Bulldogs advance with rout

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QB powers Southeast

So goes Gabe Henderson, so goes the Southeast Raleigh offense.

Henderson thrived Friday night -- accounting for five touchdowns -- so the Bulldogs rolled to a key 41-13 Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference victory over Smithfield-Selma.

Southeast Raleigh built a 20-0 second-quarter lead on three Henderson touchdown runs, then answered with a score of its own each time the Spartans got back within two scores.

Bulldogs earn shot at 1st title

Southeast Raleigh will get a chance to play for history next Friday.

The Bulldogs secured an opportunity to capture their first Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference football title with an impressive 35-14 victory over Holly Springs on Friday night.

Southeast (8-2, 5-1 Greater Neuse River) will host West Johnston next week. West Johnston fell to 4-2 in the conference after losses Monday and Friday.

Bulldogs pull away for win

Southeast Raleigh coach Daniel Finn didn't want the ball in Josh Snead's hands again. So Finn made the call to go for the first down on fourth-and-1 from the Bulldogs' own 17-yard-line in the third quarter, clinging to a 34-20 lead.

Senior quarterback Gabe Henderson, one of the Bulldogs' Division I recruits, got the call and he squeaked around the right side of the line to pick up a first down. The Bulldogs -- top-ranked in the N&O poll -- took advantage of Henderson's conversion, putting together a win-clinching touchdown drive that helped Southeast pull away for a seemingly easy 55-20 victory over Smithfield-Selma.

Snead, Smithfield-Selma's big-play breaking senior running back, had pulled the Spartans within two scores on three touchdown runs. The Duke recruit finished with 248 yards rushing on 25 carries and all three SSS scores.

Southeast struggles to put away Clayton

Top-ranked Southeast Raleigh got enough out of its good stretches of play and overcame the rough to earn a Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference season-opening win Friday night over Clayton, 21-10.

Kent State recruit Gabe Henderson led the Bulldogs (5-0) to touchdowns on the first two drives of the game, then scrambled 15 yards for the final touchdown on fourth-and-6 early in the fourth quarter.

Henderson rushed for 126 yards on the night and threw for another 123 yards on 15 of 22 attempts.

Unbeaten Trojans prevail in OT

Harnett Central's defense forced the only turnover of the night in overtime, then needed just one play on its overtime drive to earn the school's first trip to the third round of the state football playoffs.

Junior quarterback Brian Taylor walked in untouched on a 10-yard quarterback draw to give the Trojans a 27-21 victory over Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference rival Southeast Raleigh.

Trojans senior defensive lineman Brandon McLean came free up the middle on Southeast Raleigh's overtime possession, forcing a quick throw on third down that sailed high and ended up in the hands of Central junior defensive back Lemonte Taylor.