh-floor booth for one half and then make a decision about the second half. He stayed upstairs instead of returning to his familiar spot on the sidelines, in part so he could maintain his bigger-picture approach to directing the offense.

"I knew if I was on the sideline I'd be more involved watching the offensive line than trying to watch the whole game," Clark said. "For me personally, I had to get away from it. (QB coach) Pete Thomas did a great job, and it was the offensive staff calling the plays. I told them that it can't be hectic on the headset. We're going to think about it, and we're going to take our shots, and we're going for broke."

The view from the top of the Superdome remained just as clear after halftime.

The Mountaineers marched 75 yards in 10 plays to begin the third quarter, with Sutton catching a 17-yard touchdown pass from Thomas, and back-to-back sacks of Stockstill led to a punt that paved the way for Peoples to make his bowl debut.

Able to not lose a year of eligibility because he was playing in just his third game, Peoples gained 1 yard on his first carry before breaking free down the right sideline on his 63-yard score.

"The feeling is indescribable," Peoples said. "I've been preparing all year, waiting on it. With the redshirt rule, I've been patient, waiting my turn. To get in, see that opening, I'm asking God to give me everything in my legs and let me get in this end zone. The bulls up front, they did a great job, so it's really just a team thing."

Middle Tennessee posted a third-quarter touchdown to cut into its deficit, but App State's defense applied constant pressure to Stockstill the rest of the way, and Sutton capped the scoring on an 11-yard touchdown with 13:06 remaining.

Willis and Godwin recorded sacks on the next series, enabling App State's coaches to play senior quarterback Zeb Speir, senior receiver Brad Absher and many other reserves in the closing minutes.

As time wound down, players repeatedly chanted Ivey's name. He was even lifted into the air and carried across part of the field.

As the celebratory, Ivey-led song suggests, it wasn't nothin' but an App State party.

That's all for a memorable, record-setting 2018 season

"For me personally, this was my last game," Godwin said, "and I just wanted to leave everything on the field."

DURHAM – East Forsyth came from behind twice in the second half to tie Scotland, eventually taking the lead with just 2:45 to play and hanging on for a 35-28 victory and the school’s second state championship.


Scotland had the game’s opening possession and they made the most of it as the Scots drove 62 yards in 16 plays using the first 7:50 of the game. Syheam McQueen pushed it across the goal line on a two-yard dive to give the Scots the lead on the first of his two touchdowns.

East Forsyth responded with the next two scores. Micah Crowell scored on a four-yard run with 2:17 to go in the first quarter to tie the game at 7. Ronald Jackson, Jr. then plunged in from three yards out to put the Eagles in front 14-7 with 10:03 to go in the second quarter.

Scotland mounted another incredible drive spanning 13 plays and crossing 57 yards before McQueen tied the game at 14 on a three-yard touchdown run with 4:05 to go in the half. Just under two minutes later, East Forsyth surged back in front 21-14 as Ty’Shaun Lyles hit Nick Childs for a 51-yard touchdown strike with 2:12 to go in the half.

Scotland sped down the field in the final two minutes of the half. The Scots ripped off a 66-yard drive in nine plays with Mandrell Johnson sliding in the end zone from two yards out with just two seconds to spare before halftime, tying the score at 21.

Both teams went scoreless through the third quarter, setting the stage for an explosive fourth quarter. Scotland pushed back in front as Joseph McKoy cashed in on a one-yard touchdown run to polish off an eight-play, 60-yard scoring drive and put Scotland up 28-21 with just 10:14 to play.

4A MVP Ty'Shaun Lyles

East Forsyth came alive in the final minutes as Lyles hooked up with Mizell Hall twice for scoring strikes to surge in front 35-28. The first of the two touchdown passes came as Lyles scrambled towards the right sideline, spotting Hall open in the middle of the field and throwing against his body to make the play. Hall pulled the lofted pass in and scampered the rest of the 22 yards into the end zone to tie the game at 28 with 6:03 to go. Then with 2:45 to play, Lyles spotted Hall uncovered in the formation and called for the snap before the play had even been relayed to his teammates, Hall pulled in the quick pass and scurried 14 yards into the left corner of the end zone to put the Eagles on top by the decisive 35-28 margin.

