Who’s going to win a high school football state title? The teams have to get there first

After 15 grueling weeks of the 2021 High School Football season, a season that has provided many twists, turns, and dramatic storylines, only 16 teams remain standing in North Carolina with a chance to advance to the state championship games.

With eight championship game berths available, the teams playing in the Eastern and Western Regional Finals on Friday night will be hoping to punch their tickets for a spot in next weekend’s state title games, which will be played at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, and Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill.

While 48 minutes of football is all that stands between these teams and a chance at making history for their schools and communities, Friday’s games will be anything but easy. In fact, the matchups that we will be treated to this week are some of the strongest, and most compelling regional finals contests that we’ve seen in years.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a die hard fan of your local team, or just a casual observer of prep football, this weekend’s slate of games has something for everyone. From the college football recruiting enthusiast who likes to watch tomorrow’s big collegiate and professional stars today, or someone who likes small-town football in communities where they shut down for the big games, this week will provide plenty of drama and excitement for everyone.

Small-town feel

If you want to experience that small-town feel of what prep football was like in decades past, make plans to travel to Bakersville this Friday in the high country of Mitchell County to check out the 1A Western Regional Finals game between Mitchell and Robbinsville.

The beautiful mountainside setting of Memorial Stadium alone is worth the price of admission, but pair that with two of the best traditional 1A programs in the state and you’ve got the makings of an instant classic.

Do-it-all quarterback Ty Turbyfill leads a smashmouth offense that is hard to stop for the Mitchell Mountaineers, and his 3,242 total offensive yards and 52 touchdowns, 37 of which were on the ground, puts him in elite company among the state leaders.

Not to be outdone, Robbinsville has an electric playmaker of their own in sophomore Cuttler Adams who has rushed for 2,082 yards and 28 touchdowns, including 377 against North Rowan in the third round of the playoffs.

Shifting focus to the 1A East Regionals, perennial powerhouse Tarboro will host Pender and head coach Jeff Craddock’s Vikings are looking for their eighth state championship, and fourth in the past five years.

The Vikings started the 2021 campaign with an uncharacteristic 12-0 loss to Rocky Mount, but they have found their sprinters stride down the stretch and are averaging 41.0 points-per-game, mostly on the back of their senior workhorse, Tobias Joyner who has 1,166 yards and 16 touchdowns.

For Tarboro to advance to the finals, they’ll have to find a way to corral veteran head coach Tom Eanes and his crafty Hambone offense, and the three-headed monster in the backfield consisting of Antonio Bea, Kelvin Robinson, and Jadon Lee. That offensive trio has accounted for 3,266 yards and 44 touchdowns on the season.

Storybook ending for Princeton?

Looking at the 2A Regionals, Princeton is having a storybook season that will go down as one of the best ever in that proud programs’ history. Travis Gaster’s Bulldogs have run over, around, and through some of the best teams in the East after playing a very aggressive schedule and making it past a gauntlet of powerhouses in recent weeks.

Jaydon Brooks had put up some tremendous offensive numbers all season and he was firmly planted on the Mr. Football watch-list for much of the season, but with him sidelined last week, Christian Perris rushed for an eye-popping 247 yards on 34 carries a week ago when they knocked off St. Pauls.

They’ll need all those yards and then some to advance to the finals against traditional power Wallace-Rose Hill and Kanye Roberts, who has 2,895 rushing yards and 48 touchdowns, but the Princeton Bulldogs can’t just focus on Roberts because head coach Kevin Motsinger’s backfield has three 1,000-plus rushers in Roberts, Antwon Montgomery, and Kaymond Farrior.

In the West, East Surry will play in their fourth consecutive Regional Finals, this time against the mighty Golden Lions of Shelby, a game that will feature two of the best gunslingers in the state.

The stat lines that these two junior quarterbacks have put up is amazing. Shelby’s field general Daylin Lee has thrown for 3,203 yards and 39 touchdowns, while Folger Boaz has tossed for 3,293 yard and 28 touchdowns. Looking into my crystal ball, this head-to-head quarterback battle could be a preview of next year’s Mr. Football finalist.

Contrasting styles

Two traditional powers with contrasting style will go at it in Greensboro as South Point travels to Dudley in the 3A Western Regional Finals. Both of these teams slugged their way past some tough opponents a week ago and both are battle-tested for a game of this magnitude.

The Red Raiders are a team that gets the job done between the tackles. Head football coach Adam Hodge and his offense do a great job of finding the weaknesses in defensive fronts, and as a team they have rushed for 3,834 yards and 50 touchdowns. Superstar Tyson “A.J.” Riey has accounted for 2,371 of those yards and has scored 33 touchdowns on the season.

Dudley may have the most complete team of any still playing in the state. Head coach Steve Davis’ Panthers has passed for 2,553 yards, rushed for 4,900 yards and 53 touchdowns, and they have the most stifling defense in the state, giving up just 6.21 points per game.

Over in the East, Jacksonville will travel to Greenville to take on J.H. Rose. If you look back at my preseason rankings in August, Rose was the number-one ranked team in the 3A but lost some tough games early on, but they have stormed back and are now a game away from a state finals appearance.

Junior quarterback Will Taylor has been on fire of late for the Rampants and they’ll need all of his offensive firepower to knock off the Cardinals for a second time this year.

Jacksonville quarterback Josh Benton has been one of the steadiest offensive players all year, putting up big numbers with his arm and his legs, but freshman running back Damon June has come on strong of late, rushing for 960 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year.

Overcoming a slow start

Looking at the 4A classification, Rolesville had a slow start to the season losing some close games early on, but Martin Samek and his Rams have really flipped the switch and are now game away from a second consecutive state championship game appearance.

Standing in the Rams way is Cardinal Gibbons, who may be the most battle-tested 4A team in the state.

This game will be a contrast of styles with Rolesville getting the job done on offense, primarily behind the efforts of sensational senior quarterback Byrum Brown, who has put up some video game-like numbers with 3,481 yards passing with 41 touchdowns to just three interceptions and adding in another 1,108 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

However, the Crusader defense led by defensive coordinator Nick Drew may be up for the challenge as they have built solid resume of stopping a who’s-who list of show-stopping players and teams this season.

And rounding out this amazing weekend of action will be a clash of titans as the two-time defending champion Chambers Cougars take on the top-seeded Hough Huskies.

In a game worthy of being played in Uptown Charlotte’s Memorial Stadium, this game will feature top coaches, superstar talent, and very fast, and very physical play.

Hough edged Chambers 16-10 in a game played back in September and this could very easily be an overtime-type affair on Friday.

My advice for any of these games is to arrive early, dress warm, and go out and support these incredible football programs, coaches, and players.