NC Playoff Pairings Announced

3AA Changes

3AA
East
10 Triton @ 7 Dudley
15 Smithfield-Selma @ 2 HP Central
11 Jacksonville @ 6 Harnett Central
14 SW Guilford @ 3 Clayton

9 Ragsdale @ 8 Southern Alamance
16 Asheboro @ 1 Southern Durham
12 SW Randolph @ 5 Walter Williams
13 E. Wayne @ 4 E. Randolph


West
10 Mooresville @ 7 Piedmont
15 Trinity @ 2 Crest
11 Glenn @ 6 W. Rowan
14 E. Rowan @ 3 Parklnad

9 E. Gaston @ 8 Hickory
16 Kings Mountain @ 1 TC Roberson
12 Jay M. Robinson @ 5 Kannapolis
13 Lake Norman @ 4 Ashbrook

 

If someone will let me know of any errors on the brackets, I will edit them. I did have an error in the 1A bracket, this is a ridiculous system, and while attendance may have much to do with how good a team might be, it certainly isn't the only or the most important factor.

Some schools will lose their butt expense-wise to travel a long distance for a first round (or even later round) loss. The schools with poor records likely won't carry a large following to the game either. I'll pick out a few. I think there was one school that won a couple of games last year while having to travel and they lost about $25000 due to travel expenses. The boosters did end up covering it, it need not ever occur.

Examples of long travel for a first-round game: #10 Lexington (7-3) at #7 East Bladen (9-1), #14 Avery (8-2) at #3 Red Springs (9-1) and #14 Southwest Guilford (4-6) at #3 Asheville (9-1), I'm not even letting my son travel to that game. Then you get games like #9 Ragsdale (7-3) at #8 Dudley (8-2) and #14 West Forsyth (4-6) at #3 Mount Tabor (9-1), both a 15 minute drive.

This is one time the NCHSAA messed up. I can see no advantage for a 1-9 or 2-8 team playing an undefeated team in the state playoffs.

 

NEW PAIRINGS....

Here are the NEW UPDATED pairings....

CLASS 4-AA

EAST

(10) Scotland (7-4) at (7) Apex (9-2)

(15) Chapel Hill (5-6) at (2) Green Hope (10-1)

(11) Enloe (5-6) at (6) New Bern (9-1)

(14) Seventy-First (5-6) at (3) Hoggard (7-4)


(9) Lee County (8-3) at (8) Wakefield (5-6)

(16) SE Raleigh (4-6) at (1) South View (11-0)

(12) Cary (9-2) at (5) Garner (9-2)

(13) Laney (5-5) at (4) Millbrook (6-5)



WEST

(10) WS Reynolds (7-4) at (7) Myers Park (8-3)

(15) Charlotte Vance (4-7) at (2) Richmond Senior (11-0)

(11) Butler (7-4) at (6) North Meck (9-2)

(14) West Forsyth (4-7) at (3) Mt. Tabor (10-1)


(9) Providence (6-5) at (8) Grimsley (7-4)

(16) East Forsyth (4-7) at (1) Charlotte Independence (10-0)

(12) East Meck (5-6) at (5) East Burke (10-1)

(13) NW Guilford (5-6) at (4) Freedom (8-2)



CLASS 4-A

EAST

(10) Middle Creek (7-4) at (7) Riverside (7-4)

(15) Cape Fear (4-7) at (2) Rocky Mount (10-0)

(11) New Hanover (6-4) at (6) Greenville Rose (9-2)

(14) Fayetteville Byrd (5-6) at (3) Northern Durham (7-4)


(9) Terry Sanford (4-6) at (8) Wake Forest-Rolesville (5-6)

(16) Pine Forest (4-7) at (1) East Wake (10-0)

(12) Havelock (6-5) at (5) Wilmington Ashley (7-4)

(13) D.H. Conley (5-6) at (4) E.E. Smith (9-2)



WEST

(10) Olympic (7-4) at (7) Alexander Central (6-5)

(15) West Charlotte (4-7) at (2) Waddell (9-2)

(11) Jordan (6-5) at (6) North Forsyth (6-5)

(14) North Davidson (6-5) at (3) Jack Britt (6-5)


