1A
No. 4 Murphy (10-2) at No. 1 Robbinsville (12-0)
Last Week: Murphy won 64-44 over Winston-Salem Prep; Robbinsville won 40-22 over Alleghany
Last Meeting: Robbinsville won 17-14 (2019)
Winner Plays: No. 3 Thomas Jefferson (11-1) or No. 2 Elkin (10-2)
Notes: Earlier this month, these two teams played for a conference title. Now something even bigger is at stake. Some are calling this a de facto state title game in the third round as two programs with over 20 combined championships square off for the second time in four weeks. Robbinsville took a 17-14 win over Murphy on Nov. 8, defeating the Bulldogs on their home turf. The Black Knights took advantage of Murphy's special team miscues in the second half to break a four-game losing streak against the Bulldogs that included a loss in the 1A region final in 2018. Robbinsville played without star senior running back Rylee Anderson (1,542 yards, 22 touchdowns) in its second round win over Alleghany, but coach Dee Walsh said Anderson will play this week. Anderson and junior running back Lex Hooper have combined for nearly 3,000 yards and 49 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Nathan Collins stepped up in Anderson's absence last week, completing 9-of-13 passes for a season-high 217 yards and a touchdown. The last time Robbinsville started the season 12-0, it went on to win the 2014 state title and finish undefeated. That year the Black Knights defeated the Bulldogs 21-13 in the third round. Murphy was pushed in its second round win over Winston-Salem Prep, but senior running back Devonte Murray had another big night, rushing for 339 yards and four touchdowns. Murray has rushed for more than 300 yards twice this season and is nearing the 2,000-yard mark on the year (1,964 yards, 23 touchdowns). Legendary coach David Gentry -- now with a record 416 career wins -- is one of the hardest coaches to beat in the playoffs, and don't be surprised if he has a few trick plays that could change the outcome of the game.
Pick: Robbinsville by 1
More: Family and football: Daughter of Robbinsville coach Dee Walsh continues cancer fight
More: BREAKING: David Gentry sets state record for most career coaching wins
1AA
No. 6 Swain County (11-2) at No. 2 Mitchell (11-1)
Last Week: Swain County won 38-12 over Bessemer City; Mitchell won 28-0 over Polk County
Last Meeting: Swain County won 28-21 (2011)
Winner Plays: No. 5 Mountain Island Charter (11-2) or No. 1 East Surry (12-0)
Notes: Running into the Smoky Mountain Conference deep in the playoffs is nothing new for Travise Pitman and his Mitchell football team. Last year, the Mountaineers were eliminated by eventual state champion Murphy in the third round and were bounced from the 2017 postseason by eventual champion Cherokee in the regional final. The year before that, it was Murphy again that ended their season in the regional final. This time, however, Mitchell enters the third round as a favorite against Swain County, which finished third in the Smoky Mountain Conference and may still be without its top running back. Junior Bryce Sain has not played since a 15-14 loss to Murphy on Oct. 18 and will be a "game time" decision once again, according to coach Neil Blakenship. Blakenship said Sain's hamstring injury is "in a bad spot" and that he won't force the issue if he's not 100% healthy. Swain County was fine without Sain last week, enjoying a 26-point blowout win on the road against No. 3 Bessemer City. Mitchell enters this game healthy, including senior quarterback Noah Pitman, who has passed for 1,343 yards, rushed for 1,529 yards and combined for 42 touchdowns this season. Junior Tanner Duncan has added 681 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, while senior Tyler McKinney has a team-high 38 catches for 654 yards and 10 touchdowns. Mitchell's defense has given up only 61 points in 12 games this year while posting five shutouts. Swain County's junior quarterback Damian Lossiah leads the team with 943 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. The Maroon Devils average of 250 yards a game on the ground while Lossiah averages 66 passing yards a game. Lossiah has completed 43-of-85 passes for 835 yards and eight touchdown to six interceptions this season.
Pick: Mitchell by 7
More: Noah Pitman leads Mitchell past Polk County
2A
No. 4 West Stokes (10-3) at No. 1 Mountain Heritage (11-1)
Last Week: West Stokes won 26-21 over Eastern Randolph; Mountain Heritage won 18-7 over Owen
Winner Plays: No. 3 Brevard (11-2) or No. 2 Reidsville (12-1)
Notes: This is the first time West Stokes has advanced to the third round of the playoffs since winning a state title in 2011. This is the third straight season Mountain Heritage has advanced to the regional semifinal as the Cougars look to advance to the state title game for the first time since 2009. Mountain Heritage's defense, which gives up less than 10 points a game, will look to slow down West Stokes quarterback Amon Conrad, who accounted for all four of the Wildcats' touchdowns last week. Conrad completed 21-of-30 passes for 193 yards and two scores while adding 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Mountain Heritage's defense has had success this season slowing down dual threat quarterbacks, including Owen's Caleb Scott and Mitchell's Noah Pitman. Mountain Heritage will continue its methodical approach on offense after struggling to move the ball against Owen's speedy defense. Daniel Westall led the Cougars with 122 yards on 14 carries and quarterback Callin Randolph scored on a 6 yard run and completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Cole Shehan against the Warhorses. Randolph finished with six completions for 138 yards and may need to use his arm again to get his team to the fourth round. If Mountain Heritage wins, it'll either face a rematch against a Brevard team it beat in the first game of the season or 2018 state champion Reidsville. The Rams have eliminated Mountain Heritage from the playoffs three years in a row.
