CHAPEL HILL – Monroe High School captured its second state football championship in program history Friday night, defeating previously unbeaten Northeastern 35-25 in the NCHSAA 2A title game at Kenan Stadium. The victory marks Monroe's first state championship since 2015 and caps off a perfect 15-0 season under head coach Johnny Sowell.

The game lived up to its billing as a matchup of undefeated powers, featuring explosive plays and momentum swings throughout the night. Both teams traded haymakers in a first quarter that saw four touchdowns, with Northeastern striking first on Trevaris Jones' 29-yard touchdown pass to Tyell Saunders.

Monroe answered immediately Jordan Young turned a 70-yard reception from Kaegan Chambers into a highlight-reel touchdown, breaking multiple tackles en route to the end zone. The teams continued trading scores, with Northeastern's Unique Blount and Monroe's Chambers adding first-quarter touchdowns to make it 12-14.

The second quarter saw Northeastern take control behind running back Carren Armstrong's 27-yard touchdown run, giving the Eagles an 18-14 advantage. However, Monroe's defense would stiffen, keeping Northeastern from taking advantage of interceptions by Khamani Bennett and keeping the Redhawks within striking distance heading into halftime.

Monroe seized control in the third quarter behind the powerful running of Nymir Kendall. The Redhawks back scored twice in a span of three-and-a-half minutes, including a 24-yard burst that gave Monroe a lead they would never relinquish. Kendall finished with 79 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

Northeastern refused to go quietly, as Jones connected with Zion Demps for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter to pull within three at 28-25. However, Monroe's ground game proved too much down the stretch, with Zion Lindsey's 18-yard touchdown run with 2:18 remaining essentially sealing the victory. Lindsey led all rushers with 116 yards on 18 carries.

The Monroe defense played a crucial role in the victory, forcing three turnovers and recording multiple stops in critical situations. Jeremiah Lindsey led the defensive effort with 11 tackles, including two for loss, while Jesus Jarquin-Ambrosio provided a spark with a blocked punt.

For Northeastern (15-1), the loss marks their third runner-up finish in the last six seasons. Despite the defeat, the Eagles showcased their explosive offense, with Jones throwing for 177 yards and three touchdowns, while Armstrong added 113 yards rushing and a score.

The championship marks a crowning achievement for Monroe's program, which had previously finished as runners-up three times before breaking through with their first title in 2015. This second championship further cements the Redhawks' place among North Carolina's premier 2A programs.

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football 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 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 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 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 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.

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

In the only matchup between two undefeated teams in this year’s state championship games, a Northeastern Eagles team looking for their first ever football state title will face off against a Reidsville Rams team that’s still looking to shake off the bitter taste of last year’s overtime title game loss this Saturday morning at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium.

Reidsville was able to squeak by a pesky Brevard team in the regional final to reach the state title game for the twenty-third time in their history. Out of those twenty-two previous appearances, the Rams have held up the champion’s trophy sixteen times and have proudly taken hold of the “Title Town” moniker bestowed on them by fans and media alike.

Offensively, the Rams balance their running and throwing attack well. Senior running back Trevion Canada leads the team with over 1,400 rushing yards and has reached the end zone twenty-two times. But, it’s the Reidsville defense that lives up to the cliché of “defense wins championships” as the Rams have shut out six opponents this season while only giving up more than fourteen points once in 2018, last week’s 24-21 win over Brevard in the western regional final.

The Eagles from Northeastern sport a rushing attack that has given teams fits this season with an impressive three players who have rushed for over 1,000 yards so far. Aaron Harris leads the team with 1,687 yards and fifteen touchdowns, Tyquan Mercer has scored seventeen touchdowns while rushing for over 1,200 yards, and Traveon Freshwater has scored sixteen touchdowns while also leading the Eagles defense with over 100 tackles. The fact that Freshwater was able to amass these stats while missing three games makes it even more impressive.

An interesting side note to this game – in 1969, both Northeastern and Reidsville were both 3A and won their respective regions. However, in the 1960s, the state association did not play state title games in the 3A classification so these two teams never got to settle who was the best 3A team in the state. In the minds of some, this year’s game between these two teams is for both the 1969 and 2018 state title.

