Holiday trimmings

Published 5:23 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2019

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In third round state playoff games: Salisbury visits Hertford County, while two other teams are on the road: Northampton County in Goldsboro facing Rosewood and Gates County in Tarboro against North Edgecombe.

SALISBURY at HERTFORD COUNTY

Last Friday Hertford County beat North Davidson.

“It was a good win over last year’s state runners-up,” said Bears head coach Terrance Saxby. “We stayed poised and came back and won, playing well both offensively and defensively.”

Hertford County players converge at the ‘Bear Cage’ before their football game last week. The Bears are one of three Roanoke-Chowan area teams who have third-round NCHSAA playoff games this weekend. William Anthony Photography

This Friday it will be Salisbury (11-2) invading Bear Stadium against Hertford County (11-2) in an NC High School Athletic Association 2AA East semi-final

“Salisbury runs the spread offense and is a power running team. They also have a big and tough defense,” added Saxby.

Hertford County is led by quarterback Tye Saxby who has passed for 2,726 yards and 35 touchdowns. Erion Holley is the leading rusher with over 1,100 yards gained on the ground this season.

“Defensively, we need to maintain gaps and tackle well, and offensively we need to sustain drives,” closed Saxby.

NORTHAMPTON at ROSEWOOD

Last Friday Northampton County beat Northside-Pinetown 34-21.

“We were ahead at halftime and went on to win,” said Jaguars coach George Privott. “The whole team played well.”

This Friday night it will be Northampton County (9-3) at Goldsboro Rosewood (11-1) in a 1A East semi-final game.

“Rosewood is a good team,” added Privott. “We lost to them in the third round last year. They are a number-one seed. It will be a tough game.”

“Offensively we need to not turn the ball over and defensively continue to play well,” the coach concluded.

GATES COUNTY at NORTH EDGECOMBE

Last Friday Gates County beat Pamlico County 66-43.

“It was a good win for us,” said Red Barons head coach Matt Biggy. “We generated offense and the defense made stops enabling us to get the win.”

This Friday in Tarboro it will be Gates County (9-4) at North Edgecombe (9-3) in the other 1A East semi-final game.

“North Edgecombe won their conference championship,” added Biggy. “They are a big and physical team. They have good running backs, their defense is big, and they are a good football team.”

“We need to continue to control the line of scrimmage offensively, and defensively we can’t let them control the clock and limit big plays,” he concluded.