Pick: Mountain Heritage by 6
More: Joey Robinson's success at Mountain Heritage has intensified rivalry with Mitchell
No. 3 Brevard (11-2) at No. 2 Reidsville (12-1)
Last Week: Brevard won 48-21 over Chase; Reidsville won 49-13 over Newton-Conover
Last Meeting: Reidsville won 24-21 (2018)
Winner Plays: No. 4 West Stokes (10-3) or No. 1 Mountain Heritage (11-1)
Notes: Brevard enters the third round with a chance for revenge. Reidsville ended the Blue Devils' playoff run last season, winning 24-21 in the 2A region final before finishing an undefeated season with a state title the next week. The Rams are a favorite to win another championship this year, but they have to go through Brevard once again. The Blue Devils played one of their best games of the season in last week's win over Chase. Senior Isaiah Rathbone scored five first half touchdowns and finished the night with 218 rushing yards. Reidsville running back Lionel Long also had a big night last week, scoring four times in the first half during the Rams' rout over Newton-Conover that marked the 300th career win for head coach Jimmy Teague. Brevard's defense sparked the playoff run last year, and it will be the defense once again that will give the Blue Devils a chance at a win over Reidsville. They'll have the task of slowing down junior quarterback Kyle Pinnix, who has thrown 41 touchdowns this season and is right on the heels of former quarterback Kendon Doe with 45. Reidsville's only loss of the season came to undefeated East Surry, after allowing its quarterback to throw for 479 yards and five touchdowns in a 55-49 loss. East Surry is the No. 1 seed in the 1AA West Region. Brevard will have to avoid mistakes to compete with Reidsville. The Blue Devils' only conference loss came to Pisgah after they turned the ball over four times in the red zone.
Pick: Reidsville by 7
More: Brevard dispatches Chase, faces rematch with Reidsville
3A
No. 10 Kings Mountain (11-2) at No. 3 Reynolds (11-2)
Last Week: Kings Mountain won 38-7 over Statesville; Reynolds won 40-0 over Northeast Guilford
Winner Plays: No. 9 West Rowan (9-4) or No. 5 Charlotte Catholic (9-3)
Notes: Reynolds coach Shane Laws was battling a cold this week, but it didn't stop him from expressing his excitement for Friday's third round game. Laws said that "if you're a high school football fan in this area, this is the game this year you want to see." For the fourth straight year, the Rockets advanced to the third round of the playoffs, this time facing a Kings Mountain team that has many of the same strengths. The Mountaineers have a strong quarterback, junior Ethan Reid (2,548 yards, 39 touchdowns, 8 interceptions), and a talented receiving core led by junior Kobe Paysour (51 catches, 1,036 yards) and senior Quintin Davidson (34 catches, 836 yards). Kings Mountain also averages 200 yards a game on the ground behind 1,000-yard rusher sophomore Rashaard Brooks. Reynolds' offense is led by senior quarterback Eli Carr, who eclipsed the 3,000-yard passing mark last week and has thrown for 39 touchdowns to eight interceptions. Senior wide receiver Jhari Patterson is one of the most explosive weapons in the state and has caught 64 passes for 1,216 yards and 17 touchdowns. Patterson is also a threat at running back and in special teams. Laws said Kings Mountain has a strong defensive line, and the Rockets will need a consistent running game from the likes of Patterson, senior Markeese Jackson and senior Don Mosley to keep the pressure off Carr. There will be some fun matchups in the secondary between Kings Mountain's receivers and Reynolds' defensive backs, including junior Anthony Lewis (three interceptions) and senior Seth Eberhardt, who returned to action last week after suffering an ankle injury. Laws said his team, which enters the third round on an 11-game win streak, is ready for a dogfight despite two blowout playoff wins and a relatively easy romp through conference play.
Pick: Reynolds by 3
More: Reynolds coasts into the third round
2019-11-27 10:00:00Z
https://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/high-school/hshuddle/2019/11/27/wnc-high-school-football-third-round-playoff-capsules/4295759002/
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