CHAPEL HILL – Battle Holley’s East Duplin Panthers have scraped by in a few contests this season, including two against county rival Wallace-Rose Hill, but no game was closer for Holly’s squad than Saturday’s title game against Reidsville, the state’s winningest team. Guided by Avery Gaby’s 184 rushing yards and a timely play by safety Elam Moore, the Panthers were able to hang on for a 24-21 victory and the 2A state championship.

East Duplin took the opening kickoff and drove sixty yards down the field, with Avery Gaby’s clutch fourth down run extending the drive when it looked like the Panthers would be stopped. Gaby punched it in two plays later to give East Duplin an early 7-0 lead. Reidsville looked to respond but was forced to put after a penalty took the Rams out of a favorable fourth down conversion attempt. The subsequent punt was downed at the one-yard line.

East Duplin was able to put together a twelve-play drive, but two false start penalties stalled the Panthers’ progress and they were forced to punt. Reidsville’s offensive woes continued, and the Rams punted again. Playing out the script from the previous drive, East Duplin was methodically driving down the field, getting in the red zone, and looking to take a two-score lead before Reidsville defensive back Que’shyne Flippen ripped the ball out of the East Duplin runner’s arms at the four-yard-line and Jaden McCain picked it up for Rams, returning it sixteen yards. The Rams saw a chance to finally grab some momentum before the half and took it with a fourteen-play, eighty-one-yard drive, getting on the scoreboard with no time remaining on an Al Lee pass to Dionte Neal.

Reidsville seemed poised to ride the momentum into a lead on their first drive of the second half, but an East Duplin defense held the Rams to a field goal attempt. In what would be the most bizarre play on the day, the field goal was blocked and the ball bounced back to the Reidsville holder who did not seem to know that the ball was live. An alert Elam Moore grabbed the ball out of the Reidsville player’s hands and raced seventy yards the other way for the Panthers score.

As Reidsville looked to get back in the game, a Rams pass was tipped and hauled in by Breckin Bowles. The Reidsville defense stepped up and held the Panthers to a twenty-six-yard Darwin Bonilla field goal, keeping the margin at ten points going into the final quarter. The Rams defense stepped up again early in the fourth quarter, stopping East Duplin on downs and setting up a forty-yard Lee to Dionte Neal touchdown pass to make it a three-point game.

It was now up to the East Duplin offense to try and put the game away. In the first half, it was the Panthers’ penalties keeping them out of scoring position and keeping Reidsville in the game. On this final East Duplin drive, it was Rams penalties bailing out the Panthers. East Duplin thought they were putting the game out of reach when Zack Brown’s first completed pass found Kade Kennedy to put the Panthers up ten points, but Reidsville’s Dionte Neal ran the ensuing kickoff back for the Rams touchdown. An illegal touch penalty on the onside kick gave the ball to East Duplin who was able to run out the clock and claim the school’s first football state title.

