Cornelius (N.C.) Hough tops Raleigh Millbrook to win NCHSAA 8A state title

CHAPEL HILL — Cornelius (N.C.) Hough High’s stifling defense shut down Raleigh Millbrook in a 21-0 win to help the Huskies earn their first-ever NCHSAA state title Thursday at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Hough improved to 14-0 and outscored its four playoff opponents 136-17 in the NCHSAA 8A bracket.

The Game

The first half set the tone that defense was going to dominate, sustained drives would be hard to come by and who could capitalize on turnovers or special teams mistakes.

Hough’s special teams had a rough day, but Millbrook never capitalized on the fumbled punts or blocked punts.

The trio of Hough defenders — sophomore linebacker Ryan Peterson, senior linebacker L.J. Porter and senior safety Jackson Heath — were all over the field and combined for 26 tackles. Porter has signed with East Carolina.

Millbrook rushed 26 times for 26 yards and completed 13 passes for 96 yards.

Hough junior quarterback Ethan Royal did just enough with a touchdown pass to junior wide reciever Jahmere Anderson to give the Huskies a 14-0 lead with 11:54 left in the game. The cherry on top was his 74-yard touchdown run with 59 seconds remaining. Royal threw for 135 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 64 yards and two scores.

NC State targets

The one-two punch of junior defensive end Rashad Streets and junior middle linebacker Quinton Cypher never disappoint, and both shined on the big stage.

Cypher had 10 tackles, an interception and leveled the punt, so he couldn’t get the kick off. He also caught two passes for 19 yards. NC State offered Cypher in June after his freshman year, and there have been some ups and downs during his recruitment, but he re-circled and attended some Wolfpack home games this season. Both his father and older brother went to NC State. Rivals has him ranked No. 260 overall in the class of 2027.

Streets is also a Wolfpack legacy with his father playing on the defensive line in the late 1990s. Streets also blocked a punt and was a factor in the trenches for Millbrook. Rivals has Streets at No. 59 overall in the class of 2027, and he has a wide array of choices, but the Wolfpack offered him Jan. 29, 2025.

Potential targets

Peterson is a no-brainer at middle linebacker in the class of 2028. The physical 6-foot, 220-pounder was credited with 10 tackles. Peterson and Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons sophomore linebacker Skylar Alston will help lead the way in the class of 2028 at the position.

Peterson has early P4 offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina and Southern Methodist. He additionally has offers from Troy and Georgia State.

Millbrook junior safety Cairo Williams was listed with five tackles, but it seemed like his presence was much more than that. He has P4 offers from Duke, Louisville, Michigan State and Southern Methodist, plus Charlotte, Coastal Carolina and Liberty.

Time will tell, but Millbrook freshman right tackle Amir Daniels is already 6-4 and 260 pounds and starting on the varsity, which is rare for a class of 2029 prospect.

Past targets

Hough senior cornerback Samari Matthews was named Mr. Football for the state of North Carolina this week, and signed with Texas on Dec. 3. Rivals has Matthews ranked No. 186 nationally in the class of 2026. He doesn’t normally get tested much, but Millbrook wasn’t afraid to throw in his direction, so he was busy and had seven tackles, after having 27 tackles in the first 13 games.

NC State also coveted Hough senior wide receiver Tyran Evans, who first picked Tennessee, but ended up flipping and signing with Miami (Fla.). Evans had one catch for 21 yards.

Coming up

The Wolfpacker will have stories on the key players and various scouting videos, which will be found here.