Storylines to Watch: 1A-4A Round 4

On this Thanksgiving Week, I've been a bit tied up, so I haven't been able to cover everything to the extent that I'd like. Maybe your mind has been elsewhere, as well. This is a solution to that. Need to know what to watch for this week? I've got you covered. Here are three storylines to watch in the 1A-4A classes on Friday.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Round 4 Storylines to Watch</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Will 3A Continue to be the Class of Upsets?</h3>   I've covered this a few times this postseason. For whatever reason, RPI seeded several of the best teams in the 3A class lower than expected, including No. 10 Shelby and No. 14 Kinston. So while many other classes have seen few upsets, 3A has had enough for all of them, with more teams seeded below the top 4 reaching the fourth round than the 4A-8A classes combined.   Only two of the top eight overall seeds remain. Will they go down, too? Or will we start to see more of the home teams move on?   Eastern Randolph-Shelby is the big game this week, in my opinion. I think Wildcats are one of the only teams in 3A that can hang with the Golden Lions. Even if their seeds don't reflect it, these are two giants of the 3A class. Three of these teams' five combined losses came to top-4 seeds in the 5A and 6A classes, and with very few exceptions, they've run through the rest of the 3A class.   The receiver matchup in that one is outstanding, as Eastern Randolph's [player_tooltip player_id='2068069' first='Caden' last='Revelle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2003826' first='Cainin' last='Glover'] are very different wideouts, but both are big-play threats. Shelby's [player_tooltip player_id='483642' first='Immanuel' last='Collins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2044437' first='JJ' last='Williams'] don't have elite size, but they've got quickness both before and after the catch to shake defenders. Don't be surprised if one of those guys breaks a big one to turn the tide.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4A Bracket Heats Up</h3>   Brevard and Reidsville have been at the top of the new 4A class seemingly from its creation after last year. I thought each 1-seed would waltz to a date in the title game, but neither team won overly comfortably last week. Reidsville won 41-24 over Eastern Wayne last week, but it wasn't always that easy.   The Rams fell behind 10-0 before [player_tooltip player_id='869974' first='Dionte' last='Neal'] had a punt return for a touchdown to kickstart Reidsville. Brevard struggled against Burns' ground game (who hasn't?) before winning 30-27 behind two [player_tooltip player_id='1953538' first='Tristan' last='Thompson-Wynn'] touchdowns.   Things really heat up in Round four as the 4-seeds come to town. Pisgah survived in overtime last week to set up a rematch with Brevard, in a rematch of a game that went to double overtime less than a month ago. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='2068080' first='Landon' last='Pope'] had 41 carries in that first game, a 36-30 loss in which five different Brevard rushers scored touchdowns. Pope is just three yards from 2,000 on the ground this season. Watch for [player_tooltip player_id='2049814' first='Hunter' last='Nelson'] to make some key stops, as well.   Reidsville faced an 11-1 Central Davidson team that is a point away from being undefeated on the year. [player_tooltip player_id='2068085' first='Austin' last='Dally'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2068087' first='Jordan' last='Ashe'] are the 1-2 punch in the running game, but the Spartans have found something in the passing game during the back half of the season. Watch for undersized edge defender Timothy Click, who had multiple sacks last week and lives around the line of scrimmage.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1A Championship Spots on the Line</h3>   1A and 8A are smaller than the middle classes, so Friday is the regional finals, with spots in the state championship on the line.   Wilson Prep takes on Northside-Pinetown in the east, while South Davidson and Robbinsville square off in the west.   Wilson Prep LOADED its non-conference schedule, losing five of the first six to teams in the 3A class and above, most of them being top teams in their respective classes. But, they've settled in nicely behind [player_tooltip player_id='2060060' first='Travon' last='Usher'], Ethan Nelson, and [player_tooltip player_id='1580029' first='Nazir' last='Vines'] in the running game.   They'll face an undefeated Northside-Pinetown team loaded with talent. [player_tooltip player_id='1752108' first='Sincere' last='Columbus'] and Malachi Moore lead a running game that averages over 10 yards a carry. The team that can get some stops in the running game will have a major advantage, and there are three impact freshmen who could turn the tide.   Wilson Prep's [player_tooltip player_id='1853840' first='Zalik' last='Cannady'] has been one of the most impressive defensive linemen in 1A, both as a pass-rusher and run-stuffer. The Tigers need him to be the latter in this one, just as the Panthers will need their freshman duo of ZyMir Nixon and [player_tooltip player_id='1884222' first='Zakari' last='Woods'] to step up.   On the other side, we have the rare 1A matchup between teams that can move the ball through the air, though one prefers to do it a bit more consistently.   South Davidson quarterback Gage Underwood is a converted receiver who has six TD passes on the year. His biggest impact, though, is on the ground, where he's averaging 10 yards a carry and over 100 yards a game. Duke Howell is the team's leading rusher and leading receiver.   Robbinsville quarterback Luke Lovin can really spin it, and he'll likely leave this game as the 1A classification's leading passer. It's a balanced rushing attack, with nine different players scoring on the ground this season and six averaging at least two carries and 10 yards a game. Kellen Ensley is a force against the run, racking up 18 tackles for loss this season.   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. 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On this Thanksgiving Week, I've been a bit tied up, so I haven't been able to cover everything to the extent that I'd like. Maybe your mind has been elsewhere, as well. This is a solution to that. Need to know what to watch for this week? I've got you covered. Here are three storylines to watch in the 1A-4A classes on Friday.