It Feels Like Home

 On Friday, October 14^th Quanta, Tiffany and I traveled out to Goldsboro to watch Rosewood take on Spring Creek. Both schools are 1A and Rosewood’s stadium, the Eagle's Nest was the smallest setting we’ve been to for a game. The small stadium created an intimate atmosphere that we haven’t experienced yet on our travels around the state.  

Fans Packed the Stadium for a Highly Anticipated Homecoming Game

Davis Whitfield, the NCHSAA’s Commissioner, graduated from Rosewood and played football and baseball for the Eagles. Quanta, Tiffany and I stopped at Rudy’s before the game, a local diner that is well known for their burgers and fries. Davis was excited about our trip to Rudy's and told us stories from when he used to go there after big games. 

Rosewood High School's Sign Above the Concession Stand

It was a great night at the Eagle’s Nest.  Rosewood was celebrating their Homecoming and the crowd ranged from parents of players, to young alumni returning from college, and older alumni returning with their families. It was a family friendly atmosphere, young boys and girls played pick-up football in the grass behind the end zone.

Rosewood Students Decorated the Stadium with signs for their Homecoming Game.

There was a lot of excitement surrounding the homecoming halftime celebrations. It was fun to see the homecoming court dressed up in their suits and dresses and the young children looking up at them with a nervous excitement. Students were decked out in purple and spent the night talking about the pep rally and who would be named queen.

The football game was never in question, Rosewood won 42-0. The anticipation and nervousness among the crowd peaked as Rosewood was getting ready to name their Homecoming Queen. For the first time in the history of the school, Rosewood voted for an African American Homecoming Queen.

Rosewood's Principal, Dean Sauls, with the Homecoming
Queen and Princess

It was a great night to travel to Goldsboro. Rosewood showed us that it's not the size of the stadium that matters, it’s the excitement of the crowd. The parents, fans, students and alumni turned out to support their Eagles and it was great seeing so many families together on a Friday night. 

The Eagle's Nest is Quiet after the Eagles beat the Gators 42-0

Giving Back

Throughout this series I’ve written about the incredible support local communities have given to their high school football teams. The Carolina Panthers have recently completed their “High School Weight Room Makeover” grant, which provided four schools in North Carolina and South Carolina with weight room equipment. Over 70 high schools in North and South Carolina applied for the opportunity to win the Panthers weight room equipment, the Panthers recently renovated their weight room.

The Sidewalk Leading to the Riverside Field

Riverside High School in Durham was one of four schools selected. The weight room equipment, valued at $75,000, was recently delivered to Riverside.  The grant included lower and upper body equipment and 1,000 pounds worth of weight plates. The other three schools who received similar grants included Olympic High School in Charlotte, NC, South Stanly in Norwood, NC and Scott’s Branch in Summerton, SC.

Quanta, Tiffany, Chiquana, Brad and I traveled out to Riverside to watch their football team take on Southern Durham.  It gave us an opportunity to watch one of Riverside’s teams that will benefit from the updated weight room. Peter Vacho, Carolina Panthers Youth/Prep Football & Military Outreach Manager said “The Carolina Panthers are thrilled to offer this tremendous opportunity to schools, especially when the need for resources are at a premium, but adequate funding may be a challenge. It is exciting to know that this equipment will make a significant impact in serving student-athletes in our region

The Riverside Band Played Music throughout the Game,
which made for a Great Atmosphere

 A Carolina Panthers representative was supposed to be at Riverside’s game against Southern Durham last Friday, but unfortunately they were unable to attend. Riverside faced a tough game against Southern Durham and lost 58-17. The Southern Durham Spartans are now 5-3 and the Riverside Pirates are 1-5. Southern Durham was leading 19-0 after the first half and extended their lead to 33-0 before Riverside’s quarterback Zack Keplinger scored on a quarterback keeper to make it 33-7. The game was never in question as Southern Durham controlled the tempo throughout the game.

A Conference Match-up Under the Lights,
Southern Durham Beat Riverside 58-17

The game was exciting though because Riverside seemed to have a rejuvenated spirit after winning the Panthers grant. In a time when school funding is in question and athletic departments are feeling the budget crunch more than ever, a weight room makeover can bring excitement to a school and give hope to its students. The Panthers giving back to schools in their home region is just another example of the way communities and businesses stepping up and supporting local schools and giving students hope.  

-Elizabeth Lancaster

51 Years in the Making

The Page-Grimsley rivalry has been 51 years in the making. Over 8,300 fans headed to Grimsley’s Jamieson Stadium for the storied rivalry. I was excited to head to Greensboro, my hometown, to cover the Page-Grimsley game for the blog.

A Grimsley Student Decorated their Truck before the Big Game

Grimsley came into the game with a 1-5 season and supported a young roster of mostly sophomores and juniors.  Page entered the game undefeated with a 5-0 record.  The Whirlies young team couldn’t hold off the senior laden Page roster. 

