Daily Roundup: November 24, 2023

COASTAL PREPS THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT

FOOTBALL

***The rankings by each team are their playoff seed***

No. 2 West Columbus 21, No. 3 Wilson Prep 16

Fourth round 1A playoffs

***Click here to view a gallery of 40 photos from the action***

Making a key play or two on special teams can often be the difference between a win and a loss, especially deep in the playoffs.

West Columbus (12-1) was outstanding in that phase of the game Friday night, and it’s a major reason why they will be playing in the 1A East final for the first time in program history next week.

Senior kicker Ryan Strickland connected on a pair of field goals, one in each half, and flipped the field with several booming punts. 

His first field goal came from 25-yards out with 1:05 left in the second quarter that increased the Vikings’ lead to 18-0.

With the score at 18-8 in the third quarter, Strickland capped a lengthy 12-play drive with a 26-yard field goal.

“My team trusted me and I trusted my team,” Strickland said. “I told them if they put me on the field, I was going to make it happen for them. We work every day behind the scenes, and those are the kind of reps that can win you a game.”

Wilson Prep (11-2) scored on a 62-yard run from Christian Richardson on the next play from scrimmage, but the West Columbus defense came up with three stops down the stretch to preserve the victory.

“We had to dig deep and fight hard,” said senior defensive lineman DJ Bryant. “We’ve been working for this the whole year. We keep telling people we aren’t done.”

The Vikings had a chance to put the game away when they took over at their own 42-yard line with 3:16 remaining and Wilson Prep out of timeouts. 

Instead, the home team managed just three yards and was forced to punt with less than a minute to play. Knowing a rush was most likely on, Strickland got off a quick, but effective punt that pinned the Tigers back at their own 33.

“They needed to block it, so I just wanted to get it off my foot as quick as possible,” Strickland said. “My thought process was that I would rather it go 10 yards in front instead of 10 yards behind me.”

After narrowly missing on a deep pass, Wilson Prep’s final play from near midfield ended in a scramble from quarterback Travon Usher. He was tackled by Junior Stewart at the 30-yard line, setting off a huge celebration that featured fireworks.  

West Columbus got on the board first on a 37-yard pass from Unique Kelly to Triston Freeman on the opening play of the second quarter. Kelly’s 2-point run was good.

After forcing a 3-and-out, the Vikings needed only four plays to find the end zone again. On third-and-goal from the 17, Kelly connected with Jaylen Bellamy on the right sideline. 

Bellamy also came down with an interception on defense in the second quarter.

“It gets tiring playing both ways, but you’ve just to push through it,” he said. “I’ve been doing it all my life.”

Kelly finished with 130 yards of total offense (68 passing and 62 rushing). Bellamy rushed 19 times for 80 yards. 

Next up is a road game at top-seeded Tarboro, which held on for a 20-13 victory over No. 13 East Bladen. Tarboro has played for six straight state titles.

“It definitely will be a big task, but it’s something we’ve been looking forward to,” West Columbus coach La Monte Williamson said. “I know it will be a hard-fought game just like this one was tonight.”

No. 3 Hoggard 51, No. 2 Cleveland 35

Fourth round 4A playoffs

Hudson Wilharm put together one of the best performances of any Hoggard quarterback in recent memory by completing 27 of 42 passes for 385 yards and six touchdowns.

It was a sweet victory for the Vikings (13-1), who were able to avenge their only loss of the season.

“A saying we’ve got going around right now is that pressure is a privilege,” Hoggard coach Craig Underwood said. “I thought Hudson was an example of that tonight. He really handled every aspect of the game well.

“I thought the offensive line did an excellent job against a really multiple defensive scheme. When we did have a break down up front or it was really good coverage, he was able to extend the play.” 

The Vikings will host the 4A East final for just the second time in school history next Friday at 7 p.m. Their opponent will be No. 5 Cardinal Gibbons, which earned a 28-21 win at top-seeded Rolesville.

After both teams were forced to punt on their opening two possessions of the game, Hoggard grabbed a 7-0 lead on a 32-yard pass from Wilharm to Nas Session.

The duo connected for three more scoring plays in the second half. Session caught a total of seven passes for 167 yards.

Blake Edwards finished with 15 receptions for 170 yards and a 20-yard touchdown that increased the Vikings’ lead to 21-0 in the second quarter.

“The Hoggard community came out strong and it really was a difference maker,” Underwood said. “It felt like a home crowd when we took the field.”

Cleveland (13-1) clawed back and tied the score at 28-all, but a safety just 34 seconds into the fourth quarter gave the visitors the lead for good.

Edwards returned the ensuing free kick to the Hoggard 41. Two plays later, Wilharm completed a 57-yard TD pass to Session to increase the advantage to 37-28.

The Vikings scored on their next possession as well, and then put the game out of reach with a pick-6 from cornerback Brayden Stephens.

Kamar Fulton and Trey Nixon also had an interception to increase the team total to 22 on the season.

“We want to play incredible defense and set our offense up with a short field,” Underwood said. “That’s Hoggard football.”

No. 2 Northeastern 17, No. 6 Whiteville 14

Fourth round 2A playoffs

A late interception near the goal line ended the Wolfpack’s season in heartbreaking fashion.

Whiteville (11-3) led 14-10 with 2:50 remaining in the game when fullback Jamal Faulk plowed his way into the end zone from 1-yard out. 

