Triangle high school football rivalries continue to be a story as conference play ramps up

Apex and Apex Friendship gave Triangle football fans a second dose of thriving intra-town rivalries that are becoming a new normal. Cougars quarterback Chase Klingemann sealed host Apex’s 38-28 win with a one-yard touchdown run just before the game’s three-minute mark.

The schools have split eight meetings since 2016.

Garner and South Garner thrilled fans with a down-to-the-wire meeting (won 14-6 by Garner) on Sept. 15. The six-point outcome was the difference for the second straight year, after South Garner won 20-14 in 2022.

Cleveland and Clayton, undefeated in league play, seem to be on course for anconference championship-deciding game Oct. 27 at Clayton.

Garner wins defensive struggle

Garner took a two-score lead into halftime and kept Southeast Raleigh at arm’s length the rest of the way in a 22-14 high school football victory Friday night.

The Trojans held a 15-6 advantage at the half, with two of the points coming via safety early in the contest.

Thomas keeps running downhill

Rolesville junior running back Devon Thomas tallied his third 200-plus yards ground effort in the Rams’ 53-30 win at Millbrook. Thomas has two or more rushing touchdown in each of Rolesville’s seven games, and is averaging more than 11 yards per carry.

Jadyn Davis threw an interception

Providence Day quarterback Jadyn Davis, a Michigan commit, threw his first interception of the season in the Chargers’ 49-13 win over Charlotte Country Day.

Such a milestone is hardly news, until you consider this: That interception was his first in seven games. He’d thrown 21 TD passes prior to that pick. Davis, still, finished Friday’s game 12-of-14 with five more touchdowns. He has completed 78.4 percent of his passes, and thrown three or more touchdowns in each game for 7-0 Providence Day.

NCHSAA scoring record

Pender and Hobbton set a new NCHSAA single-game scoring record by two teams in a 106-83 Pender win Friday. But before purists bemoan a lac of defense, the game must be evaluated within a specific context.

Consider the schools’ average daily membership numbers from the 2022-23 academic year. Pender was at 724, while Hobbton was at 479. First, the numerical difference is notable, even for two 1A schools. Pender’s roster includes 51 players, but close to half are freshmen and sophomores. Hobbton’s roster includes 43 players, with 17 either freshmen or sophomores.

Given these realities, multiple upperclassmen for both teams are likely playing offense and defense (and special teams). With all of the players exerting maximum effort for a full game, at some pint, there is little left in the tank. Such realities never shall be perceived as a lack of commitment to defense.

Mason adds record-building bricks

Mount Airy running back Tyler Mason could see his name added among the top five achievers in multiple NCHSAA record book categories whenever his 2023 season and prep career concludes.

Mason ran for five touchdowns in the Granite Bears’ 77-0 win over South Stokes on Friday. Mason now has 91 career rushing touchdowns. With undefeated Mount Airy having two remaining regular-season games, and at least one state playoff game, the fifth-place total of 102 touchdowns (by Elijah Burris of Mountain Island Charter, 2016-19) is within reach.

It should be noted, Mason has 100 total TDs when counting his five punt returns, two defensive scores and one TD each on a reception and a kickoff return. Burns’ fifth-place mark of 102 counts rushing TDs only.

Mason, a Virginia Tech commit, had 52 rushing touchdowns last fall to help Mount Airy to the 1A state championship. This single-season total is good for a fourth-place tie with Reggie Gallaspy (Southern Guilford, 2014).