CHAPEL HILL – Three local schools will move to the next level in their quest for a state championship.

Hertford County High School, Gates County High School and Northampton County High School – East will each continue their pursuit of a state football title when the playoffs begin Friday night.

The local team with the highest ranking in the state playoffs resides in Ahoskie as the Bears received a number two seed headed into this year’s state 3-A playoffs. The 11-0 HCHS squad will host White Oak High School (6-5) during the first round.

Should they get past White Oak, they are bracketed to host the winner of number seven Western Alamance (8-3) against number 10 Washington High School (6-5).

The Bears finished the season undefeated under first-year Head Coach Scott Privott and are making their fifth consecutive appearance in the state championship playoffs.

The number one seed in the 3-A bracket went to Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh. Gibbons (10-1) will host Currituck County High School (1-10) in the first round.

Other games in the 3-A bracket include:

9 – Jesse Carson (6-5) at 8 – Ledford (6-5);

12 – Dalton McMichael (5-6) at 5 – Eastern Alamance (10-1);

13 – Southern Vance (5-6) at 4 – West Craven (9-2);

14 – Southern Guilford (5-6) at 3 – Havelock (11-0); and

11 – South Brunswick (5-5) at 6 – East Rowan (8-3).

Gates County High School will make their second appearance under third-year skipper Matt Biggy. The Red Barons garnered a number 11 seed in the 1-AA state playoffs. They will travel to East Carteret (4-7) for the first round game.

The Red Barons are bracketed to play at the winner of number three East Columbus (5-5) vs. number 14 Trask (4-6).

The top seed in the 1-AA playoffs went to Southwest Onslow (11-0) who will host Union (2-9) in the first round. The second seed went to Goldsboro (9-2), a team that will host 4-7 South Robeson.

Other games in the 1-AA bracket include:

9 – East Montgomery (5-5-1) at 8 – James Kenan (6-5);

12 – Dixon (4-7) at 5 – Ayden-Grifton (6-5);

13 – Perquimans (4-7) at 4 – Pender (9-1); and

10 – Midway (5-6) at 7 – Southeast Halifax (3-8).

The other local team making a trip to the state playoffs will be Greg Watford’s Northampton-East club who will be appearing in the 1-A bracket.

The Rams (4-7) garnered a number 13 seed and will travel to number four Wallace-Rose Hill (9-2) during the opening round of the playoffs. They are bracketed with the winner of number 12 Southside at number five Williamston (9-2) in the second round.

The top seed in the 1-A eastern playoffs went to Manteo (11-0) who will be hosting number 16 Mattamuskeet (1-8) in the playoffs. The number two seed is Creswell (10-0) who will host Northside (3-8).

The other 1-A games include:

9 – Plymouth (7-4) at 8 – Jamesville (5-4);

14 – Roanoke (3-8) at 3 – Weldon (9-1);

11 – Northampton-West (3-7) at 6 – Jones (7-4); and

10 – Columbia (5-4) at 7 – North Edgecombe (6-4).

The top seeds include: Mount Airy (1-A West), Albemarle (1-AA West), East Bladen (2-A East), Starmount (2-A West), East Duplin (2-AA East), Shelby (2-AA West), Hibriten (3-A West), South Johnston (3-AA East), Northern Guilford (3-AA West), Southern Durham (4-A East), Reynolds (4-A West), Wake Forest-Rolesville (4-AA East) and Butler (4-AA West).