PrepsNow Playbook: Riverside, Cedar Ridge ineligible for playoffs after fight

Two more area teams will be disqualified for the N.C. High School Athletic Association football playoffs after reaching the maximum number of ejections allowed in a season.

Riverside athletic director Margratha Chambers confirmed three players from both the Pirates and host Cedar Ridge were ejected in a late-game altercation. Per NCHSAA rule, teams with three or more ejections specifically for fighting – or six total ejections for any reason – on the season are ineligible for the postseason.

Both schools will have opportunities to appeal.

Riverside (2-2) is ranked 24th in The N&O top 25 this week, and Cedar Ridge (3-1) was off to its best start in school history before falling to Riverside 20-3.

In Week 2, Northern Vance (3-1) received five ejections for fighting – which included three for leaving the bench area during a fight – and is also ineligible.

Southeast Raleigh picks up win

Southeast Raleigh was 1-1 entering last week but ended it 3-1 despite a Monday loss to Wake Forest. The Bulldogs were notified that D.H. Conley had used an ineligible player in a Week 1 35-24 loss and must forfeit the win to Southeast Raleigh.

The Starting 11: players of the week

(Times named to The Starting 11 this season in parentheses.)

Jack Biestek, Cardinal Gibbons (1): Ran 14 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns, caught five passes for 127 yards and a touchdown.

James Darden, Corinth Holders (1): Ran 24 times for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

Luke Fenlon, Northern Durham (1): Completed 21 of 37 passes for 351 yards and two touchdowns.

Brandon Hardy, Ayden-Grifton (1): Ran for 223 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, also caught a 26-yard touchdown pass.

Chris James, Wake Forest (1): Completed 7 of 8 passes for 135 yards and 4 touchdowns.

D.J. Jones, Bunn (1): Ran 18 times for 201 yards.

Tony Mack, West Johnston (1): Ran 18 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns.

Caiden Norman, Cleveland (1): Completed 21 of 35 passes for 359 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Jacob Scott, Cleveland (1): Caught 12 passes for 257 yards (tied for 17th-most in NCHSAA single-game history) and three touchdowns.

Grant Webb, Community Christian (1): Ran eight times for 103 yards and two touchdowns and completed 8 of 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

Andre Wilson, West Johnston (1): Ran 16 times for 154 yards and a score, completed 9 of 16 passes for 129 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

4-point stance: top defenses

Green Hope: Held Holly Springs to 93 yards of total offense and blocked a game-tying extra point with 7 seconds left to win 14-13. The Falcons only gave up one offensive touchdown.

Orange: The Panthers held Cummings to minus-9 yards rushing and 12 passing in a 48-0 shutout.

Southern Nash: Held South Johnston to 57 yards of offense in a 49-0 win.

Wake Forest: Allowed zero rushing yards to Rolesville and 71 passing in a 42-0 shutout.

Quick hits

▪ St. David’s sophomore Houston Walker changed his jersey to No. 3 to honor his brother Trey, who tore his ACL in Week 2. He ran for 142 yards, had 71 receiving and scored 4 total touchdowns.

▪ In nonconference play thus far, the Cap-8 is 22-7, the PAC-6 is 13-13, Southwest Wake 8-17 and the Greater Neuse 14-17.

Postcard

Gregson Stadium: Sanderson High’s Gregson Stadium is one of the larger football venues in Wake County and once hosted St. Augustine’s home football games before the college got its own field. The stadium is named after Raymond Gregson, a former Raleigh City Schools administrator, and the field is named after former boys soccer coach and athletic director Bob Catapano. Catapano won 11 state championships in 20 seasons as boys soccer coach and set a national record for 103 consecutive games without a loss that stood for nine years.

This story was originally published September 12, 2016 at 10:45 AM with the headline "PrepsNow Playbook: Riverside, Cedar Ridge ineligible for playoffs after fight."