1A EAST
WILSON PREP vs WEST COLUMBUS: CERO GORDO-The number-two seeded West Columbus Vikings host the number-three seeded Wilson Prep Tigers in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 1A State Playoffs.
West Columbus is the top-seed on the other side of the bracket and they’ve been handling their postseason opponents with ease since coming off their first round bye.
The Vikings have beat their first two postseason opponents by a combined score of 96-6 but they’ll be faced with a different type of challenge this Friday.
Both teams go into Friday’s fourth round match-up with identical 11-1 records and they both were crowned champions in competitive conferences.
Wilson Prep also had a bye in the first round but have been steamrolling their opponents in similar fashion as their next opponent. The Tigers offense has averaged 46 ppg and the defense has held their opponents to 11.5 ppg in their last two postseason games. Wilson Prep will travel away to Cero Gordo where their opponents have made their homefield a fortress with a perfect 7-0 record at home.
2A EAST
NASH CENTRAL v CLINTON: The number-one seeded Clinton Darkhorses will host the number-four seeded Nash Central Bulldogs in their fourth round match-up in the NCHSAA 2A State playoffs. This is the furthest the Darkhorses’ have made it in the playoffs since 2019 when they made it to the Eastern Regional final game. Their last three postseason opponents have failed to lay a glove on them as they’ve been one of the most dominant teams in the East Region but Friday’s game should go a little different.
The Bulldogs will come into Friday’s game on a five game winning streak and their team is backed by a high-powered offense. Nash Central survived a 71-68 point thriller last week against Hertford County and they’ll need another big night on the offensive end if they want to keep up with Clinton’s explosive offense.
WHITEVILLE v NORTHEASTERN: The number-two seeded Northeastern Eagles will host the number-six seeded Whiteville Wolfpack this Friday in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 2A State Playoffs. Northeastern has a perfect overall record of 13-0 and this team has a history of being toughout in the postseason. They claimed victory against Princeton in a 62-53 victory at home last week and finished the game with 675 yards of total offense.
Whiteville have faced little challenge so far in the postseason with three dominant victories against South Granville, East Duplin, and Southwest Edgecombe.
The Wolfpack play in the competitive Waccamaw Conference and are no strangers to difficult games with a schedule packed with playoff caliber teams. Whiteville senior quarterback Luke Odham and junior running-back Nallegem Powell have been big time players for them this postseason.