Lyles was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, completing 10 of his 17 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns including the game winner. Hall was the Eagles Most Outstanding Offensive Player with four receptions for 56 yards and the two game-altering scores. Javon Cobb was the leading tackler for East Forsyth, credited with 13 tackles on the game and chosen as East Forsyth’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

Kavon Green was selected as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the Scots. Green was tied for the team lead in tackles with four and also pulled in an interception, returning it 15 yards. Joseph McCoy was tapped as Scotland’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player, responsible for 104 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.


Story and photos courtesy of the NCHSAA

RALEIGH – The Tarboro Vikings pulled away with 36 second-half points to defeat East Surry 50-10 and win back-to-back state championships at the 1AA level.  The win gave the Vikings the program’s sixth state championship. The Vikings were dominant on the ground racking up 442 yards rushing while holding the Cardinals to zero yards rushing in the game.


East Surry jumped out to an early lead as Gunnar Jones recovered a Tarboro fumble and too it 18 yards to the end zone to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead with 4:02 to go in the first quarter. The Vikings answered on the ensuing possession driving 69 yards in six plays Kimani McDaniels capped off the drive with a 36-yard touchdown run with 47 seconds to go in the quarter to knot the score at 7.

Clifton Joyner, Jr. gave Tarboro their first lead of the game when he scored from 17 yards out on the ground with 8:34 to go in the second quarter. That capped a 29-yard drive took just five plays after a Keon Caudle punt return set Tarboro up with a short field. East Surry sliced into that lead, mounting a 16-play drive that chewed up 6:35 of the second quarter and culminated in a 24-yard field goal by Derek Sutterby to make it 14-10 Tarboro at the half.

1AA MVP Kimani McDaniels

The second half was all Vikings as McDaniels opened the third quarter by breaking a 65-yard run for a touchdown with 10:16 to go in the quarter. McDaniels long sprint made it 21-10. McDaniels finished the game with 112 yards rushing and two touchdowns as he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Just three minutes after McDaniels long run, Joyner, Jr. found paydirt on a one-yard touchdown run to put the Vikings up 29-10 after the two-point conversion attempt was successful. Joyner, Jr. finished the game with 76 yards rushing on 12 carries with two touchdowns as he was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player for Tarboro.

Caudle added a touchdown late in the third quarter, crossing from 40 yards out with just 11 seconds to go in the quarter, putting Tarboro up 36-10. Jaquez Edge scored from four yards out with 9:47 to go in the game, punctuating a six-play, 56-yard drive and extending the Viking lead to 43-10. Caudle closed out the scoring with a 33-yard sprint to the end zone with 4:37 to go in the game to give the Vikings the final 50-10 margin.

Melik Ward was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player for Tarboro as he racked up 8 tackles, including 2.5 sacks and 3 tackles for loss in the game. For East Surry, Hoyt Bullington led the team in tackles with 19 in the game, including three for loss as he was selected East Surry’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Jefferson Boaz was the Most Outstanding Offensive Player for East Surry, completing 10 of 20 passes for 122 yards and averaging 38.8 yards per punt.


Story and photos courtesy of NCHSAA

RALEIGH, NC - The Shelby Golden Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter and did not look back on their way to doubling up North Davidson 42-21 and winning the school’s tenth NCHSAA State Championship in football.


Sophomore linebacker Jack Hollifield got the festivities underway, intercepting a pass and returning it 93 yards for a touchdown with 6:23 to go in the first quarter, putting Shelby up 7-0. Hollifield was named the Golden Lions Most Outstanding Defensive Player with nine tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass break-up and the 93-yard interception return for a score.

