8a Hough vs Millbrook Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The largest classification in North Carolina will crown a first-time champion as <strong>Millbrook and Hough</strong> collide in the <strong>8A State Championship</strong>. Two programs that have never reached this stage now meet in a true clash of the titans, with <strong>Power-4 athletes across the field</strong>. Elite talent from both the East and West will step under the Thursday-night lights in Chapel Hill, ready to battle for history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254550"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938f787d5654"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='254550' first='Ethan' last='Royal'], Hough's 2027 QB, has been a true dual-threat force all season.</strong> He scored twice last week against West Charlotte and enters the 8A title game with more than <strong>2,500 total yards</strong> and <strong>37 total touchdowns</strong>, the engine behind the Huskies' historic championship run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["950967"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938f787d56f7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Jamarion Morrison, Hough's 2028 RB, set the tone last week with 134 yards on just 14 carries.</strong> A powerful back with real burst, Morrison's blend of strength and speed has been a difference-maker throughout the Huskies' playoff push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284097"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938f787d576c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Samari “Smoke” Matthews, Hough's 2026 Texas commit, is in for a full-night challenge.</strong> Millbrook leans heavily on a balanced offensive attack, but expect Smoke to lock in on their top threat and try to erase him from the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["473833"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938f787d57e0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473833' first='Brilison' last='McCullers'] delivered Millbrook's only points in their win over Hoggard</strong>, and the senior should once again be the tone-setter. Expect him to keep grinding between the tackles—he'll have plenty of chances to make his impact felt in this championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["423992"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938f787d583e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='423992' first='Malachi' last='Gilchrist'], Millbrook's leading receiver, is electric with the ball in his hands.</strong> The senior is a special talent—I remember covering him at a 7v7 tournament in Greensboro last spring where he was the most outstanding player on the field. If the Wildcats pull off the upset Thursday night, expect Gilchrist to have his fingerprints all over it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1553113"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938f787d58cf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1553113' first='Rashad' last='Streets'], Millbrook's junior edge, has been a terror off the edge all season.</strong> He came one play shy of four sacks in last week's win and enters the title game as the <strong>#1-ranked edge in his class</strong>. Streets is the kind of monster who can blow up an entire game plan if you don't account for him every snap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["651173"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938f787d593d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651173' first='Quinton' last='Cypher'] is one of the most athletic linebackers in the entire state—maybe the country.</strong> There's nothing the Millbrook junior can't do: run, jump, tackle, cover, hit. In another system he could line up at multiple positions, but at linebacker he's a national-level prospect. He proved it again last week with a huge interception that swung momentum in the Wildcats' favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->