CHAPEL HILL – Drake Maye’s quarterback keeper for a touchdown and successful two-point conversion pass made the difference as the #24 North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the visiting Duke Blue Devils in 2OT on Saturday night at Kenan Stadium. The Blue Devils had a chance to tie the game after Grayson Loftis hit Jordan Moore for a touchdown in the overtime period, but the two-point conversion pass was overthrown, and the Tar Heels faithful rushed the field in celebration of a big win over their rivals from Durham.

How it Happened:

The game kicked off with the North Carolina Tar Heels taking an early lead in the first quarter, with Drake Maye rushing for a touchdown and Noah Burnette adding a field goal. The Tar Heels continued their momentum into the second quarter with another field goal from Burnette. However, the Duke Blue Devils responded with a touchdown pass from Grayson Loftis to Jordan Moore and a rushing touchdown from Loftis himself, taking a brief lead. The Tar Heels managed to regain the lead just before halftime with another field goal from Burnette.

In the second half, the Tar Heels extended their lead with another field goal from Burnette in the third quarter. The fourth quarter saw a back-and-forth battle, with the Blue Devils’ Jordan Waters rushing for two touchdowns and the Tar Heels’ Omarion Hampton and Bryson Nesbit each scoring a touchdown. The Tar Heels managed to tie the game at the end of regulation with a field goal from Burnette. In overtime, both teams scored a field goal in the first round. In the second round, the Tar Heels scored a touchdown thanks to a rush from Maye, but the Blue Devils could only manage a touchdown, giving the Tar Heels a 47-45 victory.

Offensive Showdown:

The offensive prowess of both teams was on full display, with the Tar Heels amassing 537 total yards compared to Duke’s 379. North Carolina’s quarterback, Drake Maye, played a pivotal role, completing 28 of 43 passes for 342 yards and one touchdown. Maye also demonstrated his versatility with two rushing touchdowns, contributing significantly to the Tar Heels’ offensive strategy.

Maye’s favorite targets included Devontez Walker, who racked up an impressive 162 receiving yards, and Bryson Nesbit, who secured a touchdown with a 15-yard reception. On the rushing front, Omarion Hampton led the Tar Heels with 169 yards and a crucial touchdown, showcasing the team’s multifaceted offensive approach.

Duke’s Grayson Loftis answered with a solid performance, completing 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan Moore was Loftis’s go-to receiver, notching three touchdown receptions and accumulating 88 receiving yards. Jordan Waters contributed significantly on the ground for Duke with two rushing touchdowns.

Defensive Struggles and Triumphs:

While the game was marked by offensive fireworks, both teams faced challenges on the defensive end. North Carolina’s Cedric Gray and Don Chapman made significant impacts, with Chapman registering a sack and Gray contributing 11 total tackles. The Tar Heels’ defense managed three sacks and six tackles for loss, disrupting Duke’s offensive rhythm at crucial moments.

Duke’s Tre Freeman led the defensive efforts with 14 total tackles, a sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss. Despite the defensive challenges, the Blue Devils’ Chandler Rivers made a critical interception, giving the ball back to the Blue Devils in the red zone and leading to Duke’s second touchdown.

The Takeaway:

North Carolina’s hopes of making the ACC title game are still alive with this win. The Tar Heels (8-2, 4-2) are a game behind Louisville with two weeks left to go in the regular season, but the road to Charlotte will be difficult with road matchups against Clemson and NC State left on the docket. Duke (6-4, 3-3) stays on the road next week at Virginia before returning home to face Pitt in the regular season finale.

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.

New Bern struck first with a six-play, sixty-four-yard
drive, all on the ground. Senior running back Chamir Wright capped off the
drive with a twenty-two tard scamper around the left side of the line. The Bears
looked to try and put the game away early after No’Tavien Green wrestled a pass
from a Grimsley receiver and returned the interception into Whirlies territory.
Aronne Herring punched it in five plays later to give New Bern a 13-0 lead.

A ninety-eight-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by
Terrell Anderson got the Grimsley on their feet and the Whirlies defense
stepped up on the next drive, stopping the Bears for the first time on the
evening. A five-play, fifty-one-yard drive, finished off with a thirty-yard
Ryan Stephens rushing touchdown gave the Whirlies their first lead of the
night. The lead was short-lived, though, as New Bern’s Chamir Wright found the
end zone a second time, and the New Bern defense held on a fourth down to end
the half.

