High school playoffs kick off tonight

Weather permitting, tonight marks the beginning of the NCHSAA football playoffs. Here's a look at some notable games in the area and other trends to watch for.

(16) Clayton at (1) Wake Forest-Rolesville, 4-AA

On the surface, this seems like a typical 1-versus-16 blowout waiting to happen. Wake Forest-Rolesville (11-0) just completed an undefeated season in which it allowed just four points per game, while Clayton (4-7) needed to win a draw just to sneak into the playoffs.

However, on Sept. 11, Clayton was seconds away from victory until WF-R's Dan Tomchik completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tevin Barnes as time expired for a 16-14 win.

It will be the playoff debut for first-year Cougars coach Reggie Lucas, but the 26th time a Gary Fowler-led team has made it to the playoffs.

Fowler will be coaching his 290th game Friday and has a 22-17 record in the playoffs.

(9) Garner at (8) Wakefield, 4-AA

Each team has had some impressive wins this year: Garner knocked off Southeast Raleigh, and Wakefield upset previously unbeaten Leesville Road.

With Apex's streak ending at 11 this season, Garner now holds the active Wake County record for the most consecutive winning regular seasons.

The Trojans (6-5) have a knack for keeping things close, as single digits have decided seven of their games.

After a 6-3 start, Wakefield has lost its last three.

(12) Millbrook at (5) Fuquay-Varina, 4-AA

One of three Wake County battles, this one has the most tradition, as the opening kickoff will mark the 50th combined playoff appearance between the two teams.

Each has had its share of close calls this season.

Millbrook ended the year 6-5, and three of the Wildcats' losses came by fewer than 10 points.

Fuquay went 9-2, with the losses coming by a combined five points.

"Playing those close games I think prepares you for the playoffs. You can look at those mistakes you made in losses and not make those same mistakes in the playoffs," Fuquay-Varina coach Ryan Habich said. "Millbrook is a very good team. They beat Leesville Road, so I think it'll be a good football game Friday night."

The Bengals boast two players, junior fullback Cory Hunter and senior quarterback Nate Budde, who each ran for more than 1,000 yards this season.

(11) Leesville Road at (6) Broughton, 4-AA

This is the only intra-conference matchup in the 4-AA bracket, and Leesville Road (8-3) will enter as the lower seed despite defeating Broughton on Oct. 6.

The 31-6 win improved the Pride to 7-0 on the year, but three losses in the last four games dropped the team to a fifth-place finish in the Cap Seven.

Meanwhile, Broughton (5-6) went 3-1 to close out the season, including a narrow 12-7 loss to Wake Forest-Rolesville.

(11) Pembroke Swett at (6) Durham Hillside, 4-A

Both teams have given their opponents a low margin for error all year long.

Two of Hillside's three losses came to Southern Durham (by five) and Greensboro Dudley (by seven). Those two teams are now the No. 1 seed in the 4-A East and No. 2 seed in the 4-A West, respectively.

Pembroke Swett (9-2) lost to teams with a combined 19-3 record.

Durham Hillside's speedy junior quarterback Vad Lee has helped engineer a string of blowouts to close out the season. The Hornets (8-3) have won their last five games by an average score of 29-2.

Big names visit

In most years, powerhouses like Greenville Rose and New Bern would have high seeds and opening-round home games. This year, the Rampants (5-5) and Bears are double-digit seeds, and both will be coming into Wake County as the underdogs.

Rose, which has five state titles, the most recent coming in 2006, are the 10th seed in the 4-A playoffs and will travel to 7th seed Southeast Raleigh.

New Bern won the 2007 4-AA championship but went just 5-5 this year, including a 22-20 loss to Sanderson on Sept. 18. The Bears will make their return to Wake County to play at No. 3 seed Middle Creek (10-1).

Undefeated Harnett Central, the top seed in the 4-A East bracket, will have a rare task at hand when it faces defending 4-A champion Fayetteville Seventy-First.

The 16th-seeded Falcons went 5-6

Historic firsts

Two Tri-Nine teams, Holly Springs (7-4) and Panther Creek (5-6), will be making their first playoff appearances. Both schools opened in 2006 and are in just their third year of varsity football.

"Most schools in their fourth year of existence don't even have that opportunity," Holly Springs coach Jim Hynus said.

Holly Springs makes the trip to fifth seed New Hanover (8-3), while 14th seed Panther Creek faces Fayetteville Jack Britt (10-1).

Cardinal Gibbons, the No. 1 seed in the 3-A East, host a first-round playoff game for the first time. The Crusaders (10-1), who play Currituck (2-9), are in just their third year of NCHSAA competition and have made the playoffs in back-to-back years.

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