2nd Round action of NCHSAA state football playoffs commence on Nov. 9 and 10 Bunker Hill, Maiden remaining Catawba County suitors in 2A West state playoff hunt
Blue Devils junior quarterback Josh Stover (4) against East Gaston on Friday, Nov. 3.
2023 NCHSAA State Varsity Football Playoffs
2A WEST
NO. 4 BUNKER HILL (11-0) VS NO. 13 BURNS (8-3)
THINGS OF NOTE:
- The Bears earned a 1st round victory over No. 29 East Rutherford on Nov. 3, 61-7.
- Leading the charge in the opening round contest for Bunker Hill were junior tailback Jason Willis Jr, along with the quarterback-receiver tandem of senior Redek Robinson and senior Xavier McCleave.
- Willis Jr. rushed for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 75-yard dagger, on 10 carries.
- Robinson connected to McCleave on 7 of his 14 pass completions for 196 yards and a trio of TDs.
- Robinson finished with 320 yards and 5 TDs on a 14-of-16 clip. He threw a 44-yard TD to Willis Jr. and a 27-yard TD to senior Ayden Killian.
- The Bears advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA 2A West state playoffs for the third year in-a-row.
- Kick-off against Burns is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start on Friday, Nov. 10.
NO. 15 MAIDEN (8-3) AT NO. 2 SALISBURY (11-0)
THINGS OF NOTE:
- The 2nd round showdown is set for Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m.
- The Blue Devils will face Salisbury in state playoff action for the 3rd time since 2021.
- Maiden lost at home to Salisbury in the playoffs on April 16, 2021, in a decisive 52-12 blowout.
- The Blue Devils bounced back against the Hornets in Fall 2021 as it earned a 32-20 third-round playoff win on Nov. 19.
- In the win over Salisbury, Maiden was led by the offensive game of quarterback Ethan Rhodes, tailback Ben Gibbs, along with receivers Chris Culliver and Jacob Sigmon.
Rhodes earned 313 yards and 5 TDs on a 17-for-24 outing. Culliver obtained 10 receptions for 205 yards and 4 TDs while Sigmon had 5 receptions for 88 yards.
- Gibbs amassed 102 yards on 26 rushes.
- In the opening round of the 2023 state playoffs, Maiden defeated East Gaston, 31-21.
- The Blue Devils were led by junior quarterback Josh Stover in the home victory over East Gaston.
-Stover totaled 200 passing yards and a TD to receiver Raheim Misher, as well as 78 rushing yards on 20 carries and a pair of TDs.
- Stover also connected to receivers Will Stover and Hampton Reed for 53 (5 catches) and 48 yards (2 catches), respectively.