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Here's the places you'll be headed the day after Thanksgiving if you're off to watch South Johnston or Princeton play in the third round of the NCHSAA prep football playoffs.
3-AA Eastern Regional Semifinal
Douglas Byrd (9-4) at South Johnston (12-1)
1-A Western Regional Semifinal
Princeton (10-3) at Mount Airy (13-0)
Both games will kick off at 7:30.
We'll have more info on the games, including directions to Mount Airy on the blog this coming week.
Princeton earned a 21-13 victory Friday night to move into the third round of the 1-A state high school football playoffs. The Bulldogs (10-3) scored 14 third-quarter points to take control of the game.
David Gurganus threw for 269 yards on the night, while Patrick Jacobs had 155 yards receiving.
We'll have more on the Bulldogs' win and their next opponent in Wednesday's edition of The Herald of Johnston County.
A couple of interesting notes about Friday night's playoff results.
South Johnston's 10-7 victory over Eastern Guilford gave the Trojans a record for victories in a season with 11. South carries an 11-1 mark into Friday night's second round game against Rocky Mount (8-3).
Princeton is in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1981 after its 28-25 decision over Hayesville. The Bulldogs (9-3) take on Hobbton (9-3) in Princeton on Friday night.
What's on tap in our area for the second round of the NCHSAA football playoffs on Friday, Nov. 20.
1-A Western Regional
Hobbton (9-3) at Princeton (9-3)
3-AA Eastern Regional
Rocky Mount (7-4) at South Johnston (11-1)
4-A Eastern Regional
Southeast Raleigh (10-2) at Harnett Central (12-0)
4-AA Eastern Regional
Garner (7-5) at Wake Forest-Rolesville (12-0)
Tonight's area results/finals that we have
1-AA Western Regional
Princeton 28, Hayesville 25
4-AA Eastern Regional
Garner 21, Wakefield 17
Wake Forest-Rolesville 55, Clayton 0
4-A Eastern Regional
Southeast Raleigh 36, Greenville Rose 3
Tonight's prep football playoff games involving Garner, Clayton, Southeast Raleigh and Princeton are all on for 7:30 p.m. kick offs.
South Johnston and Eastern Guilford are playing Saturday night at 7.
We'll be back with scores later tonight.
The state of the area's Friday NCHSAA first round playoff games remains in limbo today. And that's good news when you consider how much it's rained over the past three days. Most teams will make their decisions to play on Friday night or not sometime Friday morning. Nobody we've heard from has ruled out the scheduled Friday playing date at this point.
We'll update things once we know more.
The NCHSAA football brackets are now official. Here are the games of note for the Garner and Johnston County area set for next Friday:
1-A Western Regional
(11) Hayesville at (4) Princeton
3-AA Eastern Regional
(16) Eastern Guilford at (1) South Johnston
4-A Eastern Regional
(10) Greenville Rose at (7) Southeast Raleigh
4-AA Eastern Regional
(9) Wakefield at (8) Garner
(16) Clayton at (1) Wake Forest-Rolesville
Smithfield-Selma (4-7), North Johnston (3-8) and West Johnston (3-8) did not qualify for the playoffs.
Princeton is seeded fourth in the NCHSAA 1-A football playoffs. The Bulldogs (8-3) will host Hayesville, seeded 13th, a first round western regional game next Friday night.
South Johnston 21, Triton 14
The Trojans (10-1) clinch the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference Championship and have a chance at the No. 1 overall seed in the Eastern 3-A bracket, based on their 10-0 record for seeding purposes.
Clayton 13, Smithfield-Selma 7
The Comets' Shaquille Mangum returns an interception 80 yards for the game-winning touchdown with just two seconds to play, giving Clayton a bit of hope for a playoff spot at 4-7. SSS finishes the season.
Harnett Central 34, Garner 9
Garner falls hard but gets the No. 3 seed from the Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference when Knightdale upsets East Wake, 13-12.
Southeast Raleigh 27, West Johnston 7
The Bulldogs clinch the No. 2 seed from the GNRC, while West ends up out of the playoffs with a 3-8 mark.
Princeton 42, Rosewood 20
The Bulldogs finish off an 8-3 season, taking second in the Carolina 1-A Conference. It's likely the Dawgs will be hosting a first round playoff match up next Friday.
Franklinton 42, North Johnston 34
The high-scoring loss likely leaves the Panthers out of the playoff hunt after they finish with a 3-8 record.