Riverside 27, Person 26

When Pirates are in an emergency, they need all hands on deck. But when the crisis is a 26-21 deficit in the fourth quarter and one last chance to stay afloat in their own territory, they only need two.

In Riverside’s final offensive possession, junior Leighton Lascallette hauled in a 26-yard go-ahead touchdown pass from senior quarterback Taylen Lea to help secure the team’s first win of the season over Person.

Person senior Winston Norton pulled off a huge return in the ensuing kickoff, setting up the Rockets deep in Riverside territory with seconds left on the clock. However, the Rockets’ final shot at the end zone fell incomplete.

Lea finished the night with 159 yards, two touchdowns and an interception through the air. He also rushed for 49 yards and two scores.


Cardinal Gibbons 31, Southern Durham 20

Southern Durham struggled to contain Cardinal Gibbons’ offense early on in its first loss of the season.

Junior quarterback Mason Karras ran for a 47-yard touchdown on the Crusaders’ first possession, and he finished the night with 183 yards, two touchdowns and an interception through the air.

Trailing 17-6 at halftime, Southern Durham scored two touchdowns, a 4-yard run by senior running back Damien Hayes followed by a 67-yard sprint by senior quarterback Jonathan Dillon, to take a 20-17 lead in the third quarter. Cardinal Gibbons responded with its second passing touchdown of the night to begin the fourth quarter, and it held the Spartans scoreless for the rest of the game to secure the win.

Southern Durham fell to 2-1 on the season.


Felton Grove 41, Northern Durham 8

Without quarterback Amir Liles on the field, Northern Durham’s offense could not find its rhythm in a blowout loss to Felton Grove.

The Galaxy led 28-0 at halftime and built a 34-0 lead before the Knights’ only score in the fourth quarter.

Northern Durham fell to 2-1 on the season.


Seaforth 70, Princeton 56

The battle of the sevens made for a shootout in Pittsboro.

Senior Duncan Parker, who wears No. 7 for Seaforth, threw for over 400 yards and six touchdowns, ran in three scores, logged 10 tackles and snagged an interception to lead the Hawks over Princeton. Senior receiver Max Hinchman hauled in two of those scores, finishing the night with 143 yards on five receptions. Junior Noah Fuller recorded six catches for 151 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

The Hawks scored the most points in a game in program history.

On the other side, junior running back Teo McPhatter, who wears No. 7 for Princeton, rushed for 343 yards and six touchdowns, and he threw a touchdown pass. McPhatter averaged 11.8 yards per carry.

With a 62-48 lead late in the fourth quarter, Seaforth senior Brayden Moran got loose on a 56-yard touchdown run to seal the win.

Seaforth moved to 2-1 on the year.


Western Harnett 34, Cedar Ridge 6

Cedar Ridge could not stop Western Harnett’s rushing attack in its Week 3 loss.

The Eagles rushed for 369 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Jaylen Pettiford and junior Creig Matthews rushed for 109 yards each.

Sophomore Kamryn Smith caught the Red Wolves’ only score of the night from senior quarterback Matthew Asay in the fourth quarter.

Cedar Ridge fell to 0-2 on the season.


Jordan-Matthews 36, North Stokes 24

Jordan-Matthews’ junior quarterback Lennox Mordecai led the Jets to a double-digit win over North Stokes.

Mordecai rushed for 179 yards and three scores on nine carries. As a passer, he went 11-for-11 with 86 yards and a touchdown, which was hauled in by sophomore receiver Jayden Fisher.

Senior running back Omar Sanford also found the end zone once, finishing the night with 67 yards on three carries.

The Jets are now 2-1.


Northwood 42, Bartlett Yancey 0

Northwood put up a solid team effort on both sides of the ball to secure its first win of the season over Bartlett Yancey.

Senior quarterback Finn Sullivan threw for 122 yards, a season-high three touchdowns and an interception. Senior receiver Raje Torres recorded five receptions for 108 yards and two scores. Junior Brody Murchison led the Chargers’ rushing attack with 104 yards, but freshman Bryson Sanders and junior Aiden Girard provided the two rushing touchdowns. Senior Nick Armstrong and sophomore Zahiem Young also caught a touchdown pass each.

Defensively, the Chargers logged six sacks on the way to their first shutout since 2024. Senior defensive back Hayden Ellis led Northwood with eight tackles.


Chatham Central 14, East Columbus 0

Chatham Central’s historic season continued with a shutout of East Columbus.

Junior receiver Gavin Williams hauled in four receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns to help the Bears move to 3-0 for the first time since 1990 (Chatham Central started 4-0 that season). Williams was also the Bears’ best defensive player, recording a team-high seven tackles (three tackles for loss) and a sack.

Junior quarterback Brooks Albright finished the game with 112 passing yards.

Defensive backs Nolan Mitchell and Tyler Congrove each snagged an interception, and the Bears also forced and recovered a fumble.

Chatham Central found the end zone in the first quarter and kept a 6-0 lead until extending it in the fourth. The Bears held an opponent to zero points for the first time since the 2020-21 season.


Jordan 42, Vance County 6

Jordan bounced back from its Week 2 loss by dominating Vance County at home.

The Falcons’ defense snagged two interceptions and only allowed five completions.

Jordan moved to 2-1 on the year.


Dudley 38, Hillside 0

Dudley dominated Hillside in a Labor Day matchup.

The Panthers led 30-0 at halftime with the help of two touchdown receptions by senior and Southern Miss commit Vermont Carmack.

Hillside was shut out for the first time since 2024. The Hornets are now 2-1 on the season.


Top performances

Dominic Miller (Chapel Hill, running back, nine carries, 234 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns vs. Carrboro)
CJ Brooks-McMillan (Chapel Hill, running back, 14 carries, 103 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown vs. Carrboro)
Tristan McGowan (Carrboro, receiver, five receptions, 115 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns vs. Chapel Hill)
Duncan Parker (Seaforth, quarterback, over 400 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, 10 tackles and an interception vs. Princeton)
Max Hinchman (Seaforth, receiver, five receptions, 143 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns vs. Princeton)
Noah Fuller (Seaforth, receiver, six receptions, 151 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns vs. Princeton)
Brayden Moran (Seaforth, running back, 15 carries, 152 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown vs. Princeton)
Damien Hayes (Southern Durham, running back, two rushing touchdowns vs. Cardinal Gibbons)
Leighton Lascallette (Riverside, tight end, four receptions, 89 yards, one receiving touchdown vs. Person)
Elijah McDonald (Riverside, linebacker, 18 tackles vs. Person)
Taylen Lea (Riverside, quarterback, 200 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and an interception vs. Person)
Finn Sullivan (Northwood, quarterback, 133 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and an interception vs. Bartlett Yancey)
Raje Torres (Northwood, receiver, five receptions, 108 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns vs. Bartlett Yancey)
Brody Murchison (Northwood, running back, 14 carries, 104 rushing yards vs. Bartlett Yancey)
Lennox Mordecai (Jordan-Matthews, quarterback, 86 passing yards, one passing touchdown, 179 rushing yards on nine carries and three rushing touchdowns vs. North Stokes)
Gavin Williams (Chatham Central, linebacker and receiver, four receptions, 77 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, seven tackles and a sack vs. East Columbus)
Brooks Albright (Chatham Central, quarterback, 112 passing yards, two passing touchdowns vs. East Columbus)
Tyler Congrove (Chatham Central, running back and defensive back, six tackles and an interception vs. East Columbus)