Playoff games continue Thursday, Friday nights
By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Southeast Alamance and Southern Alamance are neighboring schools with different football histories.
They have lots in common this week with third-round games in the state playoffs, Southeast in 2-A, Southern in 3-A.
Here’s a look at the match-ups.
Southeast Alamance at Clinton
On Thursday night, in a Class 2-A game, Southeast Alamance (8-4) continues an impressive first season just a few months after the school opened.
The latest achievement came with last week’s 21-14 victory at Cummings, avenging a 33-point loss from two weeks earlier.
That was the Stallions’ second playoff road victory under coach Tony Aguilar. Last year, he coached Eastern Guilford to the fourth round in Class 3-A. That included three road victories.
“Here we are again,” Aguilar said. “Playoffs have been good to us. … Stick to that formula and see what happens.”
Southeast has wounded linemen. Gavin Greeson is out after suffering a torn knee ligament in first meeting with Cummings, while Mikey Solomon (ankle) should return this week and Joe Samari (ankle) is less likely to be back, Aguilar said.
Top-seeded Clinton (12-0) has posted six seasons of double-figure wins in a 10-season span. This year, the Dark Horses’ two closest games have been decided by 33 points – 40-7 vs. Northside-Jacksonville and 47-14 at Whiteville.
This game was moved up a day because of Friday’s weather-related concerns.
The winner meets No. 4 Nash Central or No. 12 seed Hertford County.
Fayetteville Sanford at Southern Alamance
On Friday night, this is a Class 3-A game. Southern Alamance (11-1) was in Class 4-A for its 2022 run in the state playoffs.
“It’s great to be going to the third round for the second year in a row,” acting coach Chris Miller said. “And to do it at home this time.”
Third-seeded Southern has won second-round overtime games in consecutive seasons. The Patriots topped host New Hanover 38-32 last season in the second round and then last week toppled visiting Jacksonville 25-19 in OT. [See separate story this edition.]
No. 27 seed Fayetteville Sanford (8-4) has had postseason drama, scoring the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of the first round in a 34-27 escape at Vance County.
Then the Bulldogs’ 43-22 second-round victory at Harnett Central avenged a 17-point loss from the regular season. Since that setback to Harnett Central, the Bulldogs have won five in a row.
Fayetteville Sanford won three games in the state playoffs last year. That included a 27-17 third-round victory at Eastern Alamance.
The winner meets either No. 7 seed Wilson Fike or No. 2 seed Fayetteville Seventy-First.
See sidebar stories in this edition on Southern players:
Bradley Capps: https://alamancenews.com/former-quarterback-finds-niche-on-southerns-defense/
