The North Carolina High School Athletic Association's regional finals delivered a night of intense football, with sixteen teams battling for state championship berths across four classifications, setting the stage for next week's ultimate showdown.

In the most decisive performance of the evening, top-seeded Tarboro dominated Wilson Prep, routing the newcomers 59-6 in the 1A East Regional Final. The Vikings continued their playoff momentum, having already scored 176 points in their previous three postseason games, securing their eighth consecutive regional championship.

The 1A West Regional Final saw fifth-seeded Corvian continuing its Cinderella run, defeating Mountain Heritage 28-19. This comes on the heels of their stunning upset of Mount Airy, which ended the Granite Bears' remarkable 43-game winning streak – the fifth-longest active streak in the nation.

In the 2A East Regional, top-seeded Northeastern maintained its strong form, defeating Whiteville 24-14. The team successfully avenged last year's regional final loss and will now advance to the state championship game for the first time since 2019. Standing opposite of the Eagles will be the Monroe Redhawks, who took down Brevard in convincing fashion.

The 3A East Regional Final witnessed Seventy-First emphatically defeating Jacksonville 43-7, a remarkable turnaround for a team that was the twelfth seed. In a rematch of the 1986 4A championship, the team facing Seventy-First will be the West Charlotte Lions, who took down the defending state champion Hickory Red Tornadoes on the road.

The 4A East Regional Final provided perhaps the most competitive matchup, with fifth-seeded Rolesville edging Cardinal Gibbons 38-31. This victory continues Rolesville's playoff magic, following their earlier upset of top-seeded Cleveland.

The 4A West Regional was a rematch of the 2022 regional final between Grimsley and Weddington, a game which the Whirlies won by a single point. The Warriors looked poised to return the favor, taking a 10-0 lead into the half. But Grimsley came roaring to life in the second half, putting up thirty-five points and making it back to the title game for the fourth time in school history.

These regional final results set up an exciting state championship weekend. Grimsley and Rolesville will clash in the 4A title game, Seventy-First and West Charlotte will battle in the 3A contest, Tarboro and Corvian will fight for 1A supremacy, and Northeastern and Monroe will compete for the 2A crown.

The championships will be held December 20-21 at Kenan Memorial Stadium and Carter-Finley Stadium, with Kenan Stadium hosting its 83rd and 84th state championship games in its historic football venue.

Regional Final Scores

1A East: (1) Tarboro def. (3) Wilson Prep, 59-6
1A West: (5) Corvian def. (2) Mountain Heritage, 28-19
2A East: (1) Northeastern def. (2) Whiteville, 24-14
2A West: (3) Monroe def. (9) Brevard, 41-15
3A East: (2) Seventy-First def. (12) Jacksonville, 43-7
3A West: (8) West Charlotte def. (3) Hickory, 36-20
4A East: (5) Rolesville def. (2) Cardinal Gibbons, 38-31
4A West: (1) Grimsley def. (2) Weddington, 35-23

CHAPEL HILL – Reidsville rolled past Mountain Heritage 35-6 in the 2A State Championship Game, claiming the school’s NCHSAA record 19^th State Football Championship. Kyle Pinnix and the Rams offense used their multiple weapons and formations to make the Cougars defend the width of the field, capitalizing on holes with speed, on their way to 407 yards of total offense.

Mountain Heritage did their best to keep the powerful Rams offense off the field, holding possession on the opening drive for more than eight and a half minutes of the first quarter. As they did for the entire game, despite giving up a few first downs, the Rams defense managed to get stops in key situations. Kahree Hayes led the Rams defense with 10 tackles and was selected as the Rams Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

When the Rams finally got their hands on the ball, they were able to strike quickly when Pinnix broke more than half a dozen tackles on his way to a 61-yard touchdown with just 19 seconds to go in the opening quarter putting Reidsville in front 7-0.

The next Reidsville possession was equally successful with Pinnix finding Cam Peoples for a 69-yard touchdown pass to go up 14-0. The Rams closed out the half with a strong nine-play, 46-yard drive capped off by a fourth and goal, one-yard touchdown run by Stevion Harrison with just nine seconds remaining before the half.

Breon Pass brought a nice return of the second-half opening kick to the Mountain Heritage 35, setting Reidsville up with a short field. The Rams made quick work of the 35 yards, covering it in four plays with Pass hauling in a six-yard touchdown pass from Pinnix to go up 28-0. Pass hauled in 5 receptions with 88 yards and two touchdowns as he was selected the Rams Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Reidsville was highly efficient, scoring four touchdowns on their first four possessions of the game on the way to building that 28-0 lead. Pinnix finished the game with 229 yards through the air and 3 touchdowns. He added another 91 yards on the ground with the one score on his way to being named the Most Valuable Player in the game.

Mountain Heritage moved the ball some on the ground, rushing for 241 yards on 58 plays. Gabe Silvers, Cougars quarterback, handled most of the rushing duties for Mountain Heritage, carrying 29 times for 123 yards in the game. He was selected as the Most Outstanding Player for the Cougars. Jakob McCool was the Most Outstanding Player for the Cougar defense, finishing the game with six tackles and an interception.

Reidsville wrapped up the season 10-0. The Rams were 4-0 in Mid-State 2A play, winning the championship. Reidsville secured the program’s fifth straight Regional Title and third straight State Championship.

Mountain Heritage finished the season 7-2. The Cougars were 2-1 in Western Highlands 1A/2A play. They won the program’s second regional title and appeared in the State Championship Game for the first time since 2009.

The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with the NC Farm Bureau to highlight individuals from each State Championship event who exemplify the ideals of outstanding sportsmanship. The 2020-2021 2A Sportsmanship Award recipients were Orion Johnson from Reidsville and Josh Jobe from Mountain Heritage.

 

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

0:19 – RHS – K. Pinnix 61-yard run (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 7-0 (6 plays, 77 yards, 2:54)

Second Quarter

6:28 – RHS – C. Peoples 69-yard pass from K. Pinnix (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 14-0 (1 play, 69 yards, 0:13)

0:09 – RHS – S. Harrison 1-yard run (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 21-0 (9 plays, 46 yards, 4:06)

Third Quarter

10:52 – RHS – B. Pass 6-yard pass from K. Pinnix (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 28-0 (4 plays, 35 yards, 1:08)

Fourth Quarter

4:59 – RHS – B. Pass 53-yard pass from K. Pinnix (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 35-0 (5 plays, 87 yards, 2:12)

0:22 – MH – L. Higgins 2-yard run (J. Branton rush failed) – RHS 35-6 (6 plays, 63 yards, 2:01)

Story courtesy of the NCHSAA

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

	Team	Record	LW
1	East Lincoln	(10-0)	1
2	Shelby	(10-0)	2
3	Monroe	(10-0)	3
4	Clinton	(8-1)	4
5	Kinston	(10-0)	5
6	Northeastern	(8-2)	6
7	TW Andrews	(9-1)	7
8	West Stokes	(9-1)	8
9	Greene Central	(9-1)	9
10	SouthWest Edgecombe	(9-1)	11
11	Lincolnton	(8-2)	12
12	East Bladen	(8-2)	14
13	Croatan	(8-2)	NR
14	Bunn	(8-2)	NR
15	Mountain Heritage	(8-2)	NR