–Pigskin Preview - Week 15 - by Michael Hughes
29 November 2007Terrific Two reach higher
West Region Finals, Nov. 30, 2007
3A – #6 North Gaston @ #4 Asheville High
3AA – #6 Roberson @ #5 Charlotte Catholic
A one-and-done playoff system with shoddy seeding involving 256 teams in no way demonstrates the strength of western North Carolina football this season. In the West Region, six 1 or 2 seeds remain among 16 finalists. The NCHSAA pairings have not gone according to pattern across the board this postseason, thus team advancement does not indicate the strengths of a particular region in 2007. Six first-round games in ’07 paired area football teams against each other, meaning one-fourth of the 24 mountain teams involved eliminated themselves.
As it is, we have two teams from one conference dominating—so far—in the split 3-A classification. Imagine the competitive fire from Buncombe County alone if 3-A could play against the rest of 3-A.
In the 3-A West finals, sixth-seeded North Gaston (11-2) comes to Asheville High (11-2) after “upsetting” second-seed Anson County. The Wildcats, rated ninth in the state regardless of classification by one online source, were runners-up in the Big South due to a 38-35 loss to Belmont South Point on Oct. 26. Their only other blemish was a 26-24 deficit at Charlotte Catholic—Roberson’s next opponent—on Sept. 14. In the preseason, The Charlotte Observer said North Gaston quarterback A.J. Blue “is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the state, and should lead his team to a deep playoff run.” That assessment came after the North Carolina recruit had accumulated 3,100 yards of total offense and accounted for 43 touchdowns as a junior. The Cougars, a four seed, spanked top-seeded Carver last week, are more seasoned on the defensive end, and appear to be gathering momentum each week. North Gaston has a strong defense and an offense that averages 40 points per game. A large crowd is expected, and Gaston fans have referred to Cougar fans as brash and cocky. Which cat comes out on top? Asheville’s last home loss was on Aug. 25, 2006. Cougars, 31-21
Thanks to another “upset,” Charlotte Catholic (12-2), a fifth seed despite playing as tough a schedule as any team in North Carolina, hosts Roberson (13-1), an even sillier seed at No. 6. The Queen City champions, an annual mainstay in the playoffs, are back in the picture despite graduating their entire backfield from a year ago. In ’04-’05 the Cougars were undefeated in consecutive years while winning back-to-back state titles in the 2AA and 3AA subdivisions. They narrowly fell to Eastern Randolph in the 3-AA finals last season. Linebacker Jeff Levasseur leads a stubborn multiple defense and is also an accomplished Rugby player as a former member of the U.S. national team. The Rams have little to prove in ’07 beyond winning it all. The blue-and-gold defense led by Shrine Bowl pick Josh Gossett ranks with the best in the state, but will have its hands full stopping Charlotte Catholic’s wing-T rushing attack, led by “elusive” QB Christian Culicerto and “explosive” running back Wes Stringfield. Since suffering fumbleitis at Asheville, the Roberson offense holds on to the ball and keeps the chains moving. The controlled passing game was never better during last week’s drubbing of South Point, and Justin Wynn has been money all season. Upset Special: Rams, 28-17
—Michael Hughes
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