Football
Northwood lost a back and forth battle to Louisburg, 43-46, in the first round of the 2A state playoffs Friday.
The Chargers started slow on both sides of the ball, going three-and-out on its opening drive and giving up a touchdown on the following possession.
The offense quickly got things going, though, as senior quarterback Carson Fortunes hit sophomore Cam Fowler for Northwood’s first score.
Fowler made plays on defense, too, intercepting a quick pass and returning it 43 yards to the house in the second quarter to put Northwood up, 19-10.
However, Northwood just couldn’t stop the explosive plays from Louisburg down the stretch.
Up 22-18 in the third quarter, the Chargers gave up a 29-yard touchdown pass and a 51-yard touchdown run to give Louisburg a 32-22 lead with five minutes left in the quarter.
Fortunes responded with a strong 32-yard touchdown run of his own and then connected with Fowler again early in the fourth quarter to regain the lead. Yet, Louisburg stuck around with another rushing touchdown the following possession.
An impressive touchdown catch and run over two defenders by junior Isaiah Blair gave the Chargers the lead yet again with just over five minutes remaining in the game. However, Louisburg got the final say on an 11-yard run to the end zone with just over one minute left.
Fortunes finished the game with 20 completions for 315 yards and four touchdowns. Fowler caught four passes for 62 yards and two scores, and sophomore Robert Tripp rushed for 115 yards.
Chatham Central lost to North Moore in the first round of the 1A state playoffs, 28-0.
In typical North Moore fashion, the Mustangs rode the run game all night long, rushing for 319 yards and four touchdowns.
Men’s Soccer
No. 3 Jordan-Matthews beat No. 6 Wallace-Rose Hill, 1-0, in the third round of the 2A playoffs Monday. Francisco Ibarra scored the only goal with just over 19 minutes left in the first half.
The Jets will travel to No. 2 Franklin Academy Thursday.
In the second round, Jordan-Matthews beat No. 19 St. Pauls, 5-0.
No. 24 Northwood lost to No. 8 Bunn, 5-1, in the second round of the 2A playoffs.
Cross Country
In the 2A state championship race — other than Jack Anstrom winning the boys’ title — the Seaforth boys finished second with 103 points. Anstrom, Will Cuicchi and Henry McFall earned All-State honors by finishing in the top 10.
Cuicchi also won the Sportsmanship Award.
Northwood’s Jordan Wiley came in 20th place, and Joe Flynn finished 69th. Jordan-Matthews’ Christian Garcia Torres finished one spot ahead of Flynn.
In the 2A girls championship race, Seaforth finished 5th, and Northwood came in 9th place — the Chargers’ highest finish in 11 years.
Northwood’s Sydney Gray earned All-State honors by running a 7th place time of 20:19.28. Katherine Leonard was the first Seaforth runner to cross the finish line, coming in 13th place.
In the 1A boys championship race, Woods Charter finished 15th. Alexander Serrone ran the top time for the Wolves, coming in 29th place.
Chatham Charter’s Torris Price and Adam Reese finished 79th and 84th, respectively.
In the girls race, Woods Charter came in 7th place. Sienna Gray and Anna Peeler finished 22nd and 24th, respectively.
Chatham Charter’s Samantha Scott finished 38th.