RALEIGH – The 3A state championship game, scheduled to be the last game of the 2022 North Carolina high school football season, featured two undefeated teams with dynamic offenses and stingy defenses. In the end, it was turnovers that seemed to make the biggest difference, with East Lincoln’s four turnovers leading the Mustangs to a 30-15 victory and the 3A state championship.

Northern Nash started the game with a bang, with Keno Jones hitting a streaking Randall King for a sixty-six-yard catch and run to get the Knights inside the five-yard line on the second play of the game. Jones scored on a keeper on the next play to put Northern Nash on the board less than a minute into the game. A fumble on East Lincoln’s first play from scrimmage looked like it would be a disaster for the Mustangs, but the East Lincoln defense stepped up and turned Northern Nash over on downs.

Energized by their team’s big defensive stops, the Mustangs offense started to hit their stride later in the quarter. Sophomore running back Christopher Daley II punished the Northern Nash defense, rumbling in from thirty-five yards out to give the Mustangs a 7-6 lead. Keno Jones went deep again on the next Northern Nash drive, hitting Trey Battle for forty-five yards to get the Knights in scoring position. The East Lincoln defense kept the Knights out of the end zone and forced a Bryson Jenkins field goal to end the quarter.

The second quarter belonged to quarterback Tyler Mizzell and the Mustangs. Mizzell threw two beautiful touchdown passes to give East Lincoln a commanding lead going into the half. The first score was a toss to Markell Clark, but it was the fade to Keandre Walker in the back corner of the end zone that had the Mustang faithful on their feet and feeling like they had overcome the costly miscues from earlier in the evening. A Christopher Mileta field goal with no time remaining in the half set the intermission score at 24-9. After a scoreless third quarter, Mileta would add the next points of the game with two fourth-quarter field goals. Keno Jones added a late touchdown pass to Ashton Rhodes to cap the scoring.

Defensively, East Lincoln teetered between giving up big passes to Northern Nash’s speedy outside receivers and making athletic plays to pick off passes. Defensive end Diego Neira picked off a screen pass to set up East Lincoln’s second touchdown of the night. Aiden Terrell and Keandre Walker picked off passes on consecutive drives in the third quarter and Marcel Johnson recovered a fumble early in the fourth quarter to keep Northern Nash off the board.

The win marked the third football state championship for East Lincoln, all within the last eleven seasons. Northern Nash suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 0-2 all-time in state title games.

RALEIGH – Mount Airy’s Tyler Mason came into Saturday’s game having scored forty-one touchdowns through fifteen games and needing one-hundred-thirty-seven yards to reach two-thousand yards on the season. The junior lived up to his billing, rushing for three touchdowns and 139 yards and leading his team to the NCHSAA 1A state championship with a 20-7 victory over Tarboro on Saturday afternoon.

The Mount Airy defense entered Saturday afternoon’s 1A state championship against Tarboro giving up less than ten points per game on average. The Granite Bears defense had pitched shutouts in four of its last five regular-season games and two more in the playoffs. Mount Airy was able to hold the Vikings off the scoreboard for the first twenty-seven minutes of the game, finally surrendering a score in the third quarter.

Tarboro finally found its way in the third quarter. After Omarion Lewis picked off a Mount Airy pass and returned it into Granite Bears territory, Vikings running back Mason Satterfield barely broke the goal line on a run around the right side of the formation to get Tarboro on the board for the first time on the afternoon, but it was not enough to dig out of the hold the Vikings found themselves in after surrendering three touchdowns first.

In a twist seen more in 1A football than in other classifications, both team’s quarterbacks made strong defensive efforts on the other side of the ball. Mount Airy’s Ian Gallimore led his team with fourteen tackles and Tarboro’s Omarion Lewis snagged an interception to go along with eight tackles.

The win was the Granite Bears’ seventh title and first since a 2008 win over Williamston. Tarboro, making its sixth straight title game appearance, drops just its second title game in that span.

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

2022
NCHSAA 1A Football Playoffs | First Round Pairings | Friday, November 4, 2022

EAST

#1
Tarboro (9-1), BYE

#16
North Duplin (6-4) vs. #17 Southeast Halifax (4-5)

#8
Riverside-Martin (9-1) vs. #25 Pamlico County (3-7)

#9
North Edgecombe (7-3) vs. #24 KIPP Pride(2-8)

#5
West Columbus (7-3) vs. #28 South Creek (0-10)

#12
Gates County (6-4) vs. #21 Washington County (3-7)

#13
Northside-Pinetown (6-4) vs. #20 Weldon (3-5)

#4
Northampton County (8-2) vs. #29 Jones (1-9)

#3
Rosewood (6-4) vs. #30 Chatham Central (1-9)

#14
Warren County (6-4) vs. #19 Lakewood (5-5)