The Golden Lion defense then forced a three-and-out on the ensuing Knights possession, and after a nice punt return, Shelby had exceptional field position to start their drive at the Knights 38. Diavonni Daley capped off the 5-play, 38-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown catch from Isaiah Bess to put the Lions in front 14-0.

Shelby kept the foot on the gas pedal to start the second quarter, as Daley hauled in a 22-yard pass from Bess to cap a nine-play, 54-yard drive and give the Lions a 21-0 advantage with 10:45 to play in the first half. Bess finished the contest with 192 yards and three touchdown passes as he completed 17 of his 26 pass attempts and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Daley hauled in six passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns as he was selected as Shelby’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player in the game.

North Davidson responded on their next possession, sprinting 72 yards in just 8 plays and two minutes. The Knights got on the board with Devon Welch’s three-yard touchdown plunge to trim the Shelby lead to 21-7 which is how the teams entered the locker room at the half.

2AA MVP Isaiah Bess

The Lions started to pull away for good with an 18-yard touchdown pass by Bess to Fabian Pettis with 2:15 to go in the third. That touchdown finished off a 10-play 63-yard drive that chewed up 4:07 of clock. The Knights answered right back with an 11-play drive of their own that went 50 yards and spanned 4:45 to cut the lead to 28-14 when Jackson Perrell scored on a three-yard touchdown run.

The two teams traded scores for the rest of the contest with Donye Fuller plunging in from a yard out for the Golden Lions before Gage Williams recovered a Shelby fumble, rumbling 15 yards for a score to trim the Shelby lead back to 14 at 35-21 and 4:48 to go. Jaylon Scott put the game away for the Golden Lions when he scored from one yard out to polish off a 9-play, 49-yard drive at the 1:15 mark of the final quarter.

The North Davidson defense was led by Blake Stephens who collected 10 tackles on the game including 3.5 sacks and 4 tackles for loss. He is also credited with a pass break-up and quarterback hurry in the game as he was named North Davidson’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player. The Knight was led by Themus Fulks who was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the Knights with eight receptions for 146 yards on the afternoon.


Story and photos courtesy of NCHSAA

DURHAM – The Murphy Bulldogs reeled off 21 first-quarter points on their way to a 60-27 victory over Pamlico County and the school’s ninth NCHSAA football state championship. The win was Head Coach David Gentry’s 406th career win, which is second all-time for Head Coaching wins in the NCHSAA.


Murphy’s defense got the scoring started when Micah Nelson recovered a Pamlico fumble and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown just 17 seconds into the game. The next possession for Murphy was after another Pamlico turnover, as the Bulldogs started at the Hurricane 34. Six plays later KJ Allen galloped five yards to the end zone and a 14-0 lead.

The Bulldogs built a huge advantage on the ground, racking up 479 yards to just 153 for Pamlico. Allen led the way for Murphy with 153 yards on 18 carries and four touchdowns as he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Murphy’s Devonte Murray also added two touchdowns on his six carries with 106 yards.

Pamlico got on the board for the first time in the latter portion of the first quarter. Senior quarterback Lamont Murray settled into the game and was able to lead his team on a 12-play, 66-yard drive that took 5:28 off the first quarter clock. Murray capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run to trim the Murphy lead to 14-7 with 2:54 to go in the first. Four plays later, Murphy stretched their lead back out to 14 when Reid Beal hauled in an 18-yard pass from Micah Nelson with 1:47 to go in the first. Nelson was named Murphy’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player as he completed 3 of his 5 pass attempts for 42 yards and a touchdown while running for 49 yards on two carries.

The Bulldogs took a 21-7 lead into the half and came out ready to roll in the third quarter, adding two scores in the frame. Ray Rathburn scored from 11 yards out on the ground to go up 28-7. Five minutes later Allen ripped off a six-yard touchdown run for his second score of the night.

1A MVP KJ Allen

Pamlico did not quit despite trailing 35-7, after a long kickoff return into Murphy territory by Jarrod Ramsey, Murray bought time and found George Jones open over the middle for a 42-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-14 with under a minute to go in the third. Just three plays later, Murray raced 46 yards to the end zone for a touchdown, however, the point after failed and Murphy led 41-14.

