Chris Wurster almost reveled in the thought of his Stuart Cramer football team being an underdog for its NCHSAA 4A West second-round matchup, this despite the Storm winning eight games and earning the right to host the program’s second postseason game.
“You hear about Bandys, and they might be the best 6-5 team in the state. It’s a big test, but those are the reasons you play, for games like this,” he said. “On Friday night, both teams’ record will be 0-0. We’re going to leave everything out there.”
The No. 7 Storm surged to a 47-14 lead midway through the third quarter, eventually settling for a 60-49 victory over 10th-ranked Bandys. Cramer improves to 9-2, setting a new program record for wins in the process. It was also the Storm’s first postseason victory since knocking off Concord in the 2017 3A state playoffs.
Clee Phillips rushed for four touchdowns, Brayden Fortenberry earned a hat trick with three rush TDs, while J.J. Alexander and Dominick McCorkle ran for a TD as well.
Cramer looks to continue its run in Round 3 against second-ranked Hibriten, a 43-19 winner over R-S Central.
Cleveland County football (again) flexes its muscle
“It just means more.” While commonly used as a tagline for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) dominance in college football, much the same can be applied to Cleveland County high school football.
Each of the county’s four programs advanced to the third round in their respective classifications.
Despite being ranked 10th in the NCHSAA 3A West bracket, Shelby served notice Friday night it is more than capable of taking the road less traveled to a state crown. The Golden Lions scored 58 first-half points, blitzing a nine-win East Rutherford team, 65-34. Quarterback Lan Farmer led the way, throwing for three touchdowns — each to Lorenzo Roseboro — and rushing for three more. Jonas Woods also rushed for two TDs.
Shelby travels to No. 2 Mount Airy in Round 3, the latter advancing via a 52-0 win over Thomasville.
Kings Mountain is third-round bound for the first time since 2022, outlasting T.C. Roberson in a 21-20 victory. K..J. Bell threw for 201 yards in the game, five of those passes going to Boston College recruit William Vaughn for 147 yards and a TD.
The Mountaineers advance in the NCHSAA 6A West bracket to face No. 2 Northern Guilford, a 39-6 winner over Asheville.
Burns and Crest also made light work of their second round opponents, taking a 49-7 victory over West Stanly in the NCHSAA 4A West bracket and a 69-6 win over Concord in the NCHSAA 5A West playoffs, respectively. Burns travels to top-seeded Brevard in Round 3, while Crest hosts East Lincoln in a much-anticipated third-round matchup.
Undefeated Ashbrook escapes
Undefeated Ashbrook found itself in a dog fight with an upset-minded Statesville squad, the Green Wave trailing for the better portion of their NCHSAA 6A West second-round matchup.
Third-seeded Ashbrook outscored the 14th-ranked Greyhounds 16-0 in the second half, rallying for a 22-14 win and a berth in the third round.
Trailing 14-6 midway through the third, Ashbrook first cut into the Statesville lead with a safety before seizing command on a Savion Lindsay touchdown run. Already with a TD pass under his belt, A.J. McClain’s 10-yard TD run in the fourth quarter put the game away.
Ashbrook moves on to Round 3 where it will host No. 11 Dudley, which knocked off Asheboro 21-6.
MICS flips script in Round 2 win
For years, it was said Mountain Island Charter wilted in the face of western North Carolina’s small-school powerhouses, in particular their vaunted rushing attacks.
MICS football coach Robert Washington hopes Friday is a sign the tide is turning.
Though it only mustered seven points, the MICS defense never allowed No. 3 Alleghany to gain traction, doing enough for a 7-6 victory in the NCHSAA 2A West playoffs. The victory amounts to the Raptors’ biggest upset in program history.
“Some might see the Mount Airy win (in 2019) as our biggest win, but I see it differently,” Washington said. “This team wasn’t supposed to be where it is, especially as a 14-seed. But they keep putting in the work and are starting to see the results.”
An’Dre Ramseur finished 9-of-17 for 125 yards, his first-quarter connection with Joe Oliver II good for MICS’ only touchdown. Such was enough for the Raptor defense, which forced four turnovers, three of which came via Alleghany fumbles.
MICS moves on to face another surprise third-round entrant in No. 11 Mitchell.
Second round results
6A West
(3) Ashbrook 22, (14) Statesville 14
(10) Kings Mountain 21, (7) T.C. Roberson 20
5A West
(1) South Point 48, (17) Erwin 13
(4) Crest 69, (13) Concord 6
(5) East Lincoln 56, (12) West Henderson 9
4A West
(7) Stuart Cramer 60, (10) Bandys 49
(8) Burns 49, (24) West Stanly 7
3A West
(1) Mountain Heritage 46, (16) West Lincoln 13
(8) Lincolnton 28, (9) Hendersonville 27
(10) Shelby 65, (7) East Rutherford 34
2A West
(2) Starmount 56, (15) Cherryville 7
(14) Mountain Island Charter 7, (3) Alleghany 6
Third round matchups
6A West
(11) Dudley at (3) Ashbrook
(10) Kings Mountain at (2) Northern Guilford
5A West
(8) Monroe at (1) South Point
(5) East Lincoln at (4) Crest
4A West
(8) Burns at (1) Brevard
(7) Stuart Cramer at (2) Hibriten
3A West
(8) Lincolnton at (1) Mountain Heritage
(10) Shelby at (2) Mount Airy
2A West
(14) Mountain Island Charter at (11) Mitchell
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA football playoffs second round takeaways in Gastonia, Shelby