News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

By Derek Medlin
Correspondent
ANGIER — Northeast Guilford entered Friday night’s second-round 3-AA playoff game against top-seeded and undefeated Harnett Central with a 6-6 record.
But the Rams left the game headed toward a third-round matchup against either Northern Vance or Overhills after taking a 49-28 victory.
Central (12-1) left  its dreams of a state championship on the field.
“Their coaching staff did a great job,” Central coach Marc Morris said. “We felt like, coming in, that we had to stop their big plays on offense.
“Of course, they got a bunch of big plays on us. Our hats are off to them.”
The Trojans looked sharp early. They took the opening kickoff and drove 62 yards.
The march consumed more than nine minutes and consisted of 16 plays before Jarrod Spears scored on a 2-yard run.
But the rest of the half belonged to Northeast Guilford.
Michael Sanders returned the ensuing kickoff to the Central 44 and Kenny Rush covered those yards on one carry.
Rayshawn Trader added a 77-yard run and then caught a 30-yard pass from Darius White as the Rams took a 28-7 halftime lead.
In the second half, the big plays continued.
On Harnett Central’s first possession, quarterback Tate Wheelin hit Brian Baker with a 70-yard touchdown pass.
Northeast answers right back when Sanders scored on a 36-yard run.
Northeast pushed the lead to 42-13 when White hit Demetrius Phillips  on a 35-yard touchdown strike.
Central rallied with two late touchdowns.
Baker scored on a 70-yard run and Spears added a 22-yard reception from Wheelin.
Northeast put the game away on White’s 1-yard quarterback sneak late in the fourth quarter.
One key for Northeast was slowing the Central running game.
Darius McKoy, who had rushed for 1,981 yards this season, was held to 43 yards on 15 carries.
“I really believe some of the best football in North Carolina is played in the Triad,” Northeast coach Tommy Pursley said.
“Sometimes our record is not indicative of how good our football team is.”
Trader finished with 111 yards rushing on seven carries.
Northeast rushed for 311 yards on 42 yards.

NEG    HCL
Rushes-yards    42-311    35-135
Comp-Att-yards    3-4-106    15-28-208
NEG    14    14    14    7    —    49
HCL    7    0    7    14    —    28
SCORING SUMMARY
HCL—J.Spears 2 run (S.Baker kick); NEG—K.Rush 44 run (M.Johnson kick); NEG—R.Trader 37 pass from D.White (M.Johnson kick); NEG—R.Trader 77 run (M.Johnson kick); NEG—M.Sanders 25 run (M.Johnson kick); HCL—B.Baker 70 pass from T.Wheelin (S.Baker kick blocked); NEG—M.Sanders 36 run (M.Johnson kick); NEG—D.Phillips 35 pass from D.White (M.Johnson kick); HCL—B.Baker 70 run (S.Hales run); HCL—J.Spears 22 pass from T.Wheelin (S.Baker kick); NEG—D.White 1 run (M.Johnson kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: NEG—T.Ingram 8-35, K.Rush 13-82, M.Sanders 4-58, R.Trader 7-111, D.White 10-25; HCL—B.Baker 7-69, D.McKoy 15-43, J.Spears 6-10, T.Wheelin 6-16.
Passing: NEG—D.White 3-4-106-0; HCL—T.Wheelin 15-28-208-1.
Receiving: NEG—D.Phillips 1-35, M.Sanders 1-34, R.Trader 1-37; HCL—B.Baker 3-68, S.Hales 3-23, J.Spears 6-92.