Murray went back to work for Pamlico, finding room and sprinting for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 41-20 after the point after failed. After touchdown runs by the Bulldogs’ Murray and Allen made the score 54-20, Pamlico’s Murray launched another touchdown pass, this one from 18 yards out to La-Monti Lewis to trim the lead to 54-27.

Lamont Murray finished the night with 157 yards passing and two scores to go along with 79 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the Hurricanes for his efforts. William Lovick was the Hurricanes’ Most Outstanding Defensive Player as he tied for the team lead in tackles with nine. Hunter Shope took home Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors for Murphy, racking up nine tackles, 1.5 of them for a loss.


Story and photos courtesy of NCHSAA

RALEIGH, NC – The Reidsville Rams stormed from down 14 much of the game to stun Northeastern with a 31-28 win as Zach Baber hit a 24-yard field goal to give Reidsville its first and only lead with just four seconds remaining in the game. The win gave Reidsville their program’s 17th NCHSAA Football State Championship and their second state title in the last three years.


Northeastern took no time to get on the scoreboard, as the Eagles went five plays and 79 yards capped off by a 55-yard touchdown run from Aaron Harris to go up 7-0 on the opening possession. The Eagles tacked on another first quarter score when a deflected pass from Harris found Quasi Thomas who rumbled 22 yards to the end zone to put Northeastern up 14-0 with 1:26 to go in the quarter.

The two teams exchanged turnovers in the second quarter, with Northeastern coughing the ball up in their own red zone before Reidsville’s jump pass was intercepted in the end zone on the ensuing play. Another Northeastern turnover, this one an interception in their own end, set Reidsville up with a short field. The Rams capitalized as Breon Pass caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Pinnix and the PAT cut the lead Eagles’ lead to 14-7 with 9:20 to go in the first half.

Late in the first half, Northeastern stretched their lead back out to 14 as Traveon Freshwater scored from nine yards out to give the Eagles a 21-7 lead with 1:51 to go in the half. The Freshwater touchdown capped off an 11-play, 75-yard drive that saw 5:20 wind off the clock.

Reidsville didn’t give up, evening the score at 21 with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns while the defense buckled down. Pass grabbed his second touchdown catch from Pinnix, this one a 5-yard grab with 8:09 to go in the third, that trimmed the Eagles lead to 21-13 as the point after failed. Later in the quarter, Pinnix found Logan Graves for a 32-yard scoring strike with 1:32 to go in the third to pull the Rams within a two-point conversion. Pinnix hit Lionel Long for the conversion attempt, knotting the score at 21.

Northeastern quarterback Harris had been explosive all game, and he went off again in the later stages of the fourth quarter, ripping off a 40-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles up 28-21 with 4:14 to play. The Rams quick-strike ability evened the score again quickly as Pinnix hit Demontez Canada for a 37-yard touchdown pass just three plays after the Northeastern score, tying the game at 28 with 3:06 to play.

2A MVP Kyle Pinnix

Pinnix finished the game with nine completions for 116 yards and four touchdowns. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Long was named Reidsville’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player as he had 103 yards rushing and 21 yards receiving to keep the Rams moving all afternoon. Trell Rankin was selected as the Rams Most Outstanding Defensive Player with six tackles, two of them sacks and a fumble recovery in the game.

Harris was tapped as the Most Outstanding Offensive Player for Northeastern, as he rushed for 175 yards and two touchdowns in the game. He also threw for 47 yards and a score on the afternoon. Robert Ferguson took home Northeastern’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player award, leading all players with 15 tackles in the game, adding a pass break-up to his stat line.

The victory gives Reidsville 17 State Championships in the NCHSAA with 23 Championship Appearances. The Rams also hold three Regional Championships from 1961-1971 when play culminated with the regional finals in many classifications.