 1A East

Tarboro, Bye 

North Duplin 22, Southeast Halifax 42

Riverside-Martin 62, Pamlico County 12

North Edgecombe 48, KIPP Pride 6

West Columbus 47, South Creek 0

Gates County 20, Washington County 40

Northside-Pinetown 42, Weldon 6

Northampton Co. 68, Jones 6

Rosewood 44, Chatham Central 8

Warren County 32, Lakewood 16

Southside 2, Rocky Mount Prep (FF) 0

Hobbton 69, Northwest Halifax 28

East Columbus 28, Bear Grass Charter 6

Perquimans 34, Wilson Prep 32

Pender 22, Bertie 14

North Moore 53, Lejeune 7

1A West

Eastern Randolph, Bye 

Mountain Heritage 42, South Stokes 0

Robbinsville 40, Cherryville 14

Cherokee 28, Starmount 21

Christ the King 42, Avery County 13

Hayesville 37, Alleghany 22

North Rowan 49, Carver 6

Mount Airy 72, North Stokes 0

Thomasville 55, Elkin 7

Swain Co. 26, Winston-Salem Prep 8

Draughn 63, Union Academy 13

Mitchell 72, South Davidson 21

Murphy 49, Albemarle 18

East Wilkes 44, Thomas Jefferson 14

Mountain Island Charter 16, Bessemer City 14

Andrews 77, Highland Tech 8

2A East

Princeton 64, Goldsboro 8

Heide Trask 20, Eastern Wayne 6

Cummings 44, Bartlett Yancey 26

Midway 44, East Carteret 35

Northeastern 43, Farmville Central 19

Wallace-Rose Hill 74, Kinston 32

Greene Central 40, St. Pauls 8

Nash Central 60, North Johnston 12

Whiteville 13, Southwest Onslow 3

Holmes 66, SouthWest Edgecombe 41

West Craven 37, Bunn 8

Hertford County 40, East Bladen 8

Clinton 39, Beddingfield 18

South Granville 20, Roanoke Rapids 16

James Kenan 41, Camden County 10

East Duplin 71, North Pitt 16

2A West

Reidsville 76, Madison 14

Providence Grove 48, McMichael 14

Chase 74, North Wilkes 15

Jay M. Robinson 22, Wilkes Central 12

Maiden 68, Polk County 33

Mount Pleasant 28, Walkertown 13

Bunker Hill 41, East Davidson 8

Community School of Davidson 20, East Gaston 14

Burns 62, Morehead 13

Shelby 30, Forest Hills 13

Salisbury 28, Brevard 16

Pine Lake Prep 38, West Stokes 20

Monroe 56, North Stanly 6

Lincolnton 37, Randleman 36

Hendersonville 36, West Lincoln 29

East Surry 42, Anson 0

3A East

Northern Nash 25, Northside-Jacksonville 7

Southern Nash 62, White Oak 26

Vance Co. 28, West Carteret 26

Southern Durham 55, Richlands 12

C.B. Aycock 28, Triton 53

Hunt 3, Smithfield-Selma 0

Jacksonville 21, Rocky Mount 17

Havelock 68, Croatan 7

Seventy-First 62, South Johnston 0

J.H. Rose 44, Cape Fear 24

North Brunswick 14, Westover 6

Lee County 41, Currituck County 38

Terry Sanford 56, South Brunswick 29

Scotland 42, Fike 35

Williams 34, Western Alamance 20

Eastern Alamance 41, Franklinton 7

3A West

Kings Mountain 42, St. Stephens 6

Smoky Mountain 41, Central Davidson 38

West Charlotte 40, Cramer 13

Hibriten 32, Southern Guilford 27

Northwest Cabarrus 17, Ashbrook 3

Ledford 41, Freedom 0

Tuscola 35, Forestview 14

East Lincoln 51, Ashe County 6

Oak Grove 17, West Mecklenburg 12

Crest 33, Statesville 7

Dudley 43, Pisgah 5

South Point 48, Hickory 13

Erwin 41, Carson 27

Eastern Guilford 56, Parkwood 42

West Rowan 35, Franklin 7

West Henderson 45, North Davidson 28

4A East

Hillside 49, Hoke County 18

Apex 42, Panther Creek 35

Holly Springs 36, Richmond 33