(9) South Caldwell (7-4) at (8) South Rowan (5-6)

(16) Purnell Swett (3-8) at (1) Davie County (11-0)

(12) West Meck (8-3) at (5) Hoke County (6-5)

(13) Westover (4-7) at (4) Person (4-7)



CLASS 3-AA

EAST

(10) Triton (7-4) at (7) Dudley (9-2)

(15) Smithfield-Selma (2-9) at (2) High Point Central (11-0)

(11) Jacksonville (7-3) at (6) Harnett Central (7-4)

(14) SE Guilford (7-4) at (3) Clayton (8-3)


(9) Ragsdale (7-3) at (8) Southern Alamance (6-5)

(16) Asheboro (4-7) at (1) Southern Durham (10-0)

(12) SW Randolph (7-4) at (5) Burlington Williams (8-3)

(13) Eastern Wayne (4-6) at (4) Eastern Randolph (9-2)



WEST

(10) Mooresville (6-5) at (7) Piedmont (8-3)

(15) Trinity (4-7) at (2) Crest (9-1)

(11) Glenn (8-3) at (6) West Rowan (9-2)

(14) East Rowan (5-6) at (3) W-S Parkland (8-3)


(9) East Gaston (7-4) at (8) Hickory (8-3)

(16) Kings Mountain (4-7) at (1) T.C. Roberson (10-0)

(12) Jay Robinson (7-4) at (5) A.L. Brown (8-3)

(13) Lake Norman (5-5) at (4) Ashbrook (8-3)



CLASS 3-A

EAST

(10) Webb (7-4) at (7) Beddingfield (6-5)

(15) Orange (4-7) at (2) West Craven (9-2)

(11) Northeast Guilford (5-5) at (6) C.B. Aycock (8-3)

(14) Washington (3-8) at (3) Wilson Hunt (9-2)


(9) Nash Central (6-5) at (8) Southern Wayne (7-4)

(16) Bertie (3-8) at (1) Wilson Fike (10-1)

(12) West Carteret (4-7) at (5) Hertford (6-5)

(13) White Oak (4-6) at (4) Kinston (8-3)



WEST

(10) NW Cabarrus (6-5) at (7) Anson (7-4)

(15) North Gaston (4-7) at (2) Burns (9-2)

(11) Hunter Huss (5-5) at (6) Tuscola (7-3)

(14) SW Guilford (4-7) at (3) Asheville High (9-1)


(9) East Henderson (7-4) at (8) Forestview (7-4)

(16) North Buncombe (3-8) at (1) Concord (10-1)

(12) Franklin (5-5) at (5) South Point (8-2)

(13) RS Central (5-6) at (4) WS Carver (9-2)



CLASS 2-AA

EAST

(10) St. Pauls (6-5) at (7) Ledford (5-6)

(15) Northwood (4-7) at (2) Reidsville (9-2)

(11) Western Guilford (7-4) at (6) SW Edgecombe (3-8)

(14) Pasquotank (4-7) at (3) Southern Vance (8-2)


(9) T.W. Andrews (7-3) at (8) Gray’s Creek (8-3)

(16) Northern Vance (4-7) at (1) Southern Guilford (10-1)

(12) Warren County (4-6) at (5) Western Alamance (6-5)

(13) Randleman (5-6) at (4) North Lenoir (8-3)



WEST

(10) West Iredell (7-4) at (7) North Surry (7-4)

(15) Ashe County (4-7) at (2) Salisbury (8-3)

(11) West Stokes (4-6) at (6) Bandys (7-4)

(14) Forest Hills (5-6) at (3) Hibriten (9-2)


(9) Pisgah (4-7) at (8) Mt. Pleasant (7-4)

(16) West Caldwell (4-6) at (1) Charlotte Catholic (10-1)

(12) Wilkes Central (6-5) at (5) Monroe (7-4)

(13) West Stanly (4-7) at (4) Forbush (8-2)



CLASS 2-A

EAST

(10) East Duplin (8-3) at (7) Roanoke Rapids (8-3)

(15) North Pitt (4-7) at (2) Edenton Holmes (11-0)

(11) SE Halifax (8-3) at (6) Clinton (8-2)

(14) Greene Central (6-5) at (3) SW Onslow (10-1)