Story and photos courtesy of the NCHSAA

CHAPEL HILL – Charlotte Catholic took the 3A Championship in come-from-behind fashion, edging a tough-nosed Jacksonville team 17-14 to win the school’s sixth state championship and second straight. What started as an offensive feeling game, turned into the expected defensive battle with Catholic scoring the only second-half points, a touchdown with just under five minutes to play, that put the Cougars in front for good by the final margin.


After a defensive stalemate for the majority of the second half, the Cougars opened up the offense a bit, throwing three passes on the decisive drive. The final blow was struck by Chris Walton when he stepped up and aired it out for Michael Neel on a crossing route. Neal hauled in the throw and cruised into the end zone with 4:55 to play, putting Catholic on top 17-14. Walton finished the game 6-11 for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Charlotte Catholic made a nine-play opening drive that chewed up 4:23 of the first quarter and stalled after 42 yards. George Griggs III hit an important 34-yard field goal to open the scoring and give the Cougars a 3-0 lead. Jacksonville answered right back as quarterback Justyn Benton broke off a 48 yard run on the Cardinals first play from scrimmage. He finished off the drive, scrambling out of the pocket to his left and finding an open Kendrick Blake, Jr. for a 22-yard touchdown toss, putting the Cardinals in front 7-3 with 5:23 to go in the first quarter.

The two teams settled in a bit before Benton was intercepted by Brian Jacobs, who returned the ball to the Jacksonville 49, stunting the mounting momentum and drive by the Cardinals and setting the Cougars up with a short field. Jacobs had several key tackles in addition to his key interception and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Following the interception, Charlotte Catholic quarterback Walton hit Adam Robbe for 42 yards down the sideline, putting the Cougars inside the opponent’s ten-yard line. Two plays later, Lamagea McDowell cashed in from five yards out to give the Cougars a 10-7 lead with 11:12 to go in the second quarter. McDowell finished the game with 76 yards on 17 carries with the touchdown and was named Charlotte Catholic’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

3A MVP Brian Jacobs

Jacksonville responded on the next drive, mounting a 15-play, 74-yard drive that knawed 6:59 off the clock. The Cardinals ran the ball every play of the drive, featuring Benton, Kijeir Finister or Graham Brinker the majority of the plays. With 4:13 to go in the half, it was Brinker that scored from five yards out to give the Cardinals a 14-10 halftime advantage.

Neither team was able to mount much in the second half, as field position flipped in favor of Catholic during the third quarter. The Cougars intercepted a pass and drove down to the two-yard line with five straight running plays before McDowell coughed up the ball as he powered toward the end zone and the Cardinals were able to fall on it.

Benton finished up the day for the Cardinals as the team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player. He was solid on the ground with 105 yards on the day and completed passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Defensively the Jacksonville side was led by Milton Chandler who had 4.5 tackles and an interception on the way to being named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the Cardinals.

Nick King was the leading tackler for Charlotte Catholic with 6.5 tackles in the game and was named the Cougars Most Outstanding Defensive Player. The Cougars claimed the program’s sixth Football State Championship, and second straight.


Story and photos courtesy of the NCHSAA

DURHAM, NC -  The Wake Forest Cougars wrapped up a third consecutive perfect season with a 9-7 win in a defensive struggle for the 4AA State Championship with a tough Zebulon B. Vance team. Wake Forest nipped Vance with a safety in the final minute of the fourth quarter, surging into the lead for the first time late in the game and securing their 45th consecutive win.


Vance jumped into the lead on the second play of the game when Nyier Clark hauled in a 53-yard pass for a touchdown from Nigel Summerville to give Vance the lead 7-0 just 23 seconds into the ball game.

The two-time defending 4AA Champions from Wake Forest did not stay behind long, as after the teams traded possessions, Wake Forest mounted a 13 play, 52-yard drive that chewed up 5:45 off the first quarter clock. In typical Wake Forest fashion, the sustained drive was capped off by a three-yard touchdown run by Marquel Haywood, knotting the game at 7 with 1:36 to go in the first quarter.

