Week 6 Instant Analysis

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 6 is almost over, and we learned a lot. It was a hybrid week, with about half of the state rounding out non-conference play and the other half in the thick of conference games. I'm back, as always, with my thoughts on the results and performances. This isn't a film study or deep dive; instead, I'm giving my raw thoughts and instant reaction to the night's games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notable Week 6 Results + My Reaction</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mallard Creek, Battle-Tested and Ready at the Right Time</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I initially ranked Mallard Creek among the top 2-3 8A teams in the state, but I'll admit I wavered a bit after the Mavericks lost to Myers Park.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For now, it looks like that loss was simply the result of a brutal non-conference slog. The Mavericks jumped all over West Charlotte on Friday night in what I'd originally thought would be a closer game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mallard Creek's ground game ran all over the Mighty Lions. Shoutout to the offensive line, all of whom should play at the next level (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1690981' first='Cleveland' last='Smith']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616116' first='Michael' last='Heard']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600577' first='Austin' last='Ballou']</strong>, among others). <strong>Xzavier Edmond</strong> is putting together a fantastic season, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616115' first='Cailen' last='Napier']'s</strong> legs were once again an x-factor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, we can't forget the defense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2060117' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson']</strong> is playing better than perhaps any linebacker in the state this season, and the defensive line (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1283411' first='Elias' last='Price']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2003853' first='Kaiden' last='Okam']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616534' first='Geremiah' last='Mobley']</strong>) is one of the best in North Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Massive Private School Battle</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Day is in the midst of its toughest regular season stretch in several years. The Chargers took on the state's top team in Hough a few weeks ago, then took on conference foe (but Georgia high school) Rabun Gap last week. This week, they hosted Cannon, <a href="https://x.com/whelms21/status/2102923256378314902?s=20">No. 2 in my NCISAA rankings</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chargers were locked in a tight game, 14-14 at the half, before the defense took over in the second half. Providence Day's elite pass rush, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496368' first='Charles' last='Ibe']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321326' first='Jace' last='Goodwin']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1029786' first='Griff' last='Galloway']</strong>, turned up the heat in the second half as the Chargers forced multiple turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Backup quarterback <strong>Gavin Bronikowski</strong> hit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651159' first='Braylon' last='Clark']</strong> on a beautiful fade to set up a short touchdown and put the game out of reach as the Chargers shut out Cannon in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wild Rides in the RDU</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were some truly incredible games across the entire state on Friday, but Raleigh took the cake with plenty of upsets, near upsets, and wild endings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southeast Raleigh</strong> started slow, twice trailing by 11 points in the first half. After losing the lead in the second half, <strong>Fuquay-Varina</strong> stormed back, taking a 31-27 lead and then recovering a fumble in the red zone with under five minutes remaining. But the Bulldogs got a huge </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southeast Raleigh has played back-to-back thrillers. The running game, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378921' first='Christian' last='Freeman']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1251476' first='James' last='Adams'] IV</strong> got going later than usual, and I'm told <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1656591' first='Tre' last='Belcher']</strong> made several nice throws in the second half to help lead the comeback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rolesville-Millbrook</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The wildest outcome of the night is unfortunately not yet resolved. Even more unfortunate is that it's not due to anything that happened on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Multiple incidents in the stands led to a long delay in the fourth quarter. At the time, Rolesville led 10-3 after a long touchdown pass from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1004079' first='Marley' last='Vincent']</strong> to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1222913' first='AJ' last='Roberts']</strong>. Millbrook tied the game at 10 late, but it was suspended during the overtime coin toss. It's unclear when the game will resume.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Apex Friendship Downs Jordan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In what may have been considered an upset at the beginning of the year, Apex Friendship took down Jordan in a weird one. Defenses dominated a 5-point first half. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1743751' first='Tyler' last='Goebbel']</strong> and the Patriot defense held Jordan scoreless. In the second half, the pass offenses got going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I haven't written much about Apex Friendship quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078753' first='Ethan' last='McGarrigan']</strong> this year, but he's looking more comfortable than ever. He threw two touchdown passes early in the second half before the running game opened up. <strong>Michael Mallard</strong> put an exclamation point on things with two long touchdown runs in the fourth quarter of a 32-20 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other Notes:</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>West Wilkes beat rival East Wilkes, 21-13, in what some would consider a major upset. Running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1404784' first='Andrew' last='Herman']</strong> eclipsed the 200-yard mark and scored all three touchdowns for the Blackhawks.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Shelby outlasted conference foe Stuart W. Cramer, 21-14, to take control of a deep Southern Piedmont Conference. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1905611' first='Jonas' last='Woods']</strong> had two touchdowns, while <strong>Cody Alexander</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1666255' first='Landon' last='Lee']</strong> caught touchdown passes from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2079239' first='Camden' last='Stillwell']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155074' first='Kendrick' last='Raper']</strong> took a quick toss into the end zone late to cap the night.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Starmount continued its strong start this season in an explosive win against a strong Alleghany team. <strong>Kevon Propst</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2416404' first='Deuce' last='Best']</strong> each had long touchdown runs in a game that featured five touchdowns of at least 35 yards.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Myers Park rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to beat Country Day behind five touchdowns from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1760795' first='James' last='Drayton']</strong>.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Northeastern beat a strong SouthWest Edgecombe team with multiple non-offensive touchdowns.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2255998' first='Ayden' last='Holley']</strong> had multiple touchdowns, including a pick-six, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155887' first='Damari' last='McNeill']</strong> sealed it with two late rushing scores.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>What'd I miss? Let me know about scores, stats, and storylines on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21)</a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->