(9) Northeastern (8-3) at (8) East Carteret (8-3)

(16) Pender (4-7) at (1) Bunn (11-0)

(12) Manteo (6-5) at (5) Northside-Jax (9-2)

(13) Richlands (5-6) at (4) Tarboro (8-3)



WEST

(10) Lexington (7-4) at (7) East Bladen (9-1)

(15) Mitchell (6-5) at (2) Burl Cummings (9-2)

(11) Whiteville (8-3) at (6) East Rutherford (9-2)

(14) Lincolnton (6-5) at (3) Red Springs (9-2)


(9) Brevard (8-3) at (8) Graham (8-3)

(16) South Robeson (4-6) at (1) Shelby (10-1)

(12) Bunker Hill (6-5) at (5) Owen (9-1)

(13) Avery (9-2) at (4) South Columbus (9-1)



CLASS 1-AA

EAST

(10) N. Johnston (8-3) at (7) Northampton-West (4-6)

(15) Topsail (2-9) at (2) Wallace-Rose Hill (9-2)

(11) Midway (6-4) at (6) Gates County (8-3)

(14) Louisburg (3-8) at (3) Ayden-Grifton (7-3)


(9) Farmville (5-6) at (8) Trask (6-5)

(16) Spring Creek (1-10) at (1) North Brunswick (9-1)

(12) Jordan-Matthews (5-6) at (5) Pamlico (8-3)

(13) Williamston (4-7) at (4) James Kenan (9-2)


WEST

(10) Hendersonville (8-3) at (7) West Davidson (8-2)

(15) Surry Central (5-6) at (2) Maiden (11-0)

(11) East Montgomery (7-4) at (6) Mount Airy (9-2)

(14) North Lincoln (5-6) at (3) Starmount (7-4)


(9) Bessemer City (4-6) at (8) Murphy (5-5)

(16) South Stokes (3-8) at (1) Albemarle (11-0)

(12) East Surry (5-6) at (5) Thomasville (8-3)

(13) North Moore (6-4) at (4) Polk County (10-1)



CLASS 1-A

EAST

(10) Plymouth (5-6) at (7) N. Edgecombe (5-6)

(15) Perquimans (2-9) at (2) Camden (10-1)

(11) Columbia (3-8) at (6) Northside-Pinetown (9-2)

(14) Mattamuskeet (2-7) at (3) Weldon (5-4)


(9) Creswell (5-5) at (8) Roanoke (5-6)

(16) Jones Senior (1-10) at (1) Southside (10-0)

(12) Lejeune (4-6) at (5) Rosewood (6-5)

(13) Northampton-West (4-6) at (4) Jamesville (7-2)


WEST

(10) Rosman (3-7) at (7) Union (5-5)

(15) South Stanly (1-10) at (2) Robbinsville (9-1)

(11) Cherokee (3-8) at (6) Hayesville (6-5)

(14) Andrews (2-9) at (3) Elkin (8-3)


(9) Chatham Central (3-8) at (8) Lakewood (3-7)

(16) North Stokes (1-10) at (1) Swain (9-0)

(12) North Duplin (3-7) at East Wilkes (8-3)

(13) South Davidson (2-9) at (4) Hobbton (7-3)

 

How bad is a system when a 4 win team (Person in 4A) is able to get a 4 seed?

 

Exactly, and a 8-3 team get a 12 seed and has to play a 6-5 team on the road. That crazy and not really fair. The need to to get rid of the 2 div. within classes and go back to one to get rid of some/all of the below .500 teams.

 

I agree...but money talks and that has the NCHSAA's full attention right now! I say we go to 5 classifactions, and have no splits within the classes!

 

Thanks for the corrected brackets reynolds. And I agree with you that all the NCHSAA is looking at is $$$, I think they get 50% of the gate receipts for playoff games, therefore some of those long bus rides could be losers for the high schools for sure.

Found that from last year, worth reading if you missed the first time around, Northeast Guilford made the state championship game and lost money because they were a lower seed traveling each week....

High school playoffs need major overhaul
By Ed Hardin, Greensboro News & Record
12-7-03

CHAPEL HILL -- In some states of the union they play championship football games in large stadiums in front of large crowds. Here in North Carolina we play them in largely empty stadiums in front of friends and family.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. It just looks bad.