4AA MVP Mateo Sudipo

Neither team scored for the balance of the game, with two defenses locked in a tightly contested field position battle for much of the rest of the game. In the closing minutes, the field position flipped in favor of the Wake Forest side when a 22-yard field goal attempt to potentially win the game was blocked by Vance and recovered by Vance at their own two-yard line.

In the shadow of their own goalposts, Vance mishandled the ball in the end zone, and in the chaos that ensued, the Wake Forest defense swarmed to the ball, tackling the quarterback in the end zone with just 32 seconds left for a safety and the decisive two points, lifting Wake Forest to a 9-7 win.

Vance was led by Most Outstanding Defensive Player Solomon Sutton, Jr. who had eight tackles in the game. Nyier Clark was chosen as the Most Outstanding Offensive Player for Vance with his five receptions for 78 yards and the lone Vance touchdown.

Wake Forest quarterback Mateo Sudipo was named the game’s Most Valuable Player with his 8 for 15 performance amassing 71 yards on the night. Sudipo also intercepted a pass on the night, returning it for 46 yards and had a pass break up. The Most Outstanding Offensive player for Wake Forest was Maquel Haywood who rushed ten times for 20 yards and the lone Wake Forest touchdown of the game. Chance Smith was tapped as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player from Wake Forest, leading the team with seven tackles including one sack.


Story and photos courtesy of the NCHSAA

CHAPEL HILL – The Weddington Warriors struck first, and struck often, as they ripped off a 27-14 victory over Southeast Guilford to claim the school’s second state football championship. James Shipley starred offensively and defensively for the Warriors, with an interception and return that set up a fourth-quarter score to go with a 50-yard touchdown pass on a reverse pass and an 8-yard touchdown catch from his receiver spot. With ten receptions for 113 yards, as well as contributions in other areas, he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.


Southeast Guilford’s opening drive stalled and James Shipley returned the punt to the Falcon 37 yard line, setting Weddington up in excellent field position for their first possession. After a procedure penalty backed the Warriors up five yards, Whitner Litton lofted a pass to Max Brimigion down the left sideline for a 42-yard score to put the Warriors up 7-0 with 9:25 to go in the first quarter.

The Warriors second possession was a bit more of a sustained effort, as they went 64 yards in seven plays capped off by a bit of trickiness. Wide Receiver James Shipley took the reverse handoff and set up to throw long to a wide open Will Shipley who took it the rest of the way 50 yards down the left sideline for a score to go up 14-0 with 2:29 to go in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, James Shipley found the end zone on the receiving end of an eight-yard pass from Litton with 8:52 to play in the half. The PAT was blocked and the Warriors led 20-0. SE Guilford intercepted a screen pass midway through the second, which swung some momentum back the Falcons way. They mounted their best drive, chewing up over five minutes of clock with Ryan Douglas helping power the rushing attack. However, with time winding down in the half the drive stalled and a 44 yard field goal attempt was no good.

3AA Championship Game MVP James Shipley

Southeast Guilford recovered a Weddington fumble in the early part of the third quarter, setting up the Falcons with a short field on the Warrior 36 yard line. Southeast scored four plays later as Douglas rushed across the goal line from 12 yards out to make it 20-7 with 6:42 to go in the third.

The Falcons were intercepted to start the fourth quarter, and James Shipley returned it to the Falcon five-yard line. Two plays later Weddington cashed in the turnover on a Will Shipley one-yard run to go up 27-7 with 11:01 to play. After the two teams traded possessions, Southeast Guilford took a shot deep and Douglas hooked up with Tyler Hoff who took it 83 yards to the end zone to trim the Warrior lead to 27-14 with 6:19 to play.

Douglas was named Southeast Guilford’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player with 126 yards through the air and a touchdown to go with his 86 yards and a score on the ground. Quantez Mansfield was the defensive Most Outstanding Player for the Falcons with six tackles including one sack and an interception from his defensive line spot.

