Round 2 Playoff Preview: Charlotte Edition

Round 1 of the NCHSAA Playoffs kicked off last week with some big games from star players we'll feature in our normal playmakers article later this week. However, a lot of the best teams in the bracket were off with bye weeks last week, so we'll get to see them in action in home games this week in Round 2 of the NCHSAA state playoffs.   The Charlotte area has contenders in multiple brackets, and we'll take a look at games involving schools in the biggest city in the 704 area code in this article.   Palisades at Hough   Key Players   [player_tooltip player_id='525514' first='Cole' last='Hough'] - QB - Palisades [player_tooltip player_id='1321132' first='Dru' last='Drakeford'] - LB - Palisades [player_tooltip player_id='254550' first='Ethan' last='Royal'] - QB - Hough [player_tooltip player_id='974827' first='LJ' last='Porter'] - LB - Hough   Head Coaches Jonathan Simmons and Deshawn Baker will know each other well, as they coached together on the Hough Huskies staff years ago under former Head Coach Matt Jenkins. The big key here is the Palisades defense - they will need to keep Hough from going on their trademark bursts offensively to break games open and put pressure on you offensively to try and keep up. The longer Palisades can stay in the game, it puts pressure on Hough to deliver with their season on the line. Palisades gave up a number of big plays against South Meck in Round 1, and their secondary, led by Nick Rankin and KJ Bynes, has to keep things in front of them and make Hough earn their yards. Hough's offensive line has played well this season, notably Amaree Lawrence-Broome and [player_tooltip player_id='1158293' first='Jarvis' last='Potts']. They will need to step up here and consistently throughout their playoff run.   West Forsyth at Mallard Creek   Key Players   Mozes Morris - RB - West Forsyth [player_tooltip player_id='953021' first='PJ' last='Dean'] - DL/OL - West Forsyth [player_tooltip player_id='338729' first='Khalil' last='Price'] - WR - Mallard Creek [player_tooltip player_id='892289' first='Deuce' last='Midgett'] - LB - Mallard Creek   This will be a PHYSICAL football game in the trenches. The team that can win that battle consistently will win the football game, plain and simple. West Forsyth has been playing lights-out football as of late, and Mallard Creek cannot afford another slow start off a bye week like they had a few weeks back in their loss to Independence. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1616115' first='Cailen' last='Napier'] has done a good job pushing the ball downfield in recent weeks, and he and Xzavier Edmond at the Running Back spot have to provide the balance the Mavericks need to be successful on offense. QB [player_tooltip player_id='267064' first='Haines' last='Robitzer'] will need to hit some timely passes to balance the strong running game of the Titans as well.   Chambers at Myers Park   Key Players [player_tooltip player_id='402307' first='Zyon' last='Hailey'] - QB - Chambers Dkari Thompson - DL - Chambers [player_tooltip player_id='1301262' first='Josh' last='Falzarano Jr'] - RB - Myers Park [player_tooltip player_id='987160' first='Damaad' last='Lewis'] - DL - Myers Park   This is a rematch of the Western Regional Final of the Covid 2021 Spring Season, where Chambers won and advanced to a state championship at Myers Park. Both teams are a lot different now under different leadership, but Chambers is playing with house money after their big-time comeback win over Pinecrest on the road in Round 1. Head Coach Captain Munnerlyn returns to where he was an assistant coach for 2 years before getting this job, so there won't be a lot of secrets between him and Myers Park Head Coach Chris James. Myers Park comes in with a strong team prepared to make a run at a state title. Their offensive line will be a major key, led by Cooper Helman - when they get the running game going, they are at their best. Dual-Threat QB [player_tooltip player_id='402307' first='Zyon' last='Hailey'] had a magical game last week. He will need to play freely and make some things happen off-script for Chambers to pull this one off.   Providence at West Charlotte   Key Players   [player_tooltip player_id='1301243' first='Keland' last='Shelton Jr'] - ATH - Providence [player_tooltip player_id='1320897' first='Kaleb' last='Vines'] - RB - Providence [player_tooltip player_id='1321007' first='Jamouri' last='Nichols'] - QB - West Charlotte Michael Griffin - LB - West Charlotte This is a rematch of a game in the regular season where West Charlotte took it to Providence pretty good, winning 42-7. [player_tooltip player_id='1321007' first='Jamouri' last='Nichols'] threw for over 300 yards, and DL [player_tooltip player_id='473951' first='Antoine' last='Johnson'] (Sam) had a huge game with multiple sacks and tackles for loss. So, the Providence OL has to do a much better job of neutralizing the talented Lions front. They have to get some semblance of a running game going to slow down a fast Lions defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1301243' first='Keland' last='Shelton Jr'] had a monster game last week, and he'll have to generate some pressure off the edge to not let the Lions get comfortable throwing the ball. The Lions need to get their running game going here, and [player_tooltip player_id='422544' first='Jamil' last='Watson'] has been a nice jolt to that attack, with 6 rushing touchdowns in their last two games for the Lions.   