State Championship Saturday

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Murphy Bulldogs found themselves down a score twice in the 1A Football State Championship game, but the Bulldogs controlled the game for much of the afternoon rushing for 354 yards and holding the ball for over 29 minutes of the 48 played on the way to a 15-14 win. It was the Bulldogs eighth state championship win in NCHSAA play and the seventh for head coach David Gentry.

Things looked good for Plymouth early as Elijah Carmack slashed into the endzone from five yards out with 9:53 to go in the first quarter. It took a few possessions but Murphy was able to answer and tie the game at seven when Slade McTaggart got loose for a 10-yard touchdown run with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter.

Plymouth surged back in front late in the first quarter as Aryn Gibson tossed a bomb to Ta’Quaun White who streaked 56 yards for a score with :19 seconds to go in the first quarter giving Plymouth a 15-14 lead.

Coming out of halftime trailing 14-7, Murphy handed the ball to Kadrian McRae who dashed 47 yards to the endzone to cut the lead to 14-13 with 10:00 to go in the third. Plymouth was called for encroachment twice on the point after attempt and Gentry elected to pull the kicking unit off the field and go for two. Quarterback Joey Curry powered his way across the line for two, giving Murphy a 15-14 lead.

McRae was named the game’s Most Valuable Player rushing for 171 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Curry was named Murphy’s Most Oustanding Offensive player, going 4 for 8 on the day with 50 yards passing, adding another 16 yards on the ground. He played much of the game with injured index finger on his throwing hand after slicing his finger on a chinstrap buckle on the third play of the game.

Plymouth ended the season 12-4 on the season as champions of the Coastal 10 1A conference. The Vikings made their fifth straight appearance in an NCHSAA State Championship Game and their sixth all-time.

Murphy finished the year 15-1, champions of the Smoky Mountain 1A Conference. The Bulldogs returned to the State Championship for the 11th time since 1972, and the first time since 2013 when they defeated Plymouth 35-34.

3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

South Point 16, Rocky Mount 7

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Thomas Lempereur booted three field goals to make the difference for South Point in a 16-7 victory over Rocky Mount, winning the 3A State Championship and claiming the school’s fifth football state championship. The victory for the Red Raiders avenged an overtime loss in last year’s 3A State Championship to Rocky Mount.

South Point opened the scoring as Lempereur converted a 29-yard field goal to break the ice with 3:32 to go in the opening quarter. It took the remainder of the half for either team to break through again as Rocky Mount got a 25-yard touchdown pass from Shabios Lynch to Shyheim Battle with just eight seconds remaining in the half to pick up a 7-3 lead at the break.

Lempereur drew the Red Raiders within one as he knocked a 36-yard field goal through with 8:16 remaining in the third, making the score 7-6. The Red Raider defense then forced a fumble which Tanner Canterberry recovered at the Gryphon 23 yardline.

The Red Raiders cashed in six plays later as quarterback Scottie Lee found Ray Grier from seven yards out for a score with 4:39 to go in the third quarter giving South Point a 13-7 lead.

Defenses controlled the remainder of the game as the only score came off of a 25-yard Lempereur field goal with 3:06 to play. South Point’s defense was dominant on the day holding the Gryphon offense to just 118 yards of total offense while forcing a fumble and an interception on the game.

Rocky Mount completed the season 13-3, finishing second in the Big East 3A Conference behind Southern Nash, a team they knocked out of the playoffs in the second round. The Gryphons made the school’s seventh appearance in an NCHSAA Football Championship all-time.

South Point’s Jake Alexander was named the game’s Most Valuable Player as he rushed for 135 yards on 28 carries. The Red Raiders finished the season 12-4, second place in the Big South 2A/3A Conference. South Point claimed the school’s fourth state title all time in five appearances.

2AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Shelby 28, Northside-Jax 6

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Golden Lions of Shelby had lived up to the “Golden” moniker all season long as the Lions had never trailed at any point of the 2016 football season coming into the school’s fourth straight appearance in the state championship game. They never trailed in the 2AA title game either, as Shelby took down Northside-Jacksonville 28-6 to win the school’s ninth state title all-time and their fourth straight.

Shelby opened the scoring just 48 seconds into the contest as Devin Gullatte score the first of his two touchdowns on the day from three yards out. The Lions tacked on another score as quarterback Malik Sarratt improvised to find Juwan Sims in the flats before Sims powered his way into the endzone to give Shelby a 14-0 with 7:13 to go in the first quarter.

Sims was named the game’s Most Valuable Player as he caught two passes for 19 yards and a score while rushing for 152 yards on 21 carries. Sarratt was picked as Shelby’s Most Outstanding Offensive Performer completing 10 of 9 passes for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns while rushing for 24 yards. Dax Hollifield was chosen as the Most Outstanding Defensive player for the Lions with 16 total tackles on the day, 3.5 for a loss, a single sack and fumble recovery.

Shelby’s stud receiver Jayden Borders got free to haul in a 7 yard pass from Sarratt late in the second quarter, giving the Lions a 21-0 halftime lead. Borders finished the day with five catches for 86 yards and a score.