The lead was short lived, as Northeastern (14-0) marched down the field for the game-winning score with 1:01 to play.

The Wolfpack crossed midfield on their final possession, but Luke Odham’s long pass was picked off at the 2-yard line.

It was an impressive effort for the Whiteville defense, which became the first unit to hold the Eagles below 40 points this season. Will Fisher intercepted two passes, while Odham had one of his own. 

No. 1 Tarboro 20, No. 13 East Bladen 13

Fourth round 1A playoffs

The Eagles nearly knocked off the unbeaten powerhouse Vikings, who have played in six straight state championship games. 

Na’Toren Corbett and Masion Brooks scored rushing touchdowns for East Bladen (8-6).

The game was tied at 13-all at halftime. The only score of the second half came from Tarboro (12-0) on their opening drive. 

Brooks finished his incredible senior season with 40 touchdown runs. 

BOYS BASKETBALL

***The rankings by each area team come from the Coastal Preps Power Rankings***

No. 2 Laney 63, Jordan 61

Phenom Hoops & Dreams Showcase at Fayetteville State

For the second straight game, the Buccaneers pulled off a hard-fought victory.

Laney (2-0) got 16 points, five rebounds and four assists from forward Hez Driver. Shark Baynard narrowly missed out on a double-double by finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Josh Helms, who hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the season-opening 55-54 win over Swansboro on Tuesday, scored 13 points. 

The Buccaneers welcome Northside-Jacksonville on Wednesday night at 7:30.

No. 1 New Hanover 74, Wayne Country Day 47

910 vs. 919 showcase at Wayne Country Day

Reigning Coastal Preps Co-Player of the Year Rodmik Allen opened his junior season with a 22-point performance, and the Wildcats pulled away in the second half.

New Hanover (1-0) held a slim 29-28 halftime lead before exploding for 45 points over the final 16 minutes. 

Joining Allen in double figures was Nolan Billings, who scored 17 points. Parker Crittenden, CJ Kornegay and Jazir Wright-McGhee all chipped in seven points. 

The Wildcats host Coastal Christian on Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

West Johnston 63, No. 3 Trask 56

910 vs. 919 showcase at Wayne Country Day

Freshman sharpshooter Josiah Brown connected on five 3-pointers and finished with a team-best 16 points, but the Titans fell.

Trask (1-1) shot just 35 percent from the field (23 of 65) and 25 percent (2 of 8) from the free throw line. 

Myron Mckoy scored 13 points, while Gio Driggers added 10. 

Next up is a home game against Richlands at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. 

WRESTLING

Patriot Turkey Clash 

at Pender (from Wednesday)

Twelve area wrestlers from six school claimed titles at the individual tournament. 

Hoggard and North Brunswick had three a piece, while Ashley and Trask both had a pair. 

The champions for Hoggard were Corbin Barton (113 pounds), James Wright (175) and Pierce White (190).

North Brunswick got titles from Tyler Sznaider (132), Billy Bracy (144) and Kirick Gurkin (157).

Ashley got back-to-back wins in the final from Mason Winchell (120) and Noah Piper (126), while Trask’s Nick Johnson (150) and Asher Eason (215) took the top spot on the podium.

The other two area champs were West Brunswick’s Luke Connick at 138 and heavyweight Jackson Molnar of Topsail.

Area placewinners

106 pounds

2nd place: Lucas Angstadt, Ashley

4th place: Tristin Winburn, West Brunswick

113 pounds

1st place: Corbin Barton, Hoggard

2nd place: Max Fleckinger, North Brunswick

120 pounds

1st place: Mason Winchell, Ashley

2nd place: Austin Hill, West Brunswick

4th place: Rory Gallagher, Hoggard

126 pounds

1st place: Noah Piper, Ashley

2nd place: Mack Carson, Hoggard

4th place: Spencer Serra, West Brunswick

132 pounds

1st place: Tyler Sznaider, North Brunswick

2nd place: Cooper Heppner, Ashley

138 pounds

1st place: Luke Connick, West Brunswick

2nd place: Jarrett Quinlin, Ashley

4th place: Levi Balaban, Hoggard

144 pounds

1st place: Billy Bracy, North Brunswick

3rd place: Chris Heppner, Ashley

150 pounds

1st place: Nick Johnson, Trask

2nd place: Alex Fragos, Ashley

4th place: Gil Beighle, North Brunswick

157 pounds

1st place: Kirick Gurkin, North Brunswick

2nd place: Joe Botterio, Ashley

3rd place: Lucky Horrell, Hoggard

4th place: Lionel Rodriguez, West Brunswick

165 pounds

2nd place: Andrew Botterio, Ashley

3rd place: Gabe Arce, South Brunswick

4th place: Landon Wilson, West Brunswick

175 pounds

1st place: James Wright, Hoggard

3rd place: Lazante Brown, Pender

4th place: Oscar Mendoza, West Brunswick

190 pounds

1st place: Pierce White, Hoggard

2nd place: Nick Chirco, West Brunswick

3rd place: Sebastian Hernendez, North Brunswick

4th place: Baylor Harris, Pender

215 pounds

1st place: Asher Eason, Trask

2nd place: Gage Woods, West Brunswick

3rd place: Wilson Perez, Hoggard

4th place: Andrew Robinson, Pender

285 pounds

1st place: Jackson Molnar, Topsail

2nd place: Antonio Nixon, Trask

3rd place: Hunter Lewallen, Hoggard

 

 

 

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