#6
Southside (7-3) vs. #27 Rocky Mount Prep (1-8)

#11
Hobbton (8-2) vs. #22 Northwest Halifax (2-8)

#7
Bear Grass Charter (5-5) vs. #26 East Columbus (2-8)

#10
Wilson Prep (8-2) vs. #23 Perquimans (2-8)

#15
Bertie (4-6) vs. #18 Pender (5-5)

#2
North Moore (10-0) vs. #31 Lejeune (0-10)

WEST

#1
Eastern Randolph (9-1), BYE

#16
South Stokes (4-6) vs. #17 Mountain Heritage (4-6)

#8
Robbinsville (7-3) vs. #25 Cherryville (2-8)

#9
Starmount (7-3) vs. #24 Cherokee (2-8)

#5
Christ the King (8-2) vs. #28 Avery County (3-7)

#12
Hayesville (5-5) vs. #21 Alleghany (3-7)

#13
North Rowan (6-4) vs. #20 Carver (3-7)

#4
Mount Airy (9-1) vs. #29 North Stokes (1-9)

#3
Thomasville (9-1) vs. #30 Elkin (1-9)

#14
Swain County (4-6) vs. #19 Winston-Salem Prep (3-6)

#6
Draughn (9-1) vs. #27 Union Academy (2-8)

#11
Mitchell (7-3) vs. #22 South Davidson (4-6)

#7
Murphy (7-3) vs. #26 Albemarle (3-7)

#10
East Wilkes (8-2) vs. #23 Thomas Jefferson (2-8)

#15
Mountain Island Charter (4-5) vs. #18 Bessemer City (3-7)

#2
Andrews (10-0) vs. #31 Highland Tech (0-10)

2022
NCHSAA 2A Football Playoffs | First Round Pairings | Friday, November 4, 2022

EAST

#1
Princeton (9-1) vs. #32 Goldsboro (2-8)

#16
Heide Trask (7-3) vs. #17 Eastern Wayne (6-4)

#8
Cummings (6-3) vs. #25 Bartlett Yancey (7-3)

#9
East Carteret (7-3) vs. #24 Midway (6-4)

#5
Northeastern (8-2) vs. #28 Farmville Central (5-5)

#12
Wallace-Rose Hill (8-2) vs. #21 Kinston (6-4)

#13
Greene Central (9-1) vs. #20 St. Pauls (6-3)

#4
Nash Central (7-3) vs. #29 North Johnson (3-7)

#3
Whiteville (9-1) vs. #30 Southwest Onslow (2-7)

#14
John A. Holmes (7-3) vs. #19 Southwest Edgecombe (4-6)

#6
West Craven (7-3) vs. #27 Bunn (4-6)

#11
Hertford County (9-1) vs. #22 East Bladen (5-5)

#7
Clinton (9-1) vs. #26 Beddingfield (5-5)

#10
South Granville (5-5) vs. #23 Roanoke Rapids (3-7)

#15
James Kenan (8-2) vs. #18 Camden County (6-4)

#2
East Duplin (9-1) vs. #31 North Pitt (4-6)

WEST

#1
Reidsville (9-1) vs. #32 Madison (3-7)

#16
McMichael (7-3) vs. #17 Providence Grove (7-3)

#8
Chase (10-0) vs. #25 North Wilkes (7-3)

#9
Robinson (9-1) vs. #24 Wilkes Central (7-3)

#5
Maiden (9-1) vs. #28 Polk County (5-5)

#12
Walkertown (8-2) vs. #21 Mount Pleasant (7-3)

#13
Bunker Hill (9-1) vs. #20 East Davidson (6-4)

#4
Community School of Davidson (9-1) vs. #29 East Gaston (6-4)

#3
Burns (9-1) vs. #30 Morehead (4-6)

#14
Forest Hills (9-1) vs. #19 Shelby (6-4)

#6
Salisbury (9-1) vs. #27 Brevard (5-5)

#11
Pine Lake Prep (9-1) vs. #22 West Stokes (5-5)

#7
Monroe (9-1) vs. #26 North Stanly (6-4)

#10
Randleman (7-3) vs. #23 Lincolnton (5-5)

#15
Hendersonville (8-2) vs. #18 West Lincoln (8-2)

#2
East Surry (10-0) vs. #31 Anson (4-6)

2022
NCHSAA 3A Football Playoffs | First Round Pairings | Friday, November 4, 2022

EAST

#1
Northern Nash (10-0) vs. #32 Northside-Jacksonville (1-8)

#16
Southern Nash (7-3) vs. #17 White Oak (7-2)

#8
West Carteret (7-3) vs. #25 Vance County (6-3)

#9
Southern Durham (6-4) vs. #24 Richlands (6-4)

