Reidsville rolled past Mountain Heritage 35-6 in the 2A State Championship
Game, claiming the school’s NCHSAA record 19th 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