Pine Forest 21, Fuquay-Varina 20

Cardinal Gibbons 50, Knightdale 8

Millbrook 27, Clayton 10

Southern Alamance 28, Riverside-Durham 21

New Hanover 45, Broughton 19

Wake Forest 42, Chapel Hill 8

Leesville Road 30, D.H. Conley 27

Cleveland 42, Topsail 14

Rolesville 41, Overhills 16

Pinecrest 42, Laney 35

Jordan 23, Jack Britt 20

Hoggard 42, Heritage 13

New Bern 56, Sanderson 14

4A West

Grimsley 69, Davie 37

Reagan 22, Charlotte Catholic 48

Independence 41, Page 13

Olympic 21, T.C. Roberson 14

Hough 49, Providence 0

Mallard Creek 26, Ardrey Kell 14

Mount Tabor 28, Asheville 26

East Forsyth 49, West Forsyth 0

Watauga 42, South Iredell 13

Northwest Guilford 45, Southeast Guilford 20

Weddington 29, Marvin Ridge 19

Cox Mill 45, Lake Norman 33

A.C. Reynolds 55, A.L. Brown 14

Chambers 34, Porter Ridge 3

Butler 28, Hickory Ridge 21

Mooresville 47, Southwest Guilford 26

1A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND PAIRINGS

EAST

#1 Tarboro (9-1) vs. #17 Southeast Halifax (5-5)

#8 Riverside-Martin (10-1) vs. #9 North Edgecombe (8-3)

#5 West Columbus (8-3) vs. #21 Washington County (4-7)

#13 Northside-Pinetown (7-4) vs. #20 Weldon (3-5)

#3 Rosewood (7-4) vs. #14 Warren County (7-4)

#6 Southside (8-3) vs. #11 Hobbton (9-2)

#23 Perquimans (3-8) vs. #26 East Columbus (3-8)

#2 North Moore (11-0) vs. #18 Pender (6-5)

WEST

#1 Eastern Randolph (9-1) vs. #17 Mountain Heritage (5-6)

#8 Robbinsville (8-3) vs. #24 Cherokee (3-8)

#5 Christ the King (9-2) vs. #12 Hayesville (6-5)

#4 Mount Airy (10-1) vs. #13 North Rowan (7-4)

#3 Thomasville (10-1) vs. #14 Swain County (5-6)

#6 Draughn (10-1) vs. #11 Mitchell (8-3)

#7 Murphy (8-3) vs. #10 East Wilkes (9-2)

#2 Andrews (11-0) vs. #15 Mountain Island Charter (5-5)

2A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND PAIRINGS

EAST

#1 Princeton (10-1) vs. #16 Heide Trask (8-3)

#8 Cummings (7-3) vs. #24 Midway (7-4)

#5 Northeastern (9-2) vs. #12 Wallace-Rose Hill (9-2)

#4 Nash Central (8-3) vs. #13 Greene Central (10-1)

#3 Whiteville (10-1) vs. #14 John A. Holmes (8-3)

#6 West Craven (8-3) vs. #11 Hertford County (10-1)

#7 Clinton (10-1) vs. #10 South Granville (6-5)

#2 East Duplin (10-1) vs. #15 James Kenan (9-2)

WEST

#1 Reidsville (10-1) vs. #17 Providence Grove (8-3)

#8 Chase (11-0) vs. #9 Robinson (10-1)

#5 Maiden (10-1) vs. #21 Mount Pleasant (8-3)

#4 Community School of Davidson (10-1) vs. #13 Bunker Hill
(10-1)

#3 Burns (10-1) vs. #19 Shelby (7-4)

#6 Salisbury (10-1) vs. #11 Pine Lake Prep (10-1)

#7 Monroe (10-1) vs. #23 Lincolnton (6-5)

#2 East Surry (11-0) vs. #15 Hendersonville (9-2)

3A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND PAIRINGS

EAST

#1 Northern Nash (11-0) vs. #16 Southern Nash (8-3)

#9 Southern Durham (7-4) vs. #25 Vance County (7-3)

#21 Hunt (7-4) vs. #28 Triton (6-5)

#4 Havelock (9-2) vs. #20 Jacksonville (6-4)

#3 Seventy-First (11-0) vs. #14 J.H. Rose (8-3)

#6 North Brunswick (10-1) vs. #22 Lee County (8-3)

#7 Terry Sanford (9-2) vs. #10 Scotland (7-4)

#2 Eastern Alamance (10-1) vs. #15 Williams (8-3)

WEST

#1 Kings Mountain (11-0) vs. #17 Smoky Mountain (7-4)

#8 West Charlotte (6-5) vs. #9 Hibriten (6-5)