After forcing a three-and-out to start the second half,
Aronne Herring exploded on the next play, racing sixty-six yards for the score.
Just like the first half, when it looked like New Bern was poised to take a
three-score lead, the Grimsley defense stepped up again, forcing a fumble on a
fourth down and returning into New Bern territory. Mitchell Summers’s six-yard
score made it a one-score game going into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter began with a bang as New Bern quarterback
Damaree Tucker ran the option keeper for a twenty-three-yard touchdown. In what
seemed to be a pattern on the evening, the Bears were knocking on the door for
a score again, but the Grimsley defense stuffed New Bern at the one-yard line. The
Whirlies were ninety-nine yards away from the end zone, but undeterred. When
Terrell Anderson got behind the New Bern defense and hauled in the Ryan
Stephens pass, the junior receiver raced eighty-five yards for the score,
keeping the Whirlies fans on the edge of their seats. New Bern had the final
say, a thirty-six-yard score by Bears quarterback Tucker, his second of the
night.

MVP – No'Tavien Green

Grimsley Def. MOP – Keshaun Jones

Grimsley Off. MOP – #22 Mitchell Summers

New Bern Def. MOP – KJ Sampson

New Bern Off. MOP – Aronne Herring

CHAPEL HILL – Records fell in Friday night's 3A state championship game between the Dudley Panthers and the JH Rose Rampants. Fans in attendance were treated to an offensive spectacle as the two teams combined for 109 points, breaking a fourteen-year-old record. Dudley set the record for most points in a neutral site title game as the Panthers raced past the Rampants, 69-40, to secure their seventh state championship and first in five seasons.

Everything seemed to be going Dudley's way at the start of the game. A holding penalty on the first play of the game and a sack two plays later forced an early punt from deep in Rose territory. A good return set up the Panthers at the Rampant 29-yard line. Five plays later, RJ Baker rushed it in from three yards out. On the ensuing drive, a pass over the middle was picked off by Jaylan Richmond, who raced fifty-six yards for the pick-six and an early two-score lead. After forcing another punt, Dudley's Michael Shaw burst through the line and sprinted seventy-six yards down the home sideline for the Panthers' third score to open the game.

JH Rose responded with an eight-play drive on its next possession. After Will Taylor threw a pass where only his guy could get it, Jayden Grimes hauled in a catch in the left side of the end zone to give the Rampants their first points of the night. This seemed to give some momentum to the Rose defense as well, and the Rampant faithful were yelling ecstatically when sophomore safety Jameer Roach stepped in front of a Dudley pass and scooted fifty-nine yards down the field for the pick-six. At the end of the first quarter, things looked to be going Rose's way as the Rampants had cut the Panthers' lead to one score.

Dudley found its mojo again in the second quarter. After giving up the scoring interception the drive before, Jahmier Slade was determined to not let that be the deciding factor in the first half. The senior quarterback engineered a seven-play, sixty-five-yard scoring drive with Slade himself running it in around the left side to extend the Panthers' lead to 27-14. It was a short-lived momentum burst, though, as a bad snap on a punt attempt on Dudley's next possession set up Rose at the six-yard line. Senior running back Klavon Brown did the rest one play later and one score separated the two teams halfway through the second quarter.

In what seemed to be the critical turning point of the game, fortune favored the Panthers late in the quarter as the Panthers were able to add two touchdowns in the last minute of the first half. A recovered fumble set up a five-yard Mekhi Wall rushing score and a recovery on the ensuing kickoff helped Dudley go into the half with a 49-20 lead after Jahmier Slade's fourteen-yard scoring pass to RJ Baker.

What was supposed to be a football state championship game turned into a track meet of sorts in the third quarter as each team found new ways to score each time they held the ball. A big kickoff return got the Panthers started in Rose territory and the western regional champions took advantage of the great field position, scoring a minute and a half later on Jahmier Slade's second rushing touchdown of the evening. Rose refused to relent even in the face of a seemingly insurmountable Dudley lead. Will Taylor and Jayden Grimes connected for the second time of the evening, a forty-three-yard pass that picked up the mood on the Rampant sideline early in the third quarter.

The two teams kept trading blows like heavyweight fighters through the rest of the quarter. After Dudley scored on a Slade to Wall pass for the second time on the night, Rose got back on the board with a long pass from Taylor to Montez Green. Dudley went right back down the field, with Slade keeping it for his third score of the night. Just when it looked like the fireworks would slow down, RJ Baker took a Rose punt to the house to make it 69-34 going into the final quarter. Rose would add a late score to set the final tally.

MVP – Jahmier Slade (Dudley)

Dudley Def. MOP – Logan Wright (DE)

Dudley Off. MOP – Michael Shaw (RB)

JH Rose Off. MOP – Jayden Grimes (WR)

JH Rose Def. MOP – Klavon Brown (LB)

1A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, December 11, 2021 - 12:00 p.m.

