By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Aiden Pak’s primary position has been on defense for three seasons with Southeast Alamance’s football team.
Then he was fully unleashed on offense in the Class 5-A state playoffs Friday night.
Pak scored two touchdowns and teammate Tyler Jackson threw for a pair of touchdowns in the Stallions’ 42-0 victory against visiting Orange.
“I’m a linebacker,” Pak said. “I like linebacker more, but playing running back is fun, especially when the O-line blocks real well.”
Ninth-seeded Southeast (8-3) has won at least one playoff game in all three years of its existence. The Stallions go to eighth-seed Southern Nash (6-4), which received a bye, for the second round.
Friday night’s result marked the end of the season for first-year Orange coach Fritz Hessenthaler, who previously directed Southern Alamance to a conference championship. The Panthers (3-8) had a three-game winning streak snapped, finishing with their fifth consecutive eight-loss season.
Pak rushed for 113 yards on eight carries. Jackson was 12-for-21 for 195 yards and an interception.
Standout running back D.J. Callis was out for the second week in a row with an ankle injury, but Southeast coach Tony Aguilar said he’s cleared to return for the second week of the playoffs. In the meantime, Pak handled the job.
“Aiden Pak was the next-man up,” Aguilar said. “He has gotten a couple of touchdowns here and there, but had never been the guy.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Southeast broke through on Jackson’s 54-yard pass play to Joseph Gibbs. Less than three minutes later following Jace Evans’ interception, Pak ran 36 yards for a touchdown.
“I’m glad to run the ball,” Pak said.
Southeast stretched the lead on Rodney Pringle’s 22-yard fumble return after Drew Easter’s sack of Orange quarterback Jackson Moody knocked the ball loose.
Jackson hooked up with Logan Luang-Sy for a 42-yard touchdown play with seven seconds left in the half for a 28-0 lead.
Pak opened the second-half scoring on a 29-yard run. Following Damonte Corbett’s fumble recovery, Nick Saunders ran 1 yard for the final touchdown.
“Hopefully, we can translate everything on to next week and the week after that,” Pak said.
Hessenthaler said Orange’s three fumbles were out of character for a team that stresses ball security.
“You have to give Southeast credit, they’re a hard-nosed football team,” Hessenthaler said.
Eastern Alamance 35, Wilson Fike 0: At Mebane, Samuel Raphael scored on two runs and the host Eagles were in control in the Class 5-A game, with the defense even picking up two points with a safety.
The game’s first points came on receiver Tyler Westbrooks’ pass to Devontia Clark on a gadget play. Jamez Cochran and Daylin Ford also rushed for touchdowns. Eastern registered its second shutout in three weeks.
Next for the 16th-seeded Eagles (5-6) is a trip to top-seeded Wilson Hunt (8-2). No. 17 seed Wilson Fike ended 4-7.
South Granville 20, Western Alamance 12: At Elon also in Class 5-A, the host Warriors couldn’t get untracked offensively and lost the first-round game.
Camden Oliveira kicked two field goals and Jordan Hall scored on a 7-yard run for Western (7-4), which ended the season with a three-game losing streak.
Hall had 85 yards on 16 carries. Ethan Oakley completed 12 of 19 passes for 115 yards.
No. 23 seed South Granville (5-6), which led 14-9 at halftime, moves on to meet seventh-seeded Rocky Mount (7-3).
Western had more first downs (16 to 10) than South Granville, which has won two in a row since a 16-8 loss at Orange.
Class 4-A: Cummings falls
The season for 21st-seeded Cummings ended under interim coach Terrance Alford with a 44-7 loss at 12th-seeded North Pitt the East Region.
Cummings (3-8) lost in the first round for the second year in a row and has its first losing season since 2019.
North Pitt (6-5) goes to fifth-seeded Randleman (7-3) for the second round.
Class 6-A: Opponents set for Southern, Williams
Fifth-seeded Williams and sixth-seeded Southern Alamance had byes in the East Region, but they learned their opponents for second-round home games.
Williams (9-1) will meet No. 12 seed Franklinton (8-3), a 28-6 winner against Gray’s Creek (4-7).
Southern (7-3) will face No. 11 seed Greenville Rose (6-5), which hammered Erwin Triton (3-8) by 47-10.
