EE Smith vs Terry Sanford Top Performers

The opening-round playoff matchup between Terry Sanford and E.E. Smith was highly contested through the first half, with both teams trading momentum early. The Golden Bulls struck first, capitalizing on a strong defensive stand and punching in a touchdown to take a 7–0 lead.   Terry Sanford responded like a veteran program — stringing together a scoring drive, then forcing a stop on defense before finding the end zone again to grab their first lead of the night. E.E. Smith didn't back down, answering with a long touchdown run to tie the game midway through the second quarter. But the Bulldogs quickly flipped the script when [player_tooltip player_id='1671906' first='Gaven' last='Kraut'] electrified the crowd with a kickoff return touchdown, giving Terry Sanford a 20–14 halftime lead.   To open the second half, the Bulldogs rolled the dice with an onside kick — and it paid off. They recovered the kick, turned it into another touchdown, and never looked back. From that point forward, Terry Sanford's balance on offense and physical play on defense controlled the game, sealing an impressive first-round playoff win and advancing them deeper into postseason play.    Justice Clifton, senior edge rusher for Terry Sanford, was the most dominant defensive lineman on the field Friday night. The veteran Bulldog consistently collapsed the pocket and made his presence felt with multiple tackles for loss throughout the game. Clifton completely controlled his side of the field, shutting down the run from edge to sideline and forcing the quarterback into hurried throws. His relentless motor and physicality were key in setting the tone for a defensive unit that refused to back down all night.     Zayshawn Thomas, senior linebacker for E.E. Smith, set the tone early with a statement performance on defense. Thomas came up with a first-drive interception, immediately giving the Golden Bulls momentum. From that point on, he was a constant presence in the backfield — delivering multiple hits on the quarterback and staying active in the run game all night. His leadership and physical play helped keep E.E. Smith within striking distance against a tough Terry Sanford offense.     Nick Smith, sophomore quarterback for E.E. Smith, did everything he could to keep the Golden Bulls in the fight during their first-round playoff matchup. Despite a few turnovers, Smith's resilience and competitive edge stood out — he rushed for three touchdowns, using his athleticism to extend plays and finish drives. His efforts helped E.E. Smith take the lead in the first half, showing flashes of the dynamic potential that makes him one of the more intriguing young signal-callers in the region.     [player_tooltip player_id='1749317' first='Sebastian' last='O'Keefe'], sophomore running back for Terry Sanford, continued to flash his explosive playmaking ability under the postseason lights. The young star found the end zone twice, showcasing his speed and vision out of the backfield. O'Keefe also contributed with a strong kickoff return, consistently giving the Bulldogs great field position. His performance added another dynamic layer to an already balanced Terry Sanford offense and proved why he's regarded as one of the top underclassmen in the state.     Izaiah Williams was dominant on both sides of the ball in Terry Sanford's first-round playoff victory. The senior leader set the tone defensively, staying stout against the run and closing the game with a clutch interception late in the fourth quarter. On offense, Williams continued to make his presence felt — finding the end zone in the second half to extend the Bulldogs' lead and put the game out of reach. His two-way impact and ability to rise in big moments once again proved why he's one of the most complete players in the region.     Jourdan Browning, senior playmaker for Terry Sanford, made his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball. The veteran defensive back was a key part of shutting down the opponent's passing game, showing great awareness and physicality in coverage. Browning came up with a crucial interception while the game was still in reach, helping swing momentum fully in favor of the Bulldogs and sealing another strong playoff performance for the Terry Sanford defense.     [player_tooltip player_id='1671906' first='Gaven' last='Kraut'] was one of the most productive offensive players on the field Friday night for Terry Sanford. The senior playmaker made his presence felt early, hauling in a receiving touchdown before following it up with a kickoff return for a score that put the Bulldogs ahead for good in the second quarter. Kraut's versatility and knack for timely big plays gave Terry Sanford the spark they needed to seize momentum and never look back.     Isaiah Williams, senior running back for Terry Sanford, was the steady force up the middle all night for the Bulldogs. The physical power back set the tone early, running with purpose and balance through contact. Despite only 15 carries, Williams racked up 157 rushing yards and a touchdown, providing the consistent interior presence that kept the offense on schedule and opened up the passing game for [player_tooltip player_id='1851677' first='Jacob' last='Moore'] and company.     [player_tooltip player_id='1851677' first='Jacob' last='Moore'], senior quarterback from Terry Sanford, delivered another strong performance to open the postseason. The Carolina Recruits Overall Player of the Year showcased his consistency once again, totaling nearly 200 yards of offense and three touchdowns in the first round of the playoffs, proving why he's been one of the most reliable playmakers in the region all year.

The opening-round playoff matchup between Terry Sanford and E.E. Smith was highly contested through the first half, with both teams trading momentum early. The Golden Bulls struck first, capitalizing on a strong defensive stand and punching in a touchdown to take a 7–0 lead.