Friday (and Saturday’s) first-round football playoffs games had a bit of everything for Johnston County schools.
There was a massive near miss for top-seeded Cleveland, an abrupt end to the season for North Johnston, a Saturday beach trip for West Johnston and a bit of JoCo-on-JoCo crime as Clayton took out Corinth Holders.
Let’s have a look:
Rams avoid disaster
Survive and advance is a popular playoff mantra for coaches and players during the postseason, and Cleveland did just that in a narrow 24-21 win.
With the victory, the Rams (11-0) avoided the ignominy of being the first No. 1 seed knocked out of the postseason by a 32 seed in NCHSAA history across any sport.
Jackson Byrd’s short touchdown run in the final minute was the difference as the hosts were able to overcome three turnovers and a feisty bunch of Huskies (2-9).
Cleveland hosts Ashley (9-2), a 41-7 winner over Laney in round one, on Friday night.
streaking through the sky
For a few shining moments, Corinth Holders owned the playoff stage. Demarion Hicks’ 92-yard kickoff return for the score during the game’s opening eight seconds sent shockwaves through Nixon-Fowler Stadium.
Clayton responded, broke the game open with a 21-point second quarter and eventually pulled away for a 48-17 victory.
Clayton (10-1) visits Richmond County, a 42-6 winner over Topsail in round one, on Friday in what might be the marquee playoff matchup in the state.
getting into gear
Princeton has certainly had its highs and lows this season, but in the runup to the regular season finale with North Johnston, head coach Travis Gaster told me, “we’re finally getting healthy.”
That’s a good word to describe the Bulldogs’ ground game in a 55-18 win at East Carteret in round one, as they rolled to 470 yards at a 9.8 yards-per-carry clip. Kadyn Haire scored four times while Teo Mcphatter and Austin Lewallen found the end zone two times each.
Princeton (7-4) will visit conference rival Eastern Wayne, a 44-14 winner over Northwood in the opening round, on Friday in a rematch of their Neuse 6 game on Oct. 4, a 30-18 Warrior win.
The ride comes to an end
In our preview of the Martin County-North Johnston game, we noted the absence of Gator quarterback Jysen Shepherd over their last few games.
Well, he was back for the playoffs, and he was 11-of-15 for 125 yards and a score in a 47-6 Martin County victory.
The Panthers end Kyle Schenk’s first season with a 6-5 record.
A day late and a qb short
Bad weather forced West Johnston’s trip to Currituck County to Saturday afternoon, and the absence of the Wildcats’ starting quarterback, Josiah Wells, was too much for them to overcome in a 25-6 loss.
Friend of the site Benjamin Ormond reports that, despite roster shortage on offense, the defense played well. The Knights kicked four field goals and had one of their scores on a pick-six and the other set up by a blocked punt.
West ends its season at 6-5.