#5
C.B. Aycock (9-1) vs. #28 Triton (5-5)

#12
Smithfield-Selma (9-1) vs. #21 Hunt (6-4)

#13
Rocky Mount (7-3) vs. #20 Jacksonville (5-4)

#4
Havelock (8-2) vs. #29 Croatan (4-6)

#3
Seventy-First (10-0) vs. #30 South Johnston (5-5)

#14
J.H. Rose (7-3) vs. #19 Cape Fear (7-3)

#6
North Brunswick (9-1) vs. #27 Westover (6-4)

#11
Currituck County (6-4) vs. #22 Lee County (7-3)

#7
Terry Sanford (8-2) vs. #26 South Brunswick (5-5)

#10
Scotland (6-4) vs. #23 Fike (5-5)

#15
Williams (7-3) vs. #18 Western Alamance (6-4)

#2
Eastern Alamance (9-1) vs. #31 Franklinton (4-6)

WEST

#1
Kings Mountain (10-0) vs. #32 St. Stephens (4-6)

#16
Central Davidson (8-2) vs. #17 Smoky Mountain (6-4)

#8
West Charlotte (5-5) vs. #25 Cramer (4-6)

#9
Hibriten (5-5) vs. #24 Southern Guilford (6-4)

#5
Northwest Cabarrus (9-1) vs. #28 Ashbrook (4-6)

#12
Ledford (9-1) vs. #21 Freedom (6-4)

#13
Tuscola (9-1) vs. #20 Forestview (4-6)

#4
East Lincoln (10-0) vs. #29 Ashe County (3-7)

#3
Oak Grove (10-0) vs. #30 West Mecklenburg (5-5)

#14
Crest (7-3) vs. #19 Statesville (7-3)

#6
Dudley (8-2) vs. #27 Pisgah (4-6)

#11
South Point (9-1) vs. #22 Hickory (7-3)

#7
Erwin (5-5) vs. #26 Carson (5-5)

#10
Parkwood (5-5) vs. #23 Eastern Guilford (6-4)

#15
West Rowan (8-2) vs. #18 Franklin (6-4)

#2
West Henderson (10-0) vs. #31 North Davidson (3-7)

2022
NCHSAA 4A Football Playoffs | First Round Pairings | Friday, November 4, 2022

EAST

#1
Hillside (10-0) vs. #32 Hoke County (5-5)

#16
Apex (9-1) vs. #17 Panther Creek (7-3)

#8
Holly Springs (8-2) vs. #25 Richmond (5-5)

#9
Pine Forest (8-2) vs. #24 Fuquay-Varina (6-4)

#5
Cardinal Gibbons (8-2) vs. #28 Knightdale (6-4)

#12
Millbrook (9-1) vs. #21 Clayton (6-4)

#13
Southern Alamance (7-3) vs. #20 Riverside-Durham (6-4)

#4
New Hanover (9-1) vs. #29 Broughton (5-5)

#3
Wake Forest (8-2) vs. #30 Chapel Hill (6-4)

#14
Leesville Road (8-2) vs. #19 D.H. Conley (5-5)

#6
Cleveland (10-0) vs. #27 Topsail (5-5)

#11
Rolesville (7-3) vs. #22 Overhills (7-3)

#7
Pinecrest (8-2) vs. #26 Laney (6-4)

#10
Jack Britt (7-3) vs. #23 Jordan (4-6)

#15
Heritage (7-3) vs. #18 Hoggard (7-3)

#2
New Bern (10-0) vs. #31 Sanderson (5-5)

WEST

#1
Grimsley (10-0) vs. #32 Davie (4-6)

#16
Reagan (8-2) vs. #17 Charlotte Catholic (8-2)

#8
Independence (9-1) vs. #25 Page (5-5)

#9
Olympic (10-0) vs. #24 T.C. Roberson (6-4)

#5
Hough (8-2) vs. #28 Providence (5-5)

#12
Mallard Creek (7-3) vs. #21 Ardrey Kell (8-2)

#13
Asheville (8-2) vs. #20 Mount Tabor (8-2)

#4
East Forsyth (10-0) vs. #29 West Forsyth (4-6)

#3
Watauga (9-1) vs. #30 South Iredell (4-6)

#14
Northwest Guilford (8-2) vs. #19 Southeast Guilford (7-3)

#6
Weddington (9-1) vs. #27 Marvin Ridge (5-5)

#11
Cox Mill (8-2) vs. #22 Lake Norman (7-3)

#7
A.C. Reynolds (9-1) vs. #26 A.L. Brown (6-4)

#10
Julius Chambers (8-2) vs. #23 Porter Ridge (7-3)

#15
Butler (8-2) vs. #18 Hickory Ridge (6-4)

#2
Mooresville (9-1) vs. #31 Southwest Guilford (5-5)