#5 Northwest Cabarrus (10-1) vs. #12 Ledford (10-1)

#4 East Lincoln (11-0) vs. #13 Tuscola (10-1)

#3 Oak Grove (11-0) vs. #14 Crest (8-3)

#6 Dudley (9-2) vs. #11 South Point (10-1)

#7 Erwin (6-5) vs. #23 Eastern Guilford (7-4)

#2 West Henderson (11-0) vs. #15 West Rowan (9-2)

4A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND PAIRINGS

EAST

#1 Hillside (11-0) vs. #16 Apex (10-1)

#8 Holly Springs (9-2) vs. #9 Pine Forest (9-2)

#5 Cardinal Gibbons (9-2) vs. #12 Millbrook (10-1)

#4 New Hanover (10-1) vs. #13 Southern Alamance (8-3)

#3 Wake Forest (9-2) vs. #14 Leesville Road (9-2)

#6 Cleveland (11-0) vs. #11 Rolesville (8-3)

#7 Pinecrest (9-2) vs. #23 Jordan (5-6)

#2 New Bern (11-0) vs. #18 Hoggard (8-3)

WEST

#1 Grimsley (11-0) vs. #17 Charlotte Catholic (9-2)

#8 Independence (10-1) vs. #9 Olympic (11-0)

#5 Hough (9-2) vs. #12 Mallard Creek (8-3)

#4 East Forsyth (11-0) vs. #20 Mount Tabor (9-2)

#3 Watauga (10-1) vs. #14 Northwest Guilford (9-2)

#6 Weddington (10-1) vs. #11 Cox Mill (9-2)

#7 A.C. Reynolds (10-1) vs. #10 Julius Chambers (9-2)

#2 Mooresville (10-1) vs. #15 Butler (9-2)

THIRD ROUND PAIRINGS

1A EAST

#8 Perquimans (8-2) at #1 Tarboro (10-1)

#5 Rosewood (6-2) at #4 Northampton County (9-2)

#6 Pender (7-3) at #3 North Moore (10-1)

#7 Southside (11-1) at #2 Northside-Pinetown (10-1)

1A WEST

#9 Murphy (8-4) at #1 Eastern Randolph (10-0)

#12 North Rowan (8-3) at #4 Robbinsville (8-3)

#6 Thomasville (9-2) at #3 Mitchell (10-2)

#7 Starmount (8-4) at #2 Mount Airy (12-0)

2A EAST

#8 Nash Central (7-5) at #1 Princeton (11-0)

#5 St. Pauls (10-0) at #4 Whiteville (11-0)

#11 Washington (11-0) at #3 Northeastern (11-0)

#10 Wallace-Rose Hill (10-2) at #2 East Duplin (11-1)

2A WEST

#24 East Gaston (8-4) at #1 Shelby (11-1)

#5 Hendersonville (10-1) at #4 Reidsville (11-0)

#6 Salisbury (11-0) at #3 Maiden (12-0)

#7 Monroe (8-1) at #2 East Surry (11-0)

3A EAST

#8 Westover (10-1) at #1 Eastern Alamance (9-1)

#13 Jacksonville (9-2) at #5 Lee County (9-3)

#6 J.H. Rose (8-4) at #3 Seventy-First (12-0)

#23 Scotland County (7-4) at #2 Northern Nash (11-1)

3A WEST

#25 Forestview (7-5) at #16 South Point (9-3)

#5 North Davidson (8-3) at #4 Crest (9-2)

#11 Kings Mountain (10-2) at #3 Dudley (11-1)

#7 Hibriten (8-3) at #2 Statesville (11-0)

4A EAST

#25 Knightdale (6-5) at #16 Leesville Road (9-2)

#20 Rolesville (7-5) at #12 Millbrook (11-1)

#6 Cardinal Gibbons (10-2) at #3 Cleveland (10-0)

#18 Panther Creek (9-3) at #7 Hoggard (11-1)