Northside-Jacksonville came out in the second half and continued to fight even down by 21. Jonte McMullen found Cameron Rogers who made a beautiful one-handed catch in stride down the sideline for a 33-yard score. The point after was blocked and the Lions held a 21-6 advantage with 7:10 to go in the third quarter.

Gullatte’s second touchdown of the day ended the scoring with a two-yard run with 11:09 to play in the game making the score 28-6.

Northside-Jacksonville completed the season 12-4, finishing second in the East Central 2A Conference behind East Duplin, a team they defeated in the regional finals. The Monarchs made the school’s first appearance in an NCHSAA Football State Championship game.

Shelby finished the season 16-0, champions of the South Mountain Athletic 2A/3A Conference. The senior class completed the rare sweep as members of the senior class were a part of the State Championship team in all four years of their time at Shelby. They became the fourth school in history to win four straight football state championships.

4AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Wake Forest 29, Page 0

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Wake Forest Cougars defense led the way to make the school’s fourth appearance in the state championship game and defense dominated the day bringing the Cougars their first state championship with a 29-0 victory over Greensboro Page.

The Cougar defense held the explosive Page offense to just 142 yards of offense all day and forced four interceptions. The defense opened the day by forcing a three-and-out on the Pirates first offensive series. Then Wake Forest special teams came up big as Darius Hodge broke through and blocked the Pirate punt. The block was recovered by Thomas Murray who scooped up the ball at the Pirate 10 and scored to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead with 10:42 to go in the first quarter.

After another Pirate three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Wake Forest took over near midfield at their own 42, driving seven plays and cashing in on the good field position with a 2-yard Devon Lawrence touchdown run. The point after was blocked and the Cougars jumped in front 13-0 with 5:45 to go in the first.

The Pirate offense continued to struggle, as Wake Forest continued to force the pressure on Pirate quarterback Will Jones. Darius Hodge dominated the game from the linebacker spot making 17 tackles on the afternoon, including the blocked punt. He was named the game’s M.V.P. Seth Williams had two interceptions and was tapped as the Cougars Most Outstanding Defensive Performer.

The Cougar offense capitalized on good field position most of the night as Lawrence turned in a strong performance against the Pirates solid defensive front. Lawrence gained 77 yards on the ground, scoring two touchdowns rushing while throwing for another on a halfback pass to Lex Goodwin with 10:08 to play in the fourth, giving Wake Forest a 29-0 lead.

The Pirates completed their season 14-2 on the year and champions of the All-Metro 4A Conference. Javon Leake was named Page’s Most Outstanding Offensive Performer with 36 hard-earned yards on 18 carries.

Wake Forest finished the year unblemished at 16-0, they were the champions of the CAP 8 4A Conference. They claimed the school’s first championship and made their fourth appearance in the state finals, all since 2010. The win for Wake Forest was the first Football Championship for a team from Wake County since Garner won the title in 1987, snapping a 29-year drought.

3AA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Weddington 33, Eastern Guilford 20

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Eastern Guilford took an early lead on the first play from scrimmage, but ultimately it was Weddington’s defense that won the day as the Warriors managed a a 33-20 victory in the 3AA State Title game. It was the school’s first football championship in two appearances in the finals.

The Wildcats struck first on an 80-yard touchdown pass to Nic Cheeley from Dominique Graves on the first play from scrimmage. Weddington struck back to tie the game on the final play of the first quarter when James Shipley hauled in a pass for 47 yards and a score from Warrior QB David Bayha.

Eastern Guilford took the lead back just three plays later when Bryant Barr went streaking 40 yards for a score to give the Wildcats a 14-7 lead with 10:45 to play in the first half. The next two scores went to Weddington as Bayha found Max Brimigion from 47 yards out to tie the game at 14 with 8:57 to go in the half. Then Denzel Patton capped off a 9-play, 60-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to give the Warriors their first lead of the game with 3:04 to go in the half.

In the second half, Weddington extended the lead as Bayha threw his third and final touchdown of the game to Richie Laughlin, covering 27 yards and putting the Warriors up 27-14 with 4:07 to go in the third quarter after the point-after failed.

Then a short punt set the Warriors up with a short field and after four plays and 37 yards Chase Randolph found pay-dirt to give the Warriors a 33-14 advantage with 1:07 to go in the third.

Eastern Guilford tried to claw back into the game in the fourth quarter as Bryant Barr hit Zaccheus Milton for a 24-yard strike and score. The two-point conversion attempt failed leaving the Wildcats down 33-20 with 5:55 to go.

The Warriors won the ground battle offensively, rolling up 173 yards rushing while only allowing 105 by the Wildcats. Weddington held a 356 to 259-yard edge in total offense. Bayha was named the game’s M.V.P. with a 10 for 17 performance for 183 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He also rushed 13 times for 74 yards on the afternoon.

Eastern Guilford concluded the year 15-1, champions of the Mid-State 3A Conference. The Wildcats made their first appearance in an NCHSAA Football State Championship game.

