The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released its final brackets for the high school football championships Saturday and three Wayne County teams made the cut.
That means it’s a new season for Charles B. Aycock, Goldsboro and Rosewood, and each team has an eye on the same goal: bringing a championship home to Wayne County.
Here’s what the regular season taught us:
CHARLES B. AYCOCK (7-4): When healthy, this team can play with anyone.
The Golden Falcons got off to a white-hot start this season, beating Rosewood, Greene Central, Goldsboro, North Johnston and South Central to open their 2019 campaign 5-1.
Taevian Jackson lived up to his reputation as one of the best running backs in Eastern North Carolina and the team’s defense showed speed and, more importantly, heart behind the vocal M.J. Cooper.
But it was quarterback Clay Matthews — and his receiving corps — that turned heads in Pikeville this season and gave the Golden Falcons the opportunity to feed the rock to Jackson.
It’s true that Aycock lost three of its last four games, but when healthy, this team is dangerous — particularly when Matthews is on the same page as his primary targets, Alijuan Moore, Tyler Moore and Hunter Robinson.
The Golden Falcons proved it Friday evening by putting up 60 points on rival Eastern Wayne on the road.
Aycock never lost this season when they put up at least 28 points, so if their opponents are looking for a shootout, the odds favor the boys from Pikeville.
ROSEWOOD (9-1): This could be the Eagles’ year.
After losing its opener against Charles B. Aycock, the Rosewood football team has smacked nearly every team it’s played since.
The Eagles have reeled off nine straight wins, including a conference championship-clinching overtime victory at rival Princeton Friday evening.
Rosewood has only failed to score 40 points twice this season — one of those games was the team’s opening night loss at Aycock — so they certainly have the firepower to go all the way.
And this program came into the season hungry, having narrowly missed out on a championship game appearance last fall. The sting of coming up short has fueled this team and that’s certainly an intangible to consider.
Running back Dhimani Fenty should concern any opponent the Eagles might face — the young man rushed for four touchdowns against Princeton, including the game-winner — and the Rosewood defense held six opponents to one score or less this season.
Throw in the fact that the Eagles get a first-round bye to heal up and they certainly become the team from Wayne County to watch.
GOLDSBORO (5-6): Records can be deceiving.
Sure, the Goldsboro High School football team finished 5-6 on the season, but opponents might want to do their research before writing GHS off.
The Cougars have only had starting quarterback Jamin Jacobs back for three games and the only time he started and his team lost was Friday evening, by two points, at East Duplin — and it’s worth noting that star running back and defensive powerhouse J.B. Rhodes was sidelined for the regular season finale.
With or without Rhodes, the Cougars are worth taking seriously. If he returns to action for the first round of the playoffs, GHS is a nightmare 14-seed.
Jacobs is explosive with both his arm and his feet.
Rhodes is a powerful back with speed.
Jykeis Mclean is among the top wide receivers in the state and is joined by a young receiving corps, Damon Brown, Deonte Moore and Justin Taylor, that has proven itself to be more than capable of carrying the load when needed.
The Cougars defense is capable of winning ballgames, too. Mclean is a pick-six threat every time the receiver he is checking is targeted and Brian Buckom hits as hard as any defensive player in Wayne County.
Just ask Midway.
So, if you’re making your picks and trying to determine which local team has the best shot at glory in the coming weeks, don’t count out the boys from Goldsboro. Their record doesn’t tell the whole story.
Here are the brackets:
The following photographs are among our favorites from this season. We’ll see you at the playoffs — and, in a few weeks, on the hardwoods.