In most states of the union they crown football champions and end all arguments according to logic. The best teams play for titles according to class size, and the rest of the state comes to watch. Here in North Carolina, we split the best teams into eight different tournaments, and almost no one comes to watch.

This is a bad thing that looks even worse.

North Carolina is in the process of crowning eight football champions this weekend, or four more than we did a few years ago and seven more than we did when we played the first of 90 annual NCHSAA football championships.

We carve up the state according to conferences and regions, and then we carve it up again to even a playing field that anyone who has ever played football knows is not even to begin with. What we sometimes end up with is a nationally recognized football power like Charlotte Independence winning four straight titles and ending any argument about the best team in the state.

But we also end up with another champion from the same classification coming out of another empty stadium with its own trophy and an empty case that will never be settled.

Sometimes we end up with a game like Saturday's here in Kenan Stadium between a legitimate power, South Point Belmont, and a road-weary contender, Northeast Guilford. South Point won a one-sided game against surprising Northeast, sending the family and friends from Belmont home with a trophy and sending the family and friends from McLeansville home with its athletics department in debt.

"You play in a game like this and you want to be able to buy your kids T-shirts and hats and plaques and things so you can reward them for a good season," Northeast coach Tommy Pursley said. "The last time we made it to the state championship game we made over $20,000. This year we spent more than that on buses. We spent so much on buses that we're in the hole. We made it to the state championship game and it cost us money."

The road to the title game was 1,600 miles long for Northeast, a result of a twisted system that seeded the Rams 11th despite coming out of what has been the best 3-A conference in the state the past five years and forced them to travel to empty stadiums miles and miles away from McLeansville.

Still, they made it to the championship game. And still, Pursley said, Northeast lost.

A day from now, a year from now, a generation from now, the kids will remember the long run. Here's hoping they have a hat or a shirt or something to remind them of what it took to get to the last game.

A day from now, South Point will be one of eight state champions. Here's hoping in the coming year the rest of the coaches around the state will recognize both the brilliant run of South Point and the withering run of Northeast Guilford.

The system is flawed on so many levels. Northeast took the brunt of it this year. Someone else will a year from now and for every year the state's coaches insist on playing games before we even begin to play the games. The system needs to be improved.

South Point coach John Devine gave grudging respect to the Northeast kids while claiming to be the coach of what he described as "about one of the best teams to ever play in this state." He also grudgingly agreed that about seven other teams could make that claim every year. Saturday's 27-10 win in the Class 3-A championship ended about two hours before the Class 3-AA game began.

As it turned out, the Class-AA champion had lost to the Class-A champion 35-7 earlier this year. The coaches need to vote again to fix a broke system. We have too many flaws in a system that rewards too many teams and leaves too many questions at the end of a long process. The payoff at the end simply doesn't equal the cost.

"I don't have all the answers," Northeast athletics director John Primm said. "But we had to come up with a lot of money. And I haven't received the gate receipts from any game we've played. Bertie County, who we played a month ago, hasn't sent us a dime. And we even got robbed down there, and we haven't heard a word."

A lot of people are getting robbed of a lot of things they should be able to take for granted at this time of the year. The union of coaches needs to speak up and let the NCHSAA go back to the way it was, back before playing for state championships became such an empty proposition.

It looks bad.

 

Thanks for that article, it was great and SOOOOOO true! Sounds like Northeast Guilford would have been better off financially NOT to have made the playoffs! THAT is sad when that is the case. It's just too bad the NCHSAA will never give up $$$ for betterment of the game.

 

"The system is flawed on so many levels. Northeast took the brunt of it this year. Someone else will a year from now and for every year the state's coaches insist on playing games before we even begin to play the games. The system needs to be improved."





Too bad Hardin wasn't right about this - guess which team is stuck making road trips to the coast again? Lucky for Northeast they aren't as good this year so they probably won't go as far and spend another $20,000 to travel.

But then again they might. They lost 4 of 5 games to teams that were in the Top 15 all year.

The state also hosed Whiteville who had to travel all the way to Black Mountain last year and has to travel all the way to Rutherford County this year.