Weddington’s Most Oustanding Offensive Player was Whitner Litton as the quarterback threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns while completing 67% of his passing attempts. The defensive Most Oustanding Player for the Warriors was Eamon Murphy who led the team in tackles with 9 and intercepted a pass, returning it deep into Falcon territory to set up the final Weddington score.


(Story and photos courtesy of the NCHSAA)

Sinclair Broadcasting has announced the broadcast schedule for this year's state championship games. Games will be carried over the air on local stations throughout the state while also streaming n NFHS Network.

ASHEVILLE
WMYA (My Net) (40-1 Over-the-air, Ch. 40 AT&T U-Verse/DirecTV, Ch. 5 Charter/Spectrum)

Fri Dec 14 at 7:30 pm: Wake Forest v. Vance
Sat Dec 15 at 11:00 am: Jacksonville v. Charlotte Catholic
Sat Dec 15 at 3:00 pm: Pamlico County v. Murphy
Sat Dec 15 at 7:00 pm: Scotland v. East Forsyth

CHARLOTTE
WCCB.3 MeTV (18-3 Over-the-air; Ch. 136 AT&T U-Verse; Ch. 1260 Charter/Spectrum)

Fri Dec 14  at 7:30 pm:  SE Guilford v. Weddington

WCCB CW (18-1 Over-the-air, Ch. 18 AT&T U-Verse/DirecTV, Ch. 11 Charter/Spectrum)

Fri Dec 14 at 7:30 pm: Wake Forest v. Vance
Sat Dec 15 at 11:00 am: Jacksonville v. Charlotte Catholic
Sat Dec 15 at 2:30 pm: North Davidson v. Shelby

GREENSBORO
WMYV (MyTV) (48-1 Over-the-air; Ch. 48 AT&T U-Verse/DirecTV; Ch. 15 TWC/Spectrum)

Fri Dec 14  at 7:30 pm:  SE Guilford v. Weddington
Sat Dec 15 at 12:00 pm: Northeastern v. Reidsville (Game begins at 11:00 a.m. and will be joined in progress)
Sat Dec 15 at 2:30 pm: North Davidson v. Shelby
WMYV 48.2 (GetTV) (48-2 Over-the-air)

Sat Dec 15 at 11:00 am: Northeastern v. Reidsville
Sat Dec 15 at 7:00 pm: Scotland v. East Forsyth

Charge TV 45.3 (45-3 Over-the-air)

Fri Dec 14 at 7:30 pm: Wake Forest v. Vance
Sat Dec 15 at 11:00 am: Jacksonville v. Charlotte Catholic
Sat Dec 15 at 3:00 pm: Pamlico County v. Murphy
Sat Dec 15 at 6:00 pm: Tarboro v. East Surry



NEW BERN
WYDO (FOX) (14-1 Over-the-air)

Fri Dec 14  at 7:30 pm:  SE Guilford v. Weddington
Sat Dec 15 at 11:00 am: Jacksonville v. Charlotte Catholic
Sat Dec 15 at 3:00 pm: Pamlico County v. Murphy
Sat Dec 15 at 6:00 pm: Tarboro v. East Surry

WCTI (ABC) (12-1 Over-the-air)

Fri Dec 14 at 7:30 pm: Wake Forest v. Vance

RALEIGH
WLFL CW (22-1 Over-the-air; Ch. 22 AT&T U-Verse/DirecTV; Ch. 2 TWC/Spectrum)

Sat Dec 15 at 11:00 am: Northeastern v. Reidsville
Sat Dec 15 at 2:30 pm: North Davidson v. Shelby
Sat Dec 15 at 6:00 pm: Tarboro v. East Surry

WRDC My Net (28-1 Over-the-air; Ch. 28 AT&T U-Verse/DirecTV; Ch. 12 TWC/Spectrum)

Fri Dec 14 at 7:30 pm: Wake Forest v. Vance
Sat Dec 15 at 3:00 pm: Pamlico County v. Murphy
Sat Dec 15 at 7:00 pm: Scotland v. East Forsyth