Who’s still playing? Rematches await in second round of high school football playoffs
The sequel is set. Cardinal Gibbons, seeded fifth, will host No. 12 Millbrook in next Friday’s N.C. 4A Football Playoffs’ second round. These schools held the same seeds and met in the same round at the same location a year ago.
Friday, Cardinal Gibbons shutout visiting Overhills, 40-0. Host Millbrook earned a second win over Northern Athletic Conference rival Heritage, 28-21.
For Millbrook, D.K. Bryant’s second half kickoff return and receiving touchdowns rallied the Wildcats, who held the Huskies scoreless after intermission.
A year ago, Millbrook scored four fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally from a 27-14 deficit to win the second-round playoff game.
Northern Atlantic reunion
The teams of the Northern Athletic Conference, seemingly, will exit the state playoffs by upending each other — again. Wake Forest and Rolesville won Friday to set up another postseason encounter. Top-seeded Rolesville downed Purnell Swett 62-0, while Wake Forest went on the road to beat Garner, 42-19.
The Rams and Cougars met in last year’s third round at Wake Forest, where Rolesville reversed the regular season outcome. Next Friday’s game will be at Rolesville (undefeated this fall versus league opponents).
Efficient quarterbacks
Signal callers Jackson Byrd (Cleveland) and Deiondre Goldston (Leesville Road) continue just doing what it takes to win consistently. Byrd notched his third consecutive four touchdowns outing in the host Rams’ 57-13 4A playoffs first round win over Gray’s Creek. His pass completion rate is 70 percent, and touchdown-to-interception ratio is 4-to-1. Goldston has a 7-to-1 ratio and is completing 68 percent of his passes for the Pride, 27-0 winners over visiting Richmond Friday.
Blue scores three
Jordan running back Amareon Blue ran for three touchdowns in the Falcons’ 42-21 win at Holly Springs. Jordan will visit Hoggard (Wilmington) in next Friday’s 4A second round.
Southern Durham earns rematch
Southern Durham’s 36-7 win at Eastern Alamance earned the Spartans a return trip to Scotland County. Southern Durham suffered a three-point, season opening loss to the Scots in Laurinburg. Friday, the Spartans held Eastern Alamance scoreless in the second half.
Other winners
Clayton, seeded 13th, defeated Southview 55-20, while No. 6 Apex Friendship stopped Southeast Raleigh 27-6. Clayton will visit Pinecrest (Southern Pines) and Apex Friendship will host Laney (Wilmington) next Friday.