The Grimsley Team Waits for the Game to Start

The final score was 49-0 in favor of the Pirates. Page moves to 6-0 on the season, while Grimsley drops to 1-6.

Page was lead by James Summers, a NC State recruit. Summers dominated the game; he completed nine of eleven pass attempts for 123 yards and ran for two touchdowns. Grimsley’s starting quarterback Jake Simpson broke his ankle in the last game and is out for the season.  The Whirlies replaced Simpson with Mark Poole. 

The Page and Grimsley Teams Lineup to Shake Hands
before Kick-Off

       

Grimsley had a tough night. The Whirlies didn’t complete a first down until the fourth quarter and had five total yards of offense. Page earned their fifth straight win in the series and has the potential to go far into the State Playoffs.

The Teams in Actions, Page would Win the Game 49-0

The exciting part about the longstanding rivalry series is the support from the local community.  It wasn’t just students who were excited about attending the much anticipated game. The local community showed up in droves and alumni traveled back to Greensboro for the game.

Even Ethan Albright, a Grimsley football standout who played 236 games in the NFL, returned with his family for his first Page-Grimsley game since he played for the Whirlies.

The Sun Sets on another Page-Grimsley Game, a Rivalry
that has Existed over 50 years

The excitement in Greensboro before the game was almost palpable, the records of the teams didn’t seem to matter.  As sports have proven in the past, when a big rivalry is on the line, an unsuspecting team can pull out a big win. But in a packed stadium on a chilly Friday night, the Page Pirates showed their strength and earned the bragging rights around town for another year.  

-Elizabeth Lancaster

Camouflage vs. Neon

Despite rain falling all day, Friday night’s game at Chapel Hill High School was able to be played.  Fortunately the steady rain ended before the match-up between Carrboro and Chapel Hill kicked-off. The excitement around the game was electrifying; both teams were undefeated coming into the game, with a record of 5-0.

The field was in great condition despite all the rain Chapel Hill recieved

The wet field didn't stop the Tigers and Jaguars from playing an intense and exciting game. The final score was 22-9, with Chapel Hill picking up their sixth win of the season and keeping their undefeated status alive for another week.  Carborro drops to 5-1. The game had a two-point conversion and a safety, leading to the unusual score.

Carrboro got on the board first with 7:19 left in the first quarter.  Matt Maqsoud blocked a Chapel Hill punt and Trai Sharp recovered it for a touchdown. Both teams threw interceptions in the first half and then focused on their running games in the second half. But the Chapel Hill defense showed to be the deciding factor in the game; they forced two turnovers and held the Jaguars to 1-for-11 on third downs.

Chapel Hill starts with the ball deep in their own territory

While the game was exciting, the atmosphere in the stadium was incredible. The Chapel Hill and Carrboro students were on their feet the entire game and eagerly watched each play. Chapel Hill’s student section, the “Tiger Roar”, cheered all game. The Tiger Roar could be heard across the field in the Carrboro fan section. The Carrboro students were not to be outdone by Chapel Hill.  Carrboro students would match Chapel Hill cheers and it became a competition between the student sections to see who could be louder.

The neon-clad Carrboro student section may have been smaller than the
Chapel Hill student section, but that didn't stop them from cheering all game

The Tiger Roar and Carrboro’s student section were dressed in themes. Chapel Hill students wore camouflage to the game, while Carrboro students wore neon colors. The themes change each game and it’s a way for students to build excitement for the game throughout the week. Sometimes the themes correspond with the visiting team, while others times they’re just fun, such as the camouflage and neon themes.

While the Carrboro vs. Chapel Hill game was fun to watch, it was the student sections that made this game unique.

There's a Flag on the Play

This week’s Friday Football Frenzy crew traveled to Durham to watch two rivals play each other. Hillside took on Southern Durham for a much anticipated conference match-up at Southern Durham. This was the PAC 6 conference opener for both teams.  

The rock "S" on the hill at Southern Durham

While last week’s game featured two new programs, this week’s game featured two rival schools. This game has been on Brad Alford, a NCHSAA staff member's, radar since the beginning of the season. He graduated from Southern Durham and filled-in Quanta, Tiffany and I on all the traditions of Southern Durham football and needless to say, we were excited to head out to Durham to watch the game.

The Hornets Breaking through their Banner.

Both teams, at some point in the season, were ranked in the HighSchoolOT.com OT Top 12 Poll this season. Southern Durham was ranked 4^th before dropping out of the poll in Week 4 after losing to Jack Britt. Hillside was ranked #4 in Week 5, and will remain in the poll after beating Southern Durham 33-21.

The Spartan's Defense getting a Pep Talk from the Coaches.

The Spartans came into this game 2-2, starting the season with two wins before dropping two straight. The Hornets came into the game 3-1, starting the season with their only loss and winning three straight on the road, including a win in South Carolina against Canes Bay.

<>

Southern Durham knows how to Run a Concession Stand,

they had a Grill for Hot Dogs and a Fish Fry.