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

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	(9-0)	1
2	Shelby	(9-0)	2
3	Monroe	(9-0)	3
4	Clinton	(7-1)	4
5	Kinston	(9-0)	5
6	Northeastern	(7-2)	8
7	TW Andrews	(8-1)	9
8	West Stokes	(8-1)	10
9	Greene Central	(8-1)	6
10	Franklin	(7-2)	11
11	SouthWest Edgecombe	(8-1)	12
12	Lincolnton	(7-2)	13
13	Maiden	(8-1)	14
14	East Bladen	(7-2)	7
15	Wilkes Central	(8-1)	15

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	(8-0)	1
2	Shelby	(9-0)	2
3	Monroe	(8-0)	3
4	Clinton	(6-1)	5
5	Kinston	(8-0)	6
6	Greene Central	(8-0)	7
7	East Bladen	(7-1)	9
8	Northeastern	(6-2)	8
9	TW Andrews	(7-1)	10
10	West Stokes	(7-1)	11
11	Franklin	(6-2)	12
12	SouthWest Edgecombe	(7-1)	4
13	Lincolnton	(6-2)	13
14	Maiden	(7-1)	14
15	Wilkes Central	(7-1)	15

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	(7-0)	1
2	Shelby	(7-0)	2
3	Monroe	(7-0)	3
4	SouthWest Edgecombe	(7-0)	4
5	Clinton	(5-1)	5
6	Kinston	(7-0)	6
7	Greene Central	(7-0)	7
8	Northeastern	(5-2)	8
9	East Bladen	(6-1)	9
10	TW Andrews	(6-1)	10
11	West Stokes	(6-1)	11
12	Franklin	(5-2)	13
13	Lincolnton	(5-2)	15
14	Maiden	(6-1)	NR
15	Wilkes Central	(6-1)	NR

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	(6-0)	1
2	Shelby	(6-0)	2
3	Monroe	(6-0)	3
4	SouthWest Edgecombe	(6-0)	4
5	Clinton	(4-1)	6
6	Kinston	(6-0)	8
7	Greene Central	(6-0)	9
8	Northeastern	(4-2)	10
9	East Bladen	(5-1)	5
10	TW Andrews	(5-1)	13
11	West Stokes	(5-1)	14
12	Red Springs	(5-0)	NR
13	Franklin	(4-2)	15
14	Lexington	(4-1)	NR
15	Lincolnton	(4-2)	7

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	(5-0)	1
2	Shelby	(6-0)	2
3	Monroe	(6-0)	3
4	SouthWest Edgecombe	(6-0)	5
5	East Bladen	(5-0)	4
6	Clinton	(4-1)	6
7	Lincolnton	(4-1)	7
8	Kinston	(5-0)	8
9	Greene Central	(6-0)	10
10	Northeastern	(4-2)	9
11	Reidsville	(3-2)	15
12	Wilkes Central	(5-0)	NR
13	TW Andrews	(4-1)	NR
14	West Stokes	(5-1)	NR
15	Franklin	(3-2)	NR

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	(4-0)	1
2	Shelby	(5-0)	2
3	Monroe	(5-0)	3
4	East Bladen	(4-0)	5
5	SouthWest Edgecombe	(5-0)	6
6	Clinton	(3-1)	4
7	Lincolnton	(4-1)	10
8	Kinston	(5-0)	13
9	Northeastern	(3-2)	7
10	Greene Central	(5-0)	NR
11	Forest Hills	(4-1)	NR
12	Carver	(3-2)	8
13	Newton-Conover	(3-1)	15
14	Northside-Jacksonville	(3-2)	9
15	Reidsville	(3-2)	11

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.

	Week 5 Rankings	Record	LW
1	East Lincoln	(4-0)	1
2	Shelby	(4-0)	2
3	Monroe	(4-0)	6
4	Clinton	(3-0)	3
5	East Bladen	(3-0)	7
6	SouthWest Edgecombe	(4-0)	8
7	Northeastern	(3-1)	4
8	Carver	(3-1)	10
9	Northside-Jacksonville	(3-1)	9
10	Lincolnton	(3-1)	12
11	Reidsville	(3-1)	5
12	Franklin	(2-1)	13
13	Kinston	(4-0)	15
14	Maiden	(3-0)	NR
15	Newton-Conover	(2-1)	14