Check out the highlights from one of the best games of the year with two of the best teams in the state on the field. . Trailing 31-17 in the 4th quarter, Butler High School scored three rapid-fire touchdowns for a stunning come-from-behind victory over Richmond Senior High School.
This video curtsy of IO Prime Technology and West Fayetteville News.
Plymouth
Wallace-Rose Hill
The Bulldogs of Wallace-Rose Hill have been the favorites to reach this point and beyond ever since they won the championship last year and they have destroyed their bracket opponents up to this point: Lejuene (70-16), North Duplin (42-7), and North Hampton west (52-7). But the Plymouth Vikings will do their best to stop a repeat and continue to upset big opponents.
Hobbton
Murphy
Hobbton may still be riding high after their epic win over top seeded Lakewood last week (20-19). But hey will have to take down the second #1 team in as many weeks if they wish to advance to the final game. Murphy who has been scoring at will of late will try and do a little better on the score board then Lakewood and extend their winning streak to 12 strait.
Pender
Sothwest Onslow
The only remaining #1 seed in the 1AA bracket is the stallions of SW Onslow, and after breezing through the first few rounds of their bracket they are the inevitable favorites to take the championship. But in their way is the #3 seeded Patriots of Pender who are one week removed from their upset win over Goldsboro (28-8).
Mitchell County
Albermarle
The story of this division has to be the run that the Mitchell County Mountaineers are on right now as a #7 seed reaching the state semi-finals. After barely making the playoffs and drawing a tough match-up against Cherryville in the first round it looked like Mitchell’s season would end quickly. But a win over the Iron men, and then West Wilkes and Avery County they are two games away from a state Championship. Abermarle wasn’t an early favorite either but were certainly more of a quality team during the season. Who can keep their dream alive this week?
East Bladen
Tarboro
Look out but we have another #5 seed that has snaked through the ruin a lot of peoples seasons. The East Bladen Eagles got through their toughest test, South Columbus two weeks ago (26-12). Now they are playing with house money as they travel to Tarboro for their semi-final game. The Vikings have been dominate all year with a 14-0 record. Will they be able to keep rolling through the up-start Eagles?
Carver
Lincolnton
Carver was one of my favorites coming into the post season and they have made me look good so far. the Yellow Jackets destroyed a very solid Cummings team last weekend (47-14). They will have to travel west to take on Lincolnton who are looking to stay perfect and defend their #1 seeding. Watch out for fireworks in this one.
Cedar Ridge
Northeastern
This match-up between the #1 and #2 seeds of their respective brackets will be a good one to watch. Northeastern is looking to stay undefeated as they will have the luxury of playing this one at home. But he Cedar Ridge Red Wolves are hot coming off of a big win against Northwood (28-20). Can they knock off a #1 seed two weeks in a row?
Salisbury
Shelby
A five-loss Shelby team has shown why people tend to not want any piece of them once cold weather comes around. It was in doubt earlier in the season if the Lions would even make the playoffs, but they are in the Semi’s and facing a very dangerous Salisbury team. The Hornets are not a top seeded team either but they have an offense that is riding high and hasn’t scored less than 41 points in the post season.
Eastern Alamance
Havelock
Although Havelock reached the semi-finals last weekend due to a forfeit by South Brunswick, do not discount the ability of the top seeded Rams. However you do have to look at a week not playing as a disadvantage when playing a hot Eastern Alamance team who come off a good win over favorite Northeast Guilford (38-7). Can the Rams flip the switch?
Hibriten
West Rowan
This may be one of the more exciting, heavy-weight bout of the weekend. Hibriten, who to many is the best team west of Charlotte take on the recently dominating West Rowan. Look for low scores as both teams enjoy running the football with solid lines and athletes behind them. If your in radius of Falcon country you should stop by.
Hunt
Northern Guilford
Northern Guilford coming off a big win over Cardinal Gibbins is the surprise of the East bracket, and they will travel outside of Raleigh to take on the Hunt Warriors. Hunt may be favored to win bu the nighthawks have been surprising people all year even without last years All-American talent Keenan Allen.
Crest
Charlotte Catholic
This will be a match-up that was not really expected when the brackets first came out, but surprises nobody because of the quality of these two teams. Charlotte Catholic will at least get to be the home team in this affair an will try and remain undefeated since last week they upset top seeded AL Brown. Crest who always has a number of next level athletes will try and break down the modified option attack of the Cougars.
In this bracket everything has gone according to plan in the East, with both #1 seeds advancing to the semi-finals. But in the West it is a little different with #2 and #5 seeds advancing. All teams have big time talent though and should be fun to watch this weekend and in Raleigh for the final.
Hillside
New Burn
Hillside is still undefeated and has lived up to their #1 seed in the East. The Hornets have been dominate in their playoff run with offensive out-puts of 46,53, and 42. The last game against a very good Lee County was no sweat for this athletic juggernaut as they won by the score of (42-22)
New Burn who is another undefeated team from the east hasn’t quite a proficient on offense, but the bears have yet to have a really close game these playoff. Wins over Rose (32-22), Clayton (38-22), and last week against southeast Raleigh (44-17), have htem rolling towards this big showdown where someone will eventually have to lose.
Davie County
Porter Ridge
Davie County is a team that always seems to have some post season success. But if it were not to happen, this year would of been the year. A #5 seed in the tournament the War Eagles have been on the road for the entire playoffs and again will have to travel to Indian Trial for this semi-final match-up. 18-15 over high Point central shocked a lot of people, but watch out if they can take out the Pirates.
Porter Ridge who is also coming off of a great road win against the defending state champs AC Reynolds (24-21) is a very dangerous team. They actually get to go home for this match-up in which they will be favored. Look for a lot of McNeil to Vanbeek connections through the air.
We are down to the final four in each division, and no exclusion is more surprising then that of Mallard Creek.
The Mavericks were taken down in the quarter finals by Vance who they had handled easily earlier on in the year. Cold weather effects different teams in different way but apparently Mallard Creek wasn’t the unstoppable team everyone thought they were.
But four very good teams have survived their respective brackets and stand one game away from a trip to Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh.
Wake Forest Rolesville
Panther Creek
WF-Rolesville has been dominant in these playoffs so far with easy wins over Millbrook (13-0), Wakefield (21-0). and last weekend against Garner (40-21). Through out the entire season the Cougars defense has been its strong point, with 5 shut outs on their resumes.
Panther Creek has had to endure a little more of a battle in the post season. They started off with with a pretty strong win over South View ( 44-21), but then had to scrap to beat Fuquay-Varina (35-28) and upset the top seeded Seventy-First (35-32) on the road.
Vance
Butler
Vance pulled off the biggest upset of the year this past weekend when they took down the team that many believed was the best in the state, Mallard Creek (10-7). But this traditional power will have to do the impossible two weeks in a row if they want to out duel the defending state champs.
Butler has just rolled through their competition as they have the last couple of years. The Bulldogs who I picked to win the 4AA “upset” top seeded Richmond last weekend (48-21), and now seem to be in good position to defend their title.
NC High School Football 