Terry Sanford football ousts E.E. Smith; Westover, Gray's Creek fall in state playoffs

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The first round of football playoffs came this week, with five of Cumberland County's eight NCHSAA postseason teams in action Friday, Nov. 7, while three had byes, and Trinity Christian started its NCISAA postseason Thursday.

Seventy-First, Cape Fear and Jack Britt earned first-round byes and learned who they'll host in Round 2 next week. Of Fayetteville's public-school teams in action this week, only Terry Sanford advanced.

Terry Sanford's playoff tear continues

Bulldogs football is on a 14-year-long playoff streak, posting 17 victories while winning 57% of their 30 postseason games in that span. They've won at least one playoff game the last five years and they've lost only one first-round game since 2013. Friday's 49-20 win over visiting E.E. Smith is the latest on the list.

Terry Sanford's prolific offense started a bit sluggish but soon picked up steam to finish with 413 yards in a game cut short by 5:26 due to an injury that required an ambulance.

Five different players scored touchdowns for the ninth-seeded Bulldogs, with Gaven Kraut's 87-yard kickoff return for a TD breaking a 14-all tie heading into halftime and firing up the crowd at Armstrong Stadium. Terry Sanford (8-3) pulled away from there.

No. 24-seeded E.E. Smith (2-8) got on the board first, with Nick Smith scoring the first of his three touchdowns on a short run set up by his 59-yard keeper as the Golden Bulls put up 127 rushing yards in the first quarter.

The Golden Bulls defense started strong behind Zayshawn Thomas, who snagged an interception on Terry Sanford's first drive and later made a tackle for loss that would force a Bulldogs punt.

E.E. Smith got all the way to the Bulldogs 3-yard line after Thomas' pick, but then lost a fumble as both teams went scoreless in the first quarter.

A nine-play, 74-yard drive from Terry Sanford evened it up at 7, highlighted by a 36-yard pass from Jacob Moore to Sebastian O'Keefe as Moore threw while in the grasp of a defender and O'Keefe shook off several tackles to gain more yards.

E.E. Smith got into Terry Sanford territory on the next drive but ultimately turned it over on downs and then Kraut scored on a 16-yard catch-and-run to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 edge that the Golden Bulls would answer with Smith's 36-yard TD run heading into the half.

Kraut's kickoff return would give the Bulldogs a lead they wouldn't let go as Smith scored one more on a 10-yard run for the Bulls, corralling a low snap and powering to the goal line on a 163-yard rushing night for the sophomore quarterback.

Isaiah Washington ran for 123 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs, and Izaiah Williams had a 44-yard touchdown catch. Moore threw for two TDs and ran for another, while Kraut and O'Keefe had two touchdowns apiece.

The Bulldogs play at No. 8 seed Scotland next Friday in a rematch of their Oct. 10 game, won 33-27 by the Fighting Scots.

Westover falls on game-winning field goal

The NCHSAA 6A East No. 20 seed Westover traveled to No. 13 Lee County and came painfully close to an upset, but fell 21-20 as the Yellow Jackets kicked a 27-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Lee County kicker Alex Borrell came into the game with the second-most made field goals in the state this season with 11.

Trinity Christian shoves into state semifinals

Crusaders freshman quarterback Bralynn Howard threw for 250 yards with five touchdown passes in Trinity Christian's 58-20 win over SouthLake Christian on Thursday in the NCISAA Division II semifinals.

Amir Jackson had 104 all-purpose yards with 74 and two TDs receiving. Dontario Austin, Dynovan Marshmon and Ty Nesbitt also caught TD passes from Howard. Jaden Clifton led the Crusaders on the ground with 94 rushing yards on 11 carries.

No. 3 Trinity Christian (8-2) will play at three-time defending state champ No. 2 Asheville School (6-2-1) next Friday, Nov. 14, for a trip to its third straight state championship.

6A East

No. 7 Seventy First (8-2), bye
No. 16 Harnett Central 40, No. 17 South View 37
No. 9 Terry Sanford 49, No. 24 E.E. Smith 20
No. 13 Lee County 21, No. 20 Westover 20
No. 12 Franklinton 28, No. 21 Gray's Creek 6

7A East

No. 5 Cape Fear (9-1), bye

7A West

#8 Jack Britt (6-4), bye

NCHSAA playoffs Round 2

Friday, Nov. 14