Southeast Raleigh High posts a statement win. Here are the other top Triangle games
Southeast Raleigh’s 20-11 win at Fuquay-Varina in high school football Friday night flipped what was a tough memory for the Bulldogs from last fall.
Last season, Fuquay-Varina posted a 28-0 road win over Southeast Raleigh.
Friday night’s win, arguably among the Bulldogs’ most compelling in recent memory, helped Southeast Raleigh rebound from last week’s one-point loss to Willow Spring in the teams’ conference opener.
Apex Friendship on “D”
Apex Friendship secured its 26-21 win over visiting Holly Springs by holding the previously unbeaten Golden Hawks scoreless in the second half. A Patriots second half safety cemented the five-points margin. Apex Friendship has won four straight contests since an opening week loss to Millbrook.
Balanced Millbrook
Millbrook quarterback Mason Fortune – a 2022 N.C. Mr. Football finalist – is just part of the Wildcats’ balanced offense that drove past Jordan 33-22. Millbrook’s string of four unanswered touchdowns including rushing scores by Nessiah McArthur (14-yard run) John Alarcone (7-yard run).
Cleveland, Clayton create separation
Cleveland, a 35-0 winner at South Garner, and Clayton, which won 29-2 at Garner, took major steps in making their October 27 regular season finale (at Clayton). The Rams tallied a season best 228 rushing yards versus South Garner. The Comets held Garner’s offense scoreless for the second consecutive year.
Gibbons tops Hillside
The Cardinal Gibbons-Hillside series has been among the Triangle’s more interesting rivalries since the schools were in the same conference during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. In 2015, Hillside won at Cardinal Gibbons with a kickoff return for a touchdown in the game’s final minute. The now non-conference rivalry added Friday’s 24-6 win by host Cardinal Gibbons to its lore.
The Crusaders held fast to what has been a theme of its recent state championship contending seasons by holding the Hornets (like other opponents) scoreless in the second half.
Weather reminder
A rainy fall Friday night in North Carolina is not the immediate recipe to thwart high school football.
Fans should remember, always, the national high school rule by which once a game kicks off, there must be a winner. Delays, thus, are inevitable realities when considering one week’s potential implications for postseason outcomes, particularly with many schools having entered conference play.
Schools may not agree mutually to declare a “no contest” (without impacts on teams’ records) in inclement weather circumstances. With rescheduling being a difficult proposition for many reasons, every effort is made to play games.
