NCISAA 8-Man Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our first set of state championship games is on Friday, as we have three NCISAA Champions ready to be crowned. I've already previewed the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/ncisaa-division-i-championship-preview/">Division I Championship</a> and the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/ncisaa-division-ii-championship-preview/">Division II Championship</a> Games. Here, I'm looking at the 8-Man championship between two teams who are no strangers to the finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NCISAA 8-Man Championship Preview</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Info</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Cary Christian (11-1) vs. Arendell Parrott Academy (12-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game Details: </strong>Nov. 21, 7:00 p.m. @ John Paul II High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Passers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1937885' first='Reed' last='Harvey']</strong> (Cary Christian): 111-169, 2,242 yards, 32 TDs, 1 INT</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Christopher Stimson</strong> (Arendell Parrott): 104-169, 2,140 yards, 31 TDs, 7 INTs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Rushers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2056953' first='Braxton' last='Loftin-Myers'] </strong>(APA): 181 carries, 1,551 yards, 14 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1937885' first='Reed' last='Harvey']</strong> (Cary Christian): 84 carries, 595 yards, 4 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Receivers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2056945' first='Ben' last='Barrett']</strong> (APA): 55 receptions, 1,350 yards, 23 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1925976' first='Cennoth' last='Kalisiak']</strong> (Cary Christian): 49 receptions, 1,124 yards, 13 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Tacklers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1630699' first='Brody' last='Kuszyk']</strong> (APA): 41 solo</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Marcus Reinalda</strong> (Cary Christian): 41 solo</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Game Preview</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If these teams look evenly matched, it's because they are. When they met just under a month ago, Arendell Parrott stormed back with 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win 52-38. <strong>Cary Christian</strong> star quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1937885' first='Reed' last='Harvey']</strong> threw his first and only interception as <strong>Cole Watson</strong> picked him off in a fun shootout. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams were clearly the top teams in the 8-man division this season and meet on Friday at John Paul II High School in Greenville, and the numbers are eerily similar. Both of these teams have legitimate college (11-man) talent on them, and shouldn't be underrated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harvey and Stimson are the top two passers in the 8-man class, each with over 2,100 passing yards and 30 touchdowns on the season. Harvey is well within our rankings as a true college quarterback prospect, one of the top 8-man prospects in the country (though he could opt to play baseball instead) with excellent arm talent and speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The receiver matchup is equally enticing, with the only two 8-man receivers over 1,000 yards on the season. Both <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2056945' first='Ben' last='Barrett']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1925976' first='Cennoth' last='Kalisiak']</strong> should play college football, though they're very different prospects. Barrett has size and straight-line speed, while Kalisiak operates more underneath as a shifty guy with big yards after the catch ability. Last time these teams played, Kalisiak torched the APA defense to the tune of 14 catches for nearly 200 yards. Barrett, too, was uncoverable, getting behind the Cary Christian defense multiple times for three touchdowns on four catches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>APA has a distinct advantage in two areas: on the ground and in the pass-rushing department. In their 52-38 win over Cary Christian in October, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2056953' first='Braxton' last='Loftin-Myers']</strong> ran for nearly 300 yards to the Knights' 63 total rushing yards, and he did so on fewer carries. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1630699' first='Brody' last='Kuszyk']</strong> is a University of Rochester commit with elite size and speed for the 8-man level, and he made his presence felt last time these teams met, with a sack and several pressures on a day when the Patriots got to Harvey on several occasions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Cary Christian wants to win the second time around, the Knights will need to get more out of the running game and protect Harvey when he drops back to pass. It's not far-fetched to believe the Knights' defense, a unit typically strong against the run, should be able to force Arendell Parrott into more passing situations, so their own balance will be key.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of these teams will pick up its third state championship of the 2020s, and it should be a tight game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You'll have to wait for an official prediction, as Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and I will have our predictions for all three championship games free on Prep Redzone later this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Follow Prep Redzone for more high-quality coverage throughout the playoffs and offseason. Want to get in front of our scouts this offseason? Our next PRZ Carolinas Stock-Up Showcase is Dec. 7. <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2124/register/stock-up-showcase-carolinas">Register here</a>. Promo Code HelmsWinterPRZ will get you $10 off registration.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->