The anticipation among the Durham community for this game was extremely high; cars were backed up trying to get into the parking lot and parking spots were a high commodity. Southern Durham brought in extra bleachers to be placed on the track for over-flow of fans.  

The weather was gloomy, with heavy cloud cover and a rain storm that hit halfway through the first quarter, but the temperature was chilly and it finally started to feel like real Friday Night Football weather.



The Spartan's Crowd Braving the Rain and
Cold Weather to Cheer on their Team.



Unfortunately penalties played a big role in the game. It began to feel like every play had a flag associated with it.

Southern Durham ran for big first down during their first possession of the game, but a holding penalty, pulled Southern Durham back to their own 20 yard line. Hillside during an early possession actually scored a touchdown, but it was called back due to an illegal shift. The excess of flags on plays hurt both offenses from getting a rhythm. But it was Hillside’s Khris Francis who dominated the game, he ran for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The Hornet Cheerleaders Watching their
Team Score Another Touchdown.

But it wasn’t just the football game that stole the show on Friday night. The Spartan and Hornet cheerleaders cheered the entire game, despite the rain and chilly weather. Both squads kept the crowd engaged as the rain poured. The Southern Durham band at halftime was exceptional and didn’t let the wet weather dampen their spirits.

The Spartan's Color Guard Tried to Stay Warm before
their Halftime Performance.

The Spartan's Band and Color Guard didn't let Damp Weather and a
Wet Field Stand in the way of a Spectacular Halftime Performance.

As we’re learning from attending different football games around the state, it’s each community that makes NC Friday Night Football so special. It’s the student-athletes on the field, playing through every whistle and leaving it all on the field. It’s the band members and cheerleaders, dedicating their time and talents to enhance the football game experience. It’s the parents of the athletes, band members and cheerleaders, supporting their children. It’s the high school students supporting their classmates, and the community members showing-up and supporting their local high school students. Without the community support, Friday Night Football definitely would not have the special atmosphere, that makes it so unique and fun.

The Hornets Beat the Spartans 33-21.

- Elizabeth Lancaster



What's In a Tradition?

Quanta and I started off the Friday Football Frenzy series with a trip out to Cleveland High School to watch the Rams battle the Heritage Huskies on September 9^th.

The Entrance to Cleveland High School

The football game between Cleveland High School and Heritage High School was like any other high school football game: cheerleaders were on the track, the band performed at halftime, and high school students packed themselves in the student section and laughed about their day and discussed their big plans for the weekend; but there was something missing on the field, a senior class.

The Cleveland Side of the Stands was Packed

The Husky Cheerleaders waiting for the Team

The Rams Charging onto the Field

Cleveland High School and Heritage High School are two new schools that opened last year in Johnston County and Wake County, respectively.  Last year, the schools only had freshmen and sophomore classes and fielded junior varsity football teams in their introductory year.  This year, the schools have added a junior class and varsity football for the first time. 

The Coin Toss, Heritage Won

The game was lopsided with a final score of 48-6, with the Rams picking up their second win, compiling a record of 2-2 and Heritage dropping to 2-2 on the season. The Cleveland team was extremely disciplined, despite their lack of senior leadership, while the Heritage team racked up penalties throughout the game and had several costly turnovers, resulting in Cleveland touchdowns.

Cleveland's Cheerleaders Getting Crowd into the Game

The beginning of the game was packed with action. Cleveland scored the first touchdown of the game with 5:21 left in the first quarter. Heritage responded in 17 seconds with a touchdown of their own, but missed the extra point. Cleveland had a strong offense. Isaac Martin scored three touchdowns before halftime. The Huskies had a tough time slowing Martin down. Tre Joyner, Cleveland's quarterback had a strong showing throughout the game.  Interestingly, the first 7 Cleveland kickoffs were onside kicks, a strategy rarely seen. The Heritage defense fought all game and it took some time for the Heritage offense to settle down and complete plays.

Heritage's Cheerleaders in Action

As I watched the game, I couldn’t help but wonder if these schools had any traditions yet and more importantly, are traditions purposely constructed or are they the developed, adjusted and refined over time?

Cleveland's Band 

As I spoke with multiple students from Cleveland, I learned that they wanted to start their own tradition but weren’t positive what they should start. Students from Heritage said they wanted to start a student section at away games. Only five students traveled from Wake County for the game and were eager for more students at their next away game.

The Husky's had Five Students at the Game, but that didn't Stop
these Students from Trying to get the Wave Started

The funny thing about traditions is that they can rarely be purposely started, especially when the student body continuously turns-over every four years.  Traditions build over time and each team and student body following the traditions they like and changing the ones they don’t like. Traditions at Cleveland and Heritage are starting to be created, but only time will tell which ones continue on.

But at Friday night’s game, it became obvious that these first year programs have a bright future. The parents, student bodies and communities have showed their commitment to the football programs and watching these programs create their own unique traditions is going to be exciting.

-Elizabeth Lancaster