Week 1 Friday Night Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Varsity high school games got going all across the state on Friday and Prep Redzone has you covered with some immediate takeaways from a wild Week 1. Buckle up as we bring you our initial reactions to some of the on-field results.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're always player-focused, but I'll have plenty of "top performer" or "things you may have missed" content later in the week. This isn't that. Instead, I'm focused on reacting to some of the night's biggest storylines, while talking about a few key performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With over 150 games across the state, what stood out to us?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Week 1 Recap: Friday</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Down Goes Rolesville!</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I did not see this coming when I <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/week-1-top-3-games-in-rdu/">previewed the Mallard Creek-Rolesville game</a> earlier this week. To say I was impressed with the Mavericks would be an understatement. Perhaps most interesting was that Mallard Creek ran with transfer quarterback <strong>Samuel Cheeseboro Jr.</strong> over a couple of other options.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='338729' first='Khalil' last='Price']</strong> was as advertised offensively, catching a few deep balls, including a 65-yard touchdown. He had another called back due to a holding call, and it looks like the Campbell commit could have a huge season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1845434' first='Mason' last='Kelley']</strong> impressed me as well with some impressive shiftiness. The Mallard Creek defense, inexperienced as it is, was all over one of the best receiving corps in the state. Overall, it was just an impressive display from a team I thought was a year away from really competing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Rolesville, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1663808' first='Malachi' last='Harris']</strong> really impressed me on the <em>defensive</em> side of the ball after knifing through for a few big tackles in the backfield, while the tight ends, namely <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='832422' first='Davis' last='Brown']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616145' first='Henry' last='Evans']</strong> also had some impressive catches over the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">West Charlotte and Grimsley Play a Classic</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321007' first='Jamouri' last='Nichols']</strong> is the real deal. The unoffered 2027 QB1 went head-to-head with 2026 QB1 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284090' first='Faizon' last='Brandon']</strong> and fell just short in OT, as Grimsley squeaked by in a classic, 28-27. Nichols was incredible for West Charlotte, finishing 18-22 with 172 yards and a passing touchdown and three rushing touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brandon matched him, going 11-15 for 166 yards and a touchdown and what proved to be the game-winning 1-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal in overtime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Credit Grimsley's defense for bowing up on a game-deciding 2-point conversion, as safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1788066' first='Makai' last='Yon']</strong> got immediate pressure to force an incompletion. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of these teams will be back and we'll have plenty more on this epic battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shelby and Kings Mountain Battle</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was fairly excited to see what Shelby and Kings Mountain would look like in a crosstown rivalry game. From what I've seen, I think both of these teams will be forces in their respective classes. Shelby looked strong early, as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1099168' first='Lan' last='Farmer']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483642' first='Immanuel' last='Collins']</strong> hooked up for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A shoutout to Kings Mountain edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687769' first='Christian' last='Jarrett']</strong> for a sack leading to a safety. I thought he might get some more playing time this season and it looks like he's going to be a force off the edge. Kings Mountain QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687753' first='KJ' last='Bell']</strong> had a strong game and hooked up with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600212' first='William' last='Vaughn']</strong> to stretch the lead in the fourth quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make no mistake, both of these teams should make noise in the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Terry Sanford Walks It Off</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a game in Fayetteville, as Terry Sanford came back to beat Seventy-First, 46-44.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It came in spite of massive nights from both <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1346327' first='Jayson' last='Franklin']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='653512' first='Shon' last='Pone Jr'].</strong>, who combined for over 300 yards rushing and six touchdowns. But that wasn't enough to overcome a huge game from Sanford senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1396561' first='Jacob' last='Moore']</strong> and some key runs from <strong>Isaiah Washington</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moore completed 20 of 25 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns, adding two rushing scores and even catching a key pass on a trick play late in the fourth quarter. He led the Bulldogs down the field for a touchdown to put them down 1, then led them back down after a successful onside kick to set them up for a potential game-winning field goal. Sophomore kicker <strong>Tyce Thurman</strong> nailed the kick as time expired to give the Bulldogs a huge upset win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seventy-First hasn't lost in the regular season since the spring 2021 Covid season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other News and Notes</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The streak is over! Garinger broke its more than four year losing streak with an opening win over Winston Salem Prep, 36-6.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Another streak was snapped, as Wallace-Rose Hill was shut out 21-0 against East Duplin. Prior to its loss tonight, the Bulldogs had the state's longest streak of games without a shutout at 227 games.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Middle Creek, which now holds the state's longest streak of not being shut out, was impressive in a 37-7 win over Fuquay-Varina.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>North Carolina went 4-1 against South Carolina in huge matchups, and all four wins went down to the wire. In the early game, Hough squeaked by South Pointe (SC), 14-10 thanks to two rushing touchdowns from quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='254550' first='Ethan' last='Royal']</strong>. Independence beat a strong Gaffney (SC) team, 27-21, thanks to a long punt return touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Further to the east, Scotland came roaring back from a two-touchdown second half deficit to win 36-33. Finally, Chambers squeezed by Clover, 36-35.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>North Mecklenburg won big in what many think is a surprising result. Seniors <strong>Tremail Woolford</strong> and <strong>Gabriel McLaurin</strong> had huge games on offense.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Obviously, we can't hit everything in this one piece, but what did we miss? Let me know on Twitter, (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->