Weddington ended the year 13-3, champions of the Southern Carolina 3A Conference for the first time in school history. The State Title was Weddington’s first in two appearances in the State Finals.

4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Dudley 54, Cape Fear 0

RALEIGH, N.C. – It didn’t take long, one minute to be exact, for the Dudley Panthers to seize control of the 4A State Championship Game against Cape Fear. Dudley took the reins on the third play from scrimmage as Hendon Hooker lofted a pass down the left sideline to Nigel Fitzgerald who hauled it in and sprinted 79 yards for the opening score and as he took off, so did the Panthers, never to look back.

Fitzgerald and Hooker connected one other time on the night as Hooker hit Fitzgerald on a seven-yard back shoulder throw in the end zone in the closing second of the first half as the Panthers stretched the lead to 34-0. Dudley went on to capture the school’s fourth championship in six appearances in an NCHSAA Championship game, knocking out Cape Fear 54-0.

Hendon Hooker was brilliant at quarterback for the Panthers. Hooker threw three touchdown passes in the first half alone. He accounted for six touchdowns in total, 3 on the ground and 3 in the air as he threw for 221 yards and rushed for another 89 yards on the night on his way to M.V.P. honors in the game, voted unanimously by the assembled media.

Zareik Rush had a two touchdown night for the Panthers as well, accounting for 120 yards rushing with scores of 25 and 52 yards.

The Dudley defense was solid as well, holding the balanced Cape Fear attack to just 108 yards on the night. Nigel Peele was named the Most Outstanding Performer on the defensive side of the ball with seven tackles on the night and a pass break up.

Cape Fear struggled mightily all night long with the Colts dual-threat quarterback Justice Galloway-Velasquez held under 100 yards of total offense on the night for the first time this season. Galloway-Velasquez was named the Colts Most Outstanding Offensive Performer with 110 yards through the air and -15 on the ground as he was under siege all night by the Dudley defense.

The Colts concluded their year 15-1, the best season in school history, winning 10 or more games for the first time in a year as a program. They were the undefeated champions of the Mid-South 4A Conference.

Dudley wrapped up their year at 15-1 on the season, finishing second in the All-Metro 4A behind Page who also reached a State Championship Final. The Panthers won their first State Championship since their 2013 victory over Scotland County in the 4A title game.

2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Reidsville 58, Holmes 12

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Reidsville Rams captured the school’s 16th state championship to go along with three regional titles they won in the 1960’s when play didn’t culminate in a full state champion as they blew past John A. Holmes 58-12. Jaron Letterlough accounted for five touchdowns, four rushing and one receiving on his way to M.V.P. honors in the game.

Letterlough opened the scoring with a five yard run in the first quarter, then adding an 18-yard TD to put the Rams up 14-0 early. The Aces struck back with Keimon Bailey streaking for 55 yards and a score, but the point after failed and Holmes trailed 14-6.

Letterlough added a 45-yard touchdown reception and the Rams tacked on a pair of field goals in the second quarter while the Aces got a 7-yard touchdown run by Mitjanta Stanley to make the halftime score 27-12.

The second half was all Reidsville as Letterlough added an 18-yard touchdown run in the third to stretch the Rams lead to 34-12. He added another five-yard touchdown run to take the lead to 44-12 and cement his spot as the game’s M.V.P.

Letterlough was credited with 153 yards rushing on 15 carries, scoring four times on the ground. He added three catches for 47 yards and a receiving touchdown as well.

Reidsville’s Most Outstanding Offensive Performer award went to the kicker Brad Green who was 7 for 7 on the night for point after attempts and converted field goals from 21, 25 and 34 yards. The Ram’s Most Outstanding Defensive Performer was Jaquan Hairson with two second half tackles and a fumble recovery in the second half. He added a sack and a forced fumble in the first half.

Reidsville Quarterback Tanner Wilson was steady all night completing 10 of 16 passes for 108 yards and a score.

The Aces finished the season 13-3 as the tri-champions of the Northeastern Coastal 2A Conference. They made their first appearance in an NCHSAA State Championship in the modern era (since 1972). Holmes was paced offensively by Bailey who had 14 carries for 81 yards and a score. He was the Aces Most Outstanding Offensive Performer. Zakeem Brooks was tapped as the Aces Most Outstanding Defensive Performer with seven tackles on the night to lead the team.

Reidsville completed a perfect 16-0 season, winning the Mid-State 2A conference and the program’s record-holding 16th championship. The Rams returned to the State Championship for the first time since winning the 2AA title over Newton-Conover in 2009. – The Reidsville Rams captured the school’s 16th state championship to go along with three regional titles they won in the 1960’s when play didn’t culminate in a full state champion as they blew past John A. Holmes 58-12. Jaron Letterlough accounted for five touchdowns, four rushing and one receiving on his way to M.V.P. honors in the game.

Letterlough was credited with 153 yards rushing on 15 carries, scoring four times on the ground. He added three catches for 47 yards and a receiving touchdown as well.

Reidsville Quarterback Tanner Wilson was steady all night completing 10 of 16 passes for 108 yards and a score.