Butler at Mooresville   Key Players   [player_tooltip player_id='1600396' first='Kenyan' last='Stewart'] - DL - Butler Damourion Thomas-Wright - RB - Butler [player_tooltip player_id='612118' first='Brody' last='Norman'] - QB - Mooresville KJ Gillespie - DL - Mooresville   A playoff rematch from a couple of years ago, where Butler won at Mooresville in the 2nd round, has to be fresh in the minds of Blue Devils fans, but this is a different Butler team led by legendary Head Coach Brian Hales. This Butler team has feasted on big plays, and that's what won them the game in Round 1 against Hopewell. Mooresville has to make sure they focus on the details and play solid, complementary football. Running the ball with [player_tooltip player_id='1593034' first='Jadarius' last='McCombs'] and stopping the run with [player_tooltip player_id='736711' first='Tanner' last='Finnerty'] on defense are the starting points for a victory here. Forcing Butler into obvious passing situations and getting them behind the chains is a major key to success. For Butler, they have to get the running game going and tackle well in space on defense - big plays will do them in faster than anything.   Page at Independence   Key Players   [player_tooltip player_id='424705' first='Zion' last='Malloy'] - DB - Page [player_tooltip player_id='1616216' first='Zamari' last='Williamson'] - QB - Page [player_tooltip player_id='771231' first='Dallas' last='Brannon'] - LB - Independence [player_tooltip player_id='1124842' first='Jayden' last='Jones'] - RB - Independence Page opened some eyes around the state with their 68-0 victory in Round 1, so much so that I plan to be at this one on Friday Night in person. Page was a tough out last year in Round 1 in Charlotte against Palisades, and their defense carried the way in that one. It will have to be a similar formula here, and they are strong up front, and fast in the back 7. The Patriots are a few steps higher than their Round 1 opponent, though, and were playing their best football before the bye week. RB's [player_tooltip player_id='1124842' first='Jayden' last='Jones'] and Travis Hill are a dynamic duo, and as seniors, they are hungry to make a run to compete for a title. QB [player_tooltip player_id='915835' first='Jared' last='Street'] has been making smart decisions and playing well off the running game. [player_tooltip player_id='771231' first='Dallas' last='Brannon'] has been one of the best linebackers in the state in these last few weeks, and if they get some high-level work from Notre Dame commit [player_tooltip player_id='402298' first='Nick' last='Reddish'], the Patriots are dangerous.   AC Reynolds at Charlotte Catholic   Key Players   Tyvon Patterson-Davis - RB - Reynolds Staceyon Taylor - LB - Reynolds [player_tooltip player_id='1369343' first='Garrett' last='Nowlan'] - RB - Catholic Dominic Basralawa - DL - Catholic   This one is interesting - Reynolds has had an up-and-down season, but they looked strong in a dominant Round 1 victory. Their major key is obvious here - stop the run. Catholic had a midseason slump offensively, but they seemed to turn it around in the last couple of weeks of the regular season, so this figures to be a close game. For Catholic, it's obvious as well - get [player_tooltip player_id='1369343' first='Garrett' last='Nowlan'] a little bit of space, and he can take it from there. He's a special running back and a big factor in how far the Cougars go in this 6A playoff bracket.   Olympic at Sun Valley   Key Players [player_tooltip player_id='1228977' first='Chance' last='Cato'] - QB - Olympic [player_tooltip player_id='1610634' first='Kenyan' last='White'] - LB/DB - Olympic [player_tooltip player_id='1600380' first='Noah' last='Lineberry'] - QB - Sun Valley [player_tooltip player_id='1169874' first='Brandon' last='Creech'] - LB - Sun Valley   I think in this game, more than any other I've previewed here, the stars have to show up and be the guys for their respective teams. Olympic hasn't made it past the 2nd round of the playoffs in many years, and I think they have a shot here if their star QB, [player_tooltip player_id='1228977' first='Chance' last='Cato'], makes some big plays throwing the football. This game matches up two of our preseason All-State QBs and [player_tooltip player_id='1600380' first='Noah' last='Lineberry'] may have some more guys to get the ball to overall. However, I think it's the team that makes more plays in the passing game that wins this one. It's not something you hear often in analysis for a playoff game, but I think with two senior quarterbacks, these head coaches are going to trust them to go win them the football game here. [player_tooltip player_id='1169882' first='Zach' last='Cullen'] and Bryce Nixon will play important roles from their respective running back spots, though.   North Rowan at Corvian   Ason Best - WR - North Rowan Nick Morrow - LB - North Rowan [player_tooltip player_id='2003772' first='Tyson' last='Douglas-Brown'] - QB - Corvian Cameron Simpson - ATH - Corvian   This lines up to be a fun game, as North Rowan has some real speed and playmaking ability all over the field. QB Michael Alford can really throw it around, but the key will be can North Rowan protect long enough for him to get the ball to Ason Best, one of the most productive receivers in the state with nearly 1200 receiving yards this year. On the other side, Corvian will be efficient and run a balanced, ball-control offense here. Their freshman QB, [player_tooltip player_id='2003772' first='Tyson' last='Douglas-Brown'], has had a nice year in showing some dual-threat ability. I expect Corvian to use their size advantage on the lines of scrimmage to wear down the Cavaliers on both sides of the ball here.

Round 1 of the NCHSAA Playoffs kicked off last week with some big games from star players we'll feature in our normal playmakers article later this week. However, a lot of the best teams in the bracket were off with bye weeks last week, so we'll get to see them in action in home games this week in Round 2 of the NCHSAA state playoffs.