Bracket Takeaways

swe98

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2010
5,861
2,654
113
Just curious to know if there is anything interesting that stands out to you when it comes to the brackets? Any weird matchups or seedings? What about surprise playoff teams?

Two surprises for me are 4A Washington, which started 0-5, finished 3-7, and gets to host a playoff game, and 4A Nash Central, which started 0-6 and ended up winning their conference with an 4-6 overall record and is also hosting a game.

I think I have to finally admit that Reidsville is geographically in the eastern half of the state, but TW Andrews is slightly in the west, but constantly makes it to the eastern bracket.

Speaking of being on the wrong side, poor 1A East Columbus, a little over 40 miles from the beach, can't seem to stay out of the western bracket, while two teams from the same city of Wilson find themselves on opposite sides of the bracket: Sallie Howard is in the east, while defending eastern and state champ Wilson Prep is in the west. It's possible that both these Wilson schools will end up playing one another for the state championship. What a laugh that would be.
 

vikandpirate4christ

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2011
3,090
4,966
78
Just curious to know if there is anything interesting that stands out to you when it comes to the brackets? Any weird matchups or seedings? What about surprise playoff teams?

Two surprises for me are 4A Washington, which started 0-5, finished 3-7, and gets to host a playoff game, and 4A Nash Central, which started 0-6 and ended up winning their conference with an 4-6 overall record and is also hosting a game.

I think I have to finally admit that Reidsville is geographically in the eastern half of the state, but TW Andrews is slightly in the west, but constantly makes it to the eastern bracket.

Speaking of being on the wrong side, poor 1A East Columbus, a little over 40 miles from the beach, can't seem to stay out of the western bracket, while two teams from the same city of Wilson find themselves on opposite sides of the bracket: Sallie Howard is in the east, while defending eastern and state champ Wilson Prep is in the west. It's possible that both these Wilson schools will end up playing one another for the state championship. What a laugh that would be.
Wild to me that Nash Central and Washington are hosting games. On the 2a side, it’s about what I was expecting. Folks have a hard time, but who you play matters. Another wild one is in the 3a, Jk beat Midway and won the conference but Midway is the 3 and they are the 4.
 

Tarboroviking18

All-Conference
Mar 24, 2023
1,540
2,042
113
Just curious to know if there is anything interesting that stands out to you when it comes to the brackets? Any weird matchups or seedings? What about surprise playoff teams?

Two surprises for me are 4A Washington, which started 0-5, finished 3-7, and gets to host a playoff game, and 4A Nash Central, which started 0-6 and ended up winning their conference with an 4-6 overall record and is also hosting a game.

I think I have to finally admit that Reidsville is geographically in the eastern half of the state, but TW Andrews is slightly in the west, but constantly makes it to the eastern bracket.

Speaking of being on the wrong side, poor 1A East Columbus, a little over 40 miles from the beach, can't seem to stay out of the western bracket, while two teams from the same city of Wilson find themselves on opposite sides of the bracket: Sallie Howard is in the east, while defending eastern and state champ Wilson Prep is in the west. It's possible that both these Wilson schools will end up playing one another for the state championship. What a laugh that would be.
NGL based on the bracket that Southwest is in, I could see them going on a run potentially. Wilson prep being in the west is wild. I don't envy that trip for robbinsvillie.
 
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TarVikes1

All-Conference
Nov 23, 2017
718
1,008
93
The eastern playoffs won’t start until Thanksgiving when Warren and Edenton play.

I don’t think there’s a team in the east that could stay within 28points of Tarboro, Holmes, and Warren. However I think the big 3 are all capable of winning the east and the state championship.
 

Tarboroviking18

All-Conference
Mar 24, 2023
1,540
2,042
113
I think til realignment happens the big three in the East is Tarboro, Warren, and Edenton.

The West this year will be interesting to watch. I think it's a good mix of teams who could make it.
 
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vikandpirate4christ

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2011
3,090
4,966
78
I still want to see how Corvian does with a ground and pound offense. I know they can put up points, but are they going to be able to stop the run better than last year? With that said, if I had to pick today, I’d pick Corvian, but like the others, wouldn’t surprise me if someone were to beat them
 

TarVikes1

All-Conference
Nov 23, 2017
718
1,008
93
I still want to see how Corvian does with a ground and pound offense. I know they can put up points, but are they going to be able to stop the run better than last year? With that said, if I had to pick today, I’d pick Corvian, but like the others, wouldn’t surprise me if someone were to beat them
Agreed I’d pick Corvian - I think they have a tough 3rd round game with East Wilkes running that triple option. That will be a good test for Corvian.
 

Black knight 87

Sophomore
Sep 26, 2025
162
164
43
It's a 9 hour trip on activity buses. and I doubt the school is paying for the upgraded touring buses.
They would need to leave the school at 8am to get to Robbinsville on time for warm ups and tape jobs
The game would be at wilson preparatory. We will probably rent touring buses from Cherokee.
 

TarVikes1

All-Conference
Nov 23, 2017
718
1,008
93
The game would be at wilson preparatory. We will probably rent touring buses from Cherokee.
If the trip was reversed it wouldn’t be all that bad. Atleast Wilson would get to see the mountains. Unfortunately for Robbinsville - yall just get to see Wilson 😂
 

drop_tables

All-Conference
Aug 14, 2004
4,775
1,822
113
The game would be at wilson preparatory. We will probably rent touring buses from Cherokee.
I apologize for the mix up. I was conversing with an A L Brown fan on the 7A/8A boards about how one of the things the 8 classifications was supposed to fix was cutting down travel for the smaller schools. and he said
Not as bad as East Columbus at
Robbinsville High School in the 1a west!
Straight drive there in a car will take
6 hr 48 min! Now account for stops and it being a bus… at least a 9hr drive 😳
I think he was confused a little when he looked at the bracket.
I just looked at it and see where EC and Robbinsville aren't on the same end of the bracket.
Still a painfully long trip for Robbinsville, if it comes to that. Insane...
Lumberton is traveling to Davie County in the 7A West bracket.... nuts
 

recycled2

Junior
Jul 7, 2025
153
204
43
I still think Murphy is a team to keep an eye on. With clem in the lineup they are definitely a threat.
I think Murphy is a very good team. However, it seems like something is missing. I have seen them live and on film and it seems like they are not quite running on all cylinders. Numerous penalties and sloppy ball security. It could be that their last few games have not really presented much of a challenge. Maybe they will throw the switch when the playoffs start, but that can be dangerous.
 
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