Round Table: Breaking down the regional finals Subject:* A friend wanted you to see this item from High School OT: https://wr.al/1KSWo Kyle Morton, Joel Bryant and Zack Adams break down the upcoming regional championship games on this week's edition of HighSchoolOT Round Table. Show Transcript Hello, everybody. Welcome to high school. Ot roundtable. I'm Kyle morton. I'm joined by Zach Adams and Joel Bryant. We're doing a little early morning edition here on thursday. It's an early morning for us. It's not really an early morning for football teams, our coaches at all. Um, it's almost nine, so not too bad. Um, but we're going to get into the regional finals, the regional final matchups that are coming up tomorrow night. I think we'll be posting this pretty much immediately. So it'll be uh tomorrow night, the regional finals. It's the third round. But uh, if you win your in state championship game through the condensed playoff schedule and the condensed schedule in general that we saw this year. And there are some extremely exciting matchups, um, some rivalries, some powers clashing and just some all around good stuff. We're going to start with the affordable, We went small to big in terms of classification last week. We're going to go big to small this week. So unaffordable a in the east. This might the game of the week Maybe. I think you can make an argument for a few more. It's, it's wake forest that rolls ville. Um, these two teams played in the regular season, their conference rivals. It was a 36-3 win for Roseville, but wake forest is a much, much better team than they were on that game. Their offense is cooking now. I think they're averaging 33.75 points per game in their four wins since then. So wow, the Cougars have turned things around offensively. They've made some tweaks there, still coached by Reggie Lucas, they are still Wake Forest. This is going to be a much tougher matchup for Roosevelt and the first time around. Uh, do you guys think Roosevelt can win anyway still or will want anyone still? Um, I would still call Real still the favorite, but like you mentioned, no team in the state I think gets better week to week than Reggie Lucas, His Wake Forest team. Um That coaching staff is just on another level from everyone else. Um But notice no disrespect to anyone else, but that that coaching staff is elite when it comes to football in the state. Um They're not gonna score three points again. I'll tell you that their offensive figure some things out coach Lucas. So just simply put it after the heritage game that they just realized that all they have to do is start hitting people then the holes and open up. It's a little more complicated than that. But they've certainly found some things out going for them that sophomore running back Mikey, d pass quality. Uh That gets fast, he's fast and he's a smart runner, he's really coming along lately. Um He probably has like like eight touchdowns in the last 44 weeks, something like that. Um So he's come along well. Uh quarterback Chad Hillman. Um He really plays much early on I don't think, but he's he's come on a bit as well lately here. He can really make some nice throws down the field and uh you guys like Tristan Spencer going down there uh you know he's regularly connecting with guys like that so it's the offense has got a lot better but I was so called rules. All the favorite. I would agree pretty much with everything you just said. I think Roseville is a slight to moderately decent favorite in this one, but I think no one is going to be surprised if they either watch the game or wake up and see what happened to. See that way for X one. Obviously we'll know what happened the night of. It's going to be a long fun night for us. This is this is why we do it really excited. I'm going to go with the rams In a close one. I'm thinking 31, 24 27 ISH. Um I just don't know where you beat Roseville right now. Um There they've they've got everything that offensive line is ridiculous. They've got three really good wide receivers, they've got a running quarterback too good running backs and that running quarterback can make the place, they've got a good defensive line. They just got kind of got everything going right now. So uh you're gonna have to expose something that no one, no one else has exposed to beat them, which is certainly possible. But um I like the rams of this one, Zach. Do you agree or disagree? I tend to agree with everything that you just said. Um you know, in this initial four wh bracket came out, I thought it was Roosevelt fear. I'm granted, I thought they would have to go to wait for us, but they did it once. The Cougars are much better as you all have already alluded to. I'm going to take a Roosevelt to make it to the state championship in the west. We advance advance avenge their regular season lost against tough in the postseason. Those guys just always find a way to get it done in the playoffs. They're playing Myers park at Myers Park due to the random seeding. It is a it is a road game because they did not win their conference, so they were lower seed. Yeah, so um this is a really interesting one, Myers Park is kind of finally made it to this level last year. They had a really, really good team led by drake May and lost to Richmond County. And uh that was probably, you know, the game of the playoffs at that point that year? Um Yeah, do you guys think you guys think Myers heart can break through or is this advances game to lose? Um Vance is the favorite? Uh I know my rights workers had a great season. Um they managed to reload some talent there, but I think last week, Panther Creek gave them a real scared and the Greek was up in the fourth quarter. Then they scored I think what was it