7A Regional Finals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My goal of previewing all 12 regional finals games is taking a hit with the news that several games will be played on Thursday, but I'm still trying to hit every classification. Here, I'm breaking down the regional finals in the 7A classification. Any of the four remaining teams can win a state title, but which will it be?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Missed our 2A Regional Finals piece? <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/2a-regional-finals-preview/">Check it out here</a>.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7A Regional Finals Preview: East</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top Prospects</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Cardinal Gibbons</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='775970' first='Braylon' last='Peebles']</strong>, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conner Lindsey</strong>, QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1101219' first='Aidan' last='Kranick']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1101224' first='Billy' last='Turner']</strong>, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320308' first='Xavier' last='Hasan']</strong>, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318716' first='Griffin' last='Cockerham']</strong>, Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607759' first='Malek' last='Griffin']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1044292' first='Skylar' last='Alston']</strong>, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Clayton</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165755' first='Keshawn' last='Stancil']</strong>, IDL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1243204' first='Aiden' last='Smalls']</strong>, Ath./QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1309271' first='River' last='Fiore']</strong>, TE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='714587' first='TJ' last='Campbell']</strong>, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600153' first='DeAngelo' last='Ruffin']</strong>, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1660476' first='Cory' last='Robinson']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1661631' first='Ovanny' last='Flores']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1660473' first='Noah' last='Smith']</strong>, RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1661628' first='Charles' last='Smith']</strong>, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1661629' first='Christian' last='Edmundson']</strong>, IDL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AK Crumel</strong>, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1661632' first='Ta'Shaun' last='Walker']</strong>, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='444280' first='Jordan' last='Hamm']</strong>, Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='561878' first='Terris' last='Hobbs']</strong>, RB/Ath.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1665959' first='Imarii' last='Givens']</strong>, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1715912' first='Daniel' last='Lovelace-Davis']</strong>, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Clayton @ Cardinal Gibbons</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When I <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/7a-playoff-preview/">previewed the 7A classification</a> before the playoffs. I hgad either Cleveland or Clayton emerging to face <strong>Cardinal Gibbons</strong>. After beating their rivals in the regular season finale, <strong>Clayton</strong> didn't see the Rams in the playoffs, beating another Greater Neuse River Conference foe in No. 7 Southeast Raleigh instead. Now the Comets make the short trip northwest to take on No. 1 Cardinal Gibbons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The stylistic clash between the quarterbacks in this one is intriguing, as we have <strong>Conner Lindsey's</strong> straight dropback game against <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1243204' first='Aiden' last='Smalls']'</strong> option-adjacent attack. Since Lindsey had to take over as the starter, he's hit on a bunch of timing routes at the top of his drops. Clayton likes to move the pocket and get Smalls throwing on the run a lot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think the game will be won or lost in the trenches, specifically between the Cardinal Gibbons offensive line and Clayton defensive line. Even if the stats are modest, Stancil, Hamm, and <strong>Kaden Blackwell</strong> have the ability to take over games. If Cardinal Gibbons can generate some push and stay consistent enough on the ground to avoid repeated passing downs, I think the Crusaders can take this one in a low-scoring game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But, Clayton forces a ton of turnovers. If the defense can dictate Cardinal Gibbons' offensive gameplan, the three-seeded Comets will advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7A Regional Finals Preview: West</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top Prospects</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Weddington</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='823700' first='Aiden' last='Harris']</strong>, IDL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='951444' first='Andrew' last='Harris']</strong>, LB/Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284098' first='Thomas' last='Davis Jr.']</strong>, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157260' first='KD' last='Cotton']</strong>, Ath.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='327284' first='Miles' last='Funderburk']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1704986' first='Jonathan' last='Manley']</strong>, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671933' first='Brenan' last='Schauer']</strong>, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321106' first='Kelson' last='Tate']</strong>, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1525230' first='Brody' last='Anson']</strong>, RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Walker Powell</strong>, QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='415457' first='Bryce' last='Johnson']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1029787' first='Matthew' last='McCoy']</strong>, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1291000' first='Anthony' last='Barrino']</strong>, RB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1234087' first='Rex' last='Conlon']</strong>, Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Grimsley</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284090' first='Faizon' last='Brandon']</strong>, QB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607067' first='Andrew' last='Rogers']</strong>, Egde</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1661003' first='Kosci' last='Barnes']</strong>, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1368103' first='DJ' last='Howerton']</strong>, TE</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='909357' first='Kaden' last='Catoe']</strong>, WR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='903425' first='Jackson' last='Sammons']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='850278' first='Nick' last='Kashubara']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402293' first='Kyrie' last='Millner']</strong>, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1751605' first='Drew' last='Searls']</strong>, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1669832' first='Michael' last='Miller']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1788066' first='Makai' last='Yon']</strong>, DB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1815393' first='Ty' last='Shoemake']</strong>, LB</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1046314' first='London' last='Delk']</strong>, OL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1051029' first='Tristan' last='Wardlaw']</strong>, Edge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Weddington @ Grimsley</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We always knew these teams would clash; it was just a matter of time. These two giants have met in three straight postseasons, with Grimsley winning in 2022 and 2024, and Weddington winning in between. Each of those teams went on to win a state championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grimsley's lone loss in 58 games since 2022 is that 2023 playoff loss to the Warriors. Now, they square off in Part 4. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams are built in opposite ways. There's an incredible amount of future Power Four talent on the field on Thursday, but it'll largely be when the Grimsley offense faces the Weddington defense. While the opposite sides of the ball have a few stars, it's largely by committee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One particularly interesting matchup on the opposite side, however, is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1661003' first='Kosci' last='Barnes']</strong> and the Grimsley secondary against FCS commits <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321106' first='Kelson' last='Tate']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1704986' first='Jonathan' last='Manley']</strong>. The midseason addition of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157260' first='KD' last='Cotton']</strong> has reinvigorated the Weddington offensive attack, as the transfer has thrown for three touchdowns (on three attempts), run for two scores, and caught a sixth, while stepping in as a third receiver and occasional safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Weddington largely controlled the game, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='909357' first='Kaden' last='Catoe']</strong> got loose three times for long touchdowns in the second half, accounting for over a third of Grimsley's offensive production on those three plays alone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, I think Weddington might have a bit more success in stopping the run after allowing over 6.5 yards per handoff in this game last year. Brandon's legs are the x-factor, and Weddington will need to contain him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We could see more of Cotton at the safety position to counter Catoe's speed, and that might be the key.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ultimately, Grimsley will try to impose its will up front, before taking a few shots over the top. If Weddington stops those, I think the Warriors will find enough offensively to win a close one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>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.&nbsp;<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. And don't forget to vote for our&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/who-is-the-2025-prznc-player-of-the-year/">PRZNC Player of the Year</a>.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->