Kenan Stadium - University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, NC

#1 Tarboro Vikings (13-1) vs. #3 Mitchell Mountaineers (13-2)

TV: WRDC (My28) RDU; ELOS (My40) Asheville; EYDO (Bounce TV) New Bern; WMYV (My48) Triad

Tarboro in State Championships: 11 appearances (7-4, .636); Won 2020-21; 2018, 2017, 2011, 2010, 2009, 1994

Mitchell in State Championships: 1 Appearance (0-1, .000); Lost to Wallace-Rose Hill 48-28 (1AA 2015)

2A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, December 11, 2021 - 3:00 p.m.

Carter-Finley Stadium - NC State University - Raleigh, NC

#10 Wallace-Rose Hill Bulldogs (13-2) vs. #1 Shelby Golden Lions (14-1)

TV: WRDC (My28) RDU; WCCB (CW) Charlotte; EYDO (Bounce TV) New Bern; ELOS (My40) Asheville; WMYV (My48) Triad

WRH in SCG: 10 appearances (7-3, .700); Won in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2004, 2003, 1996, 1994

Shelby in SCG: 15 appearances (11-4, .733) Won in 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2006, 2005, 1998, 1987, 1986

3A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Friday, December 10, 2021 - 7:00 p.m.

Kenan Stadium - University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, NC

#6 J.H. Rose Rampants (11-4) vs. #3 Dudley Panthers (14-1)

TV: WMYV (My48) Triad; EYDO (BounceTV) New Bern; WRDC (My28) RDU; ELOS (My40) Asheville

JHR in State Championships: 7 appearances (5-2, .714); Won in 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 1975

Dudley in State Championships: 6 appearances (4-2, .667); Won in 2016, 2013, 2008, 2007

4A FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Saturday, December 11, 2021 - 7:00 p.m.

Carter-Finley Stadium - NC State University - Raleigh, NC

#6 Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders (13-2) vs. #10 Julius Chambers Cougars (14-1)

TV: WRDC (My28) RDU; WCCB (CW) Charlotte; ELOS (My40) Asheville; WMYV (My48) Triad; WYDO (Fox) New Bern

Cardinal Gibbons in State Championships: 2 appearances (0-2, .000); Lost in 2019 (4A) & 2020-21 (4A)

Chambers in State Championships: 3 appearances (2-1, .667) Won in 2020-21, 2019 (then named Vance HS)

FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NOTES

As far back as NCHSAA Playoff Bracket Records go (1972) this year marks the first time that there has not been at least one unbeaten team in the State Championship Games.

The last time there were no unbeaten State Champions in the NCHSAA was in 2000. The lone unbeaten team to reach the State Championship Games that year was 4A South View, which fell to Independence 24-19 beginning the Patriots' unprecedented run of 7-straight State Championships.

Prior to 2000, the only other time in NCHSAA Playoff Bracket Records (1972) that there was not an unbeaten State Champion in NCHSAA play was in 1991 when the lone unbeaten to reach the State Championships was 4A West Charlotte which fell to South View 10-7.

Programs participating in this weekend’s State Championship Games have combined for 36 State Championships. The programs have posted a combined all-time (since 1972) playoff record of 468-185 (.717) in NCHSAA competition.

The 2A Championship Game features the two winningest programs in this weekend’s finals. Shelby and Wallace-Rose Hill have combined for 18 State Championships in NCHSAA play and have a combined 196 wins against just 55 losses in the playoffs since 1972.

Tarboro and Chambers are tied for the most consecutive State Championship appearances. This marks the fourth straight year for both schools reaching the State Championship Game.

Shelby has the most prolific passing attack of the teams remaining in this year’s State Finals. The Golden Lions have passed for 3759 yards this season on 232-364 attempts with 47 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions.

Wallace-Rose Hill has the most rushing yards of any team remaining this weekend. The Bulldogs have run for 6679 yards this season on 578 attempts with 92 touchdowns. They are averaging 445.3 yards per game on the ground and will finish the season with the most rushing yards in a season for any NCHSAA program.

Kanye Roberts from Wallace-Rose Hill leads the NCHSAA in rushing yards this season piling up 3250 yards on 260 carries. He is averaging 216.7 yards per game and has 53 touchdowns on the year. He currently sits 12th on the All-Time NCHSAA single-season rushing list and needs just 60 yards in the SCG to pass Elijah Hood (Charlotte Catholic) and Quan Warley (Thomasville) for 10th and 11th all-time respectively.