5A Regional Finals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The regional finals are set, and we're previewing all 12 games this week. With both 5A games moved to Thursday, it accelerated my timeline to get this out. The 5A class has been extremely competitive all season, and Thursday will determine the first-ever 5A State Championship matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Missed our other Regional Finals pieces? Check them out:</em><br><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/2a-regional-finals-preview/">2A</a></em><br><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/3a-regional-finals-preview/">3A</a></em><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/4a-regional-finals-preview/"><em>4A</em></a><br><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/6a-regional-finals-preview/">6A</a></em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/4a-regional-finals-preview/"><br></a><em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/7a-regional-finals-preview/">7A</a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5A 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>[player_tooltip player_id='1704824' first='Jamauris' last='Howard']</strong>, DB, Hunt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106602' first='Judah' last='Harris']</strong>, Edge, Hunt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1610537' first='Randy' last='James']</strong>, Edge, Hunt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1612258' first='Aarion' last='Bryant']</strong>, OL, Hunt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1953755' first='Mez' last='Harris']</strong>, QB, Hunt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1970795' first='Doryan' last='Jones']</strong>, RB, Hunt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1857997' first='Trevorius' last='Cooper']</strong>, LB, Hunt</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534079' first='Rahlai' last='Anderson']</strong>, RB, Northside-Jacksonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jahmir Mitchell</strong>, WR/Edge, Northside-Jacksonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607071' first='Matthew' last='Smoot']</strong>, WR/DB, Northside-Jacksonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687459' first='Reginald' last='Gray']</strong>, Ath., Northside-Jacksonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 3 Northside-Jacksonville @ No. 1 Hunt</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was the matchup I was hoping to see in a fun 5A conference. Northside-Jacksonville has been bad for years, and exploded onto the scene as a true contender this season, racking up more wins so far in 2025 than the last six years combined.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hunt was expected to be here, but the Warriors' season was no less impressive, with an 11-2 season that included a loss to juggernaut Tarboro. Now, the one seed hosts with the hope of making the state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The edge rushers in this one are must-see. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1610537' first='Randy' last='James']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106602' first='Judah' last='Harris']</strong> don't have the raw pass-rushing numbers this season that they've put up in the past, but they're part of a line that has 35 sacks (led by <strong>CJ Dickerson's</strong> 12 from his interior defensive line position). Freshman linebacker <strong>Trevorus Cooper</strong> has been impressive this year, with 51 solo tackles. Hunt's defense blows up running plays in the backfield at a remarkable clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That'll be the challenge for wide receiver turned quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687459' first='Reginald' last='Gray']</strong>, a nominee for our state player of the year award. He's thrown for almost 2,500 yards and has added 11 rushing touchdowns. Two-way player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607071' first='Matthew' last='Smoot']</strong> has improved as a receiver a year after being among the state leaders in interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5A class is so condensed that neither team holds a distinct physical advantage. This one may come down to whether Northside-Jacksonville can force Hunt into obvious passing situations with any sort of consistency. The Warriors are built to run the ball effectively and then hit on play-action. If they can do that, I think they'll win. If the Monarchs can get a few early-down stops, however, I like the defense's chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5A 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>[player_tooltip player_id='1032738' first='D'various' last='Surratt']</strong>, DB, Crest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144640' first='Ely' last='Hamrick']</strong>, QB, Crest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078511' first='Lyrik' last='Pettis']</strong>, DB, Crest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671947' first='Donovan' last='Walton']</strong>, DB, Crest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671903' first='Michael' last='Edwards']</strong>, WR, Crest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671974' first='Romeo' last='Sanders']</strong>, TE, Crest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154024' first='Namajay' last='Thompson']</strong>, WR, Crest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607884' first='Paxton' last='Dobbins']</strong>, DL, Crest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607907' first='Nick' last='Albright']</strong>, OL, Crest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1110030' first='Rahshad' last='Swinton']</strong>, OL, Hickory</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1732008' first='Dorrian' last='Medley']</strong>, DB, Hickory</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1454280' first='Brett' last='Rowland']</strong>, DB, Hickory</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1987120' first='Gary' last='Gabriel']</strong>, DL, Hickory</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2074450' first='Jaheem' last='Jenkins']</strong>, RB, Hickory</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">No. 4 Crest @ No. 3 Hickory</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 3 Hickory gets a rare return to its home field after knocking off No. 2 Jay M. Robinson on the road last week in a really intriguing 5A West matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams love to throw the ball, with two of the top 12 passers in 5A. The problem is that both of these secondaries are outstanding. You may not see more college talent in the defensive backfield in another game, all playoffs, including some of the higher classifications. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Medley, Surratt, and Pettis have combined for 11 interceptions, and Medley is a force in the running game. It's going to be difficult to find consistency in the passing game, and these teams may have to focus on the quality of completions, rather than the quantity. Receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154024' first='Namajay' last='Thompson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671903' first='Michael' last='Edwards']</strong> have been a consistent 1-2 punch for Crest (40+ receptions for 700+ yards apiece), while Hickory's <strong>Ronan Nieland</strong> has been explosive, with nearly 25 yards a catch and eight touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This may come down to which team can run the ball more consistently. It's a more traditional running game for Hickory behind workhorse <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2074450' first='Jaheem' last='Jenkins']</strong> (66% of the team's carries and 34 touchdowns), while Crest involves <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144640' first='Ely' last='Hamrick']</strong> a bunch as another number in the running game (106 carries and 16 touchdowns). Whichever team can find consistency in the running game may be the winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I find it hard to imagine Crest losing, as the offense has gone nuclear outside of losses to 7A Weddington and Ashbrook. I think Hickory can slow that passing attack, but I'm not sure that even Hickory's talented front seven has quite enough juice to stop the running game.</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 -->