4A WEST

#25 Mallard Creek (6-4) at #1 Hough (12-0)

#13 East Forsyth (10-1) at #5 Glenn (9-2)

#27 Cuthbertson (6-6) at #3 Weddington (11-1)

#18 Porter Ridge (8-2) at #10 Julius Chambers (11-1)

1A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST
ROUND SCORES

EAST

#1 Tarboro (9-1), BYE

#16 Southeast Halifax (5-6) 34, #17 Weldon (3-5) 6

#8 Perquimans (7-2) 51, #25 Northwest Halifax (2-7) 8

#9 Riverside-Martin (6-3) 48, #24 Chatham Central (1-8) 0

#5 Rosewood (5-2), BYE

#12 North Edgecombe (6-5) 62, #21 East Columbus (3-6) 38

#20 Warren County (4-6) 32, #13 Pamlico County (3-7) 22

#4 Northampton County (8-2), BYE

#3 North Moore (9-1), BYE

#14 Gates County (4-4) 34, #19 North Duplin (3-7) 0

#6 Pender (6-3) def. #27 Lejeune (0-10); Cancelled – No
Contest (COVID)

#11 West Columbus (5-5) 43, #22 Bertie (1-7) 0

#7 Southside (10-1) 48, #26 South Creek (0-11) 0

#10 KIPP Pride (6-3) 44, #23 Jones Senior (2-8) 22

#15 Hobbton (5-6) 56, #18 Lakewood (4-7) 21

#2 Northside-Pinetown (9-1), BYE

WEST

#1 Eastern Randolph (9-0), BYE

#16 Draughn (6-5) 56, #17 Elkin (3-7) 9

#8 Mountain Heritage (8-2) 51, #25 Albemarle (2-8) 0

#9 Murphy (7-4) 58, #24 Alleghany (2-8) 20

#5 Thomas Jefferson (7-3) 39, #28 Avery County (1-10) 7

#12 North Rowan (7-3) 62, #21 Bessemer City (2-9) 0

#13 Cherokee (6-4) 36, #20 Cherryville (3-8) 15

#4 Robbinsville (7-3) 66, #29 Winston-Salem Prep (1-9) 14

#3 Mitchell (9-2) 49, #30 South Davidson (1-9) 10

#14 Swain County (5-5) 40, #19 Hayesville (3-8) 13

#6 Thomasville (8-2) 62, #27 Highland Tech (0-10) 0

#11 South Stokes (6-4) 28, #22 Christ the King (3-8) 16

#7 Starmount (7-4) 65, #26 South Stanly (2-8) 8

#10 Andrews (7-3) 34, #23 Bishop McGuinness (2-8) 6

#15 East Wilkes (4-6) vs. #18 North Stokes (4-6)