like 15 seconds left? They scored to win like that. Um This Myers parking is talented but it's a lot different looking from the same last year. Meanwhile the advance team is pretty much the same as last year except for power echoes being gone. Right. So this whole thing has been here before they've done it. Um, I can't take that stance. I'm taking advance as well in this game. I do think it would be closed, but um, I think we're gonna be getting advanced Roosevelt and I think that should be a uh, I'm a very interesting state title game for sure. Especially with the offensive firepower Roosevelt has and that vance defense that we all know about. Be a fun matchup, definitely. Let's move to the four a.m. In the east. We have New Bern at Cardinal Gibbons. Uh New Bern was a program we were all really excited to follow in 2019. We didn't really know what it was gonna look like this year. Uh, and they've gone on this run, They've, they've gotten it done. Cardinal Gibbons is of course, back in the regional final after making the state championship game last year. That's a really, really talented team. Um You might be able to argue they're better than the team that made the state championship game last year, which is, is pretty wild considering they graduated a really good quarterback. Uh kind of Clark has done a really good job stepping into that role. Um What do you guys see coming? This one, Joel? I know as an E. N. C. I, you're a little more in tune with what new Bern is going to be bringing. Well, this is a rematch of the second round playoff game last year when Gibbons just went down to burn and basically stopped them. But number number thought that they actually started to give out pretty well, but they've turned over deep into the red zone and from there things that's kind of uh snowball effect in the way that you don't want. Um This given scene is extraordinarily deep. Um I'm not sure there is a deeper team in for a in the same um From what I understand, they can give multiple spots deep at each position and that's just even at the highest level, that's that's not normal. Um It's just a it's just a well rounded group. Um They don't really have that seem like big name firepower that we're kind of using them having. But overall as a team they're just really, really solid. This game will be closer than the one last year. Um newborn was really young last year, A lot of these guys are back. Um I still I'm still gonna be givens, but I think this is more of a It's more of a 32 touchdown game than it was like five touchdown game last year, Zach. What do you think? I'm gonna go with Gibbons to get back to the state title game? Um, I do think like Joel said to be much more competitive than their previous playoff meeting, but give me the crusaders. All right out west, we have a charlotte area matchup against a Greensboro match up. This is the game, This is the most exciting game. This is a big one. We've got Butler at Grimsley, Grimsley's wonderful, wonderful stadium that hosted the, So the all star game in 2019. Nice experience. Great Stadium to go too, by the way. Um, yeah. And they'll be hosting Butler, a really good team out of the Charlotte area that has put this run together Zach. This is, this is your neck of the woods. We'll start off with you on this one. So, um, I was able to talk to Grimsley head football coach Darryl Brown the other day. Um He definitely said, Butler is probably the best team that the world is have seen all season, especially up front on the offensive line. Butler has um, an insanely good running game led by a senior running back, Devon nelson. Um, He put up three touchdowns against Glen when I saw the bulldogs play a few weeks back, Grimsley is definitely gonna have to not turn the football over. Um, I mean, Butler's put up some great defensive efforts here in the playoffs, holding Glenda seven points, but that was on a kickoff return and then shutting out providence who had a quite successful uh spring season. So definitely Butler is going to challenge Grimsley. Um, I still would say the worries of the favorite I'm talking to coach hails from Butler actually after this round table. So I'll get his take on Grimsley and what he's seen from them maybe on film. But right now, um, I've got to take Grimsley, um, in this game over Butler. Um, I do think it'll be competitive and very fun. I wish I was actually going to this game. I got my assignment switched um, in the middle of this week, but I definitely should be a fun one of Jamison Stadium on friday night. It's moved to the three a. It's another, it's kind of a Zach area versus Joel area matchup. We've got a three double A. I'm sorry. I'm skipping ahead. I scrolled down too soon. This is the, this is the game. You talked about the wake forest roles of the rivalry game. This is a bigger rivalry. This is one of the four or five biggest rivalries in the state. Clayton in Cleveland for a spot in the state championship game. I think everyone, a lot of people expected Cleveland to get to this point right. I don't think many people expected Clayton to get here. Obviously omarion hit the omarion, Hampton injury hurts Cleveland a lot and maybe said to this game up to be more competitive than it would have been otherwise. Obviously he did get hurt in the regular season game against Clayton for the rams. So I mean, this is, this is what high school football is all about. This is the type of matchup you dream about before the season and then there's a doesn't end up happening. Almost never ends up happening. But we got Clayton Cleveland, Zach, your Joko guy you're from there. Obviously, I think we can all agree Cleveland is the favorite. Um, but what can Clayton due to kind of uh, maybe get themselves