#2 Mount Airy (11-0) 75, #31 Union Academy (0-11) 0

2A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST
ROUND SCORES

EAST

#1 Princeton (10-0) 56, #32 Bunn (3-8) 20

#17 Kinston (8-3) 27, #16 Eastern Wayne (8-3) 21

#8 Nash Central (6-5) 29, #25 Southwest Onslow (2-8) 28

#9 South Granville (5-6) 44, #24 Midway (6-5) 21

#5 St. Pauls (9-0) 56, #28 Goldsboro (4-7) 0

#12 Roanoke Rapids (7-4) 34, #21 Bartlett Yancey (6-4) 14

#13 James Kenan (6-3) 41, #20 East Bladen (4-7) 34

#4 Whiteville (10-0) 56, #29 Camden County (4-7) 0

#3 Northeastern (10-0) 52, #30 East Carteret (4-6) 8

#14 John A. Holmes (8-2) 28, #19 North Pitt (7-4) 22

#6 Cummings (9-1-1) 36, #27 Greene Central (4-7) 28

#11 Washington (10-0) 63, #22 South Columbus (3-5) 36

#7 West Craven (6-3) 54, #26 North Lenoir (4-6) 6

#10 Wallace-Rose Hill (9-2) 71, #23 SouthWest Edgecombe
(3-7) 36

#15 Clinton (8-2) 48, #18 Hertford County (7-4) 44

#2 East Duplin (10-1) 63, #31 West Bladen (3-6) 0

WEST

#1 Shelby (10-1) 55, #32 Owen (4-7) 3

#17 Polk County (7-3) 29, #16 Southwestern Randolph (8-3)
14

#25 Forest Hills (7-4) 27, #8 Providence Grove (8-3) 26

#24 East Gaston (7-4) 57, #9 Community School of Davidson
(8-3) 39

#5 Hendersonville (9-1) 42, #28 West Stanly (3-6) 0

#12 Burns (8-3) 56, #21 McMichael (7-4) 14

#13 Chase (10-1) 47, #20 Pine Lake Prep (6-4) 8

#4 Reidsville (10-0) 49, #29 Randleman (4-7) 7

#3 Maiden (11-0) 37, #30 Mount Pleasant (6-5) 7

#14 West Lincoln (9-2) 41, #19 Surry Central (6-5) 7

#6 Salisbury (10-0) 49, #27 North Forsyth (5-6) 6

#11 Bunker Hill (10-1) 21, #22 East Davidson (6-5) 7

#7 Monroe (7-1) 57, #26 Lincolnton (4-7) 13

#10 J.M. Robinson (10-1) 33, #23 West Stokes (5-5) 14

#15 Forbush (7-3) vs. #18 North Surry (5-4); ppd., Sat. @
7 p.m.

#2 East Surry (10-0) 30, #31 Newton-Conover (3-7) 6

3A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST
ROUND SCORES

EAST

#1 Eastern Alamance (8-1) 56, #32 East Wake (3-8) 12

#16 Havelock (7-3) 33, #17 Rocky Mount (5-6) 28

#8 Westover (9-1) 46, #25 Vance County (7-3) 8

#9 North Brunswick (7-4) 47, #24 South Brunswick (6-5) 30

#5 Lee County (8-3) 59, #28 West Johnston (5-6) 15

#12 Southern Nash (9-1) 49, #21 White Oak (8-3) 9

#13 Jacksonville (8-2) 22, #20 Western Alamance (4-6-1) 8

#4 Hunt (9-2) 28, #29 Franklinton (4-7) 14

#3 Seventy-First (11-0) 28, #30 West Brunswick (3-7) 6

#19 Williams (7-4) 48, #14 Fike (7-3) 24

#6 J.H. Rose (7-4) 45, #27 Croatan (4-7) 24

#22 Terry Sanford (7-3) 64, #11 Currituck County (5-6) 40

#7 West Carteret (8-2) 24, #26 Cape Fear (6-4) 7

#23 Scotland County (6-4) 35, #10 Southern Durham (6-5) 13

#15 Smithfield-Selma (8-3) 54, #18 South Johnston (8-3) 14

#2 Northern Nash (10-1) 24, #31 Northwood (4-6) 17

WEST

#1 Pisgah (10-1) 29, #32 Southern Guilford (4-7) 20

#16 South Point (8-3) 41, #17 Eastern Guilford (7-3) 31

#25 Forestview (6-5) 36, #8 Erwin (6-5) 19

#9 Parkwood (6-2) 42, #24 Rockingham County (5-5) 19

#5 North Davidson (7-3) 59, #28 West Henderson (3-8) 14

#21 Hickory (7-4) 37, #12 Smoky Mountain (7-3) 34

#20 West Rowan (7-3) 34, #13 North Lincoln (8-3) 28

#4 Crest (8-2) 28, #29 Jesse Carson (4-6) 7

#3 Dudley (10-1) 60, #30 North Henderson (4-7) 0

#14 Ledford (8-3) 28, #19 Central Davidson (7-3) 21

#6 West Charlotte (7-3) 34, #27 Stuart Cramer (5-6) 10

#11 Kings Mountain (9-2) 21, #22 Franklin (6-5) 17

#7 Hibriten (7-3) 14, #26 Freedom (5-5) 13

#10 Concord (7-3) 34, #23 Tuscola (6-5) 14

#18 East Lincoln (8-3) 22, #15 Oak Grove (7-3) 14

#2 Statesville (10-0) 49, #31 Enka (4-7) 0

4A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST
ROUND SCORES

EAST

#1 Richmond County (10-1) 52, #32 Jack Britt (4-6) 14

#16 Leesville Road (8-2) 27, #17 Holly Springs (7-4) 13

#25 Knightdale (5-5) 27, #8 Middle Creek (8-3) 14

#9 Pine Forest (10-1) 28, #24 Jordan (4-5) 21

#5 Hillside (8-2) 45, #28 D.H. Conley (4-7) 38

#12 Millbrook (10-1) 49, #21 Garner (4-5) 14

#20 Rolesville (6-5) 56, #13 Pinecrest (8-3) 32

#4 New Bern (10-1) 56, #29 Wakefield (4-7) 49

#3 Cleveland (10-0) 56, #30 Chapel Hill (7-4) 14

#19 Laney (9-2) 17, #14 Fuquay-Varina (7-4) 7

#6 Cardinal Gibbons (9-2) 49, #27 New Hanover (5-6) 10

#11 Heritage (10-1) 34, #22 Clayton (5-6) 12

#7 Hoggard (10-1) 35, #26 Corinth Holders (4-6) 0

#10 South View (9-2) 31, #23 Sanderson (5-4) 24

#18 Panther Creek (8-3) 49, #15 Southern Alamance (8-3) 36

#2 Wake Forest (8-3) 47, #31 Hoke County (4-7) 0

WEST

#1 Hough (11-0) 52, #32 Page (4-7) 3

#16 South Mecklenburg (9-2) 27, #17 West Forsyth (5-5) 21

#25 Mallard Creek (5-4) 29, #8 Butler (7-3) 8

#9 Asheville (9-2) 61, #24 Davie (6-5) 28

#5 Glenn (8-2) 7, #28 Providence (6-5) 3

#12 Myers Park (8-3) 44, #21 Mooresville (6-5) 26

#13 East Forsyth (9-1) 49, #21 Southeast Guilford (7-4) 0

#4 Ardrey Kell (8-2) 62, #29 Northwest Guilford (5-6) 7

#3 Weddington (10-1) 35, #30 North Mecklenburg (5-5) 6

#14 Marvin Ridge (8-2) 20, #19 Charlotte Catholic (7-3) 19

#27 Cuthbertson (5-6) 42, #6 Watauga (8-3) 31

#22 Lake Norman (8-3) 28, #11 Northern Guilford (9-2) 21

#7 Hickory Ridge (9-2) 31, #26 A.C. Reynolds (7-4) 7

#10 Julius Chambers (10-1) 73, #23 South Caldwell (7-3) 20

#18 Porter Ridge (7-2) 27, #15 Reagan (7-4) 21

#2 Grimsley (11-0) 44, #31 Cox Mill (5-6) 8

SECOND ROUND PAIRINGS

1A

East

#16 Southeast Halifax (5-6) at #1 Tarboro (9-1)

#9 Riverside-Martin (6-3) at #8 Perquimans (7-2)

#12 North Edgecombe (6-5) at #5 Rosewood (5-2)

#20 Warren County (4-6) at #4 Northampton County (8-2)

#14 Gates County (4-4) at #3 North Moore (9-1)

#11 West Columbus (5-5) at #6 Pender (6-3)

#10 KIPP Pride (6-3) at #7 Southside (10-1)

#15 Hobbton (5-6) at #2 Northside-Pinetown (9-1)

West

#16 Draughn (6-5) at #1 Eastern Randolph (9-0)

#9 Murphy (7-4) at #8 Mountain Heritage (8-2)

#12 North Rowan (7-3) at #5 Thomas Jefferson (7-3)

#13 Cherokee (6-4) at #4 Robbinsville (7-3)

#14 Swain County (5-5) at #3 Mitchell (9-2)

#11 South Stokes (6-4) at #6 Thomasville (8-2)

#10 Andrews (7-3) at #7 Starmount (7-4)

#15 East Wilkes (4-6) at #2 Mount Airy (11-0)

2A

East

#17 Kinston (8-3) at #1 Princeton (10-0)

#9 South Granville (5-6) at #8 Nash Central (6-5)

#12 Roanoke Rapids (7-4) at #5 St. Pauls (9-0)

#13 James Kenan (6-3) at #4 Whiteville (10-0)

#14 John A. Holmes (8-2) at #3 Northeastern (10-0)

#11 Washington (10-0) at #6 Cummings (9-1-1)

#10 Wallace-Rose Hill (9-2) at #7 West Craven (6-3)

#15 Clinton (8-2) at #2 East Duplin (10-1)

West

#17 Polk County (7-3) at #1 Shelby (10-1)

#25 Forest Hills (7-4) at #24 East Gaston (7-4)

#12 Burns (8-3) at #5 Hendersonville (9-1)

#13 Chase (10-1) at #4 Reidsville (10-0)

#14 West Lincoln (9-2) at #3 Maiden (11-0)

#11 Bunker Hill (10-1) at #6 Salisbury (10-0)

#10 J.M. Robinson (10-1) at #7 Monroe (7-1)

#15 Forbush (8-3) at #2 East Surry (10-0)

3A

East

#16 Havelock (7-3) at #1 Eastern Alamance (8-1)

#9 North Brunswick (7-4) at #8 Westover (9-1)

#12 Southern Nash (9-1) at #5 Lee County (8-3)

#13 Jacksonville (8-2) at #4 Hunt (9-2)

#19 Williams (7-4) at #3 Seventy-First (11-0)

#22 Terry Sanford (7-3) at #6 J.H. Rose (7-4)

#23 Scotland County (6-4) at #7 West Carteret (8-2)

#15 Smithfield-Selma (8-3) at #2 Northern Nash (10-1)

West

#16 South Point (8-3) at #1 Pisgah (10-1)

#25 Forestview (6-5) at #9 Parkwood (6-2)

#21 Hickory (7-4) at #5 North Davidson (7-3)

#20 West Rowan (7-3) at #4 Crest (8-2)

#14 Ledford (8-3) at #3 Dudley (10-1)

#11 Kings Mountain (9-2) at #6 West Charlotte (7-3)

#10 Concord (7-3) at #7 Hibriten (7-3)

#18 East Lincoln (8-3) at #2 Statesville (10-0)

4A

East

#16 Leesville Road (8-2) at #1 Richmond County (10-1)

#25 Knightdale (5-5) at #9 Pine Forest (10-1)

#12 Millbrook (10-1) at #5 Hillside (8-2)

#20 Rolesville (6-5) at #4 New Bern (10-1)

#19 Laney (9-2) at #3 Cleveland (10-0)

#11 Heritage (10-1) at #6 Cardinal Gibbons (9-2)

#10 South View (9-2) at #7 Hoggard (10-1)

#18 Panther Creek (8-3) at #2 Wake Forest (8-3)

West

#16 South Mecklenburg (9-2) at #1 Hough (11-0)

#25 Mallard Creek (5-4) at #9 Asheville (9-2)

#12 Myers Park (8-3) at #5 Glenn (8-2)

#13 East Forsyth (9-1) at #4 Ardrey Kell (8-2)

#14 Marvin Ridge (8-2) at #3 Weddington (10-1)

#27 Cuthbertson (5-6) at #22 Lake Norman (8-3)

#10 Julius Chambers (10-1) at #7 Hickory Ridge (9-2)

#18 Porter Ridge (7-2) at #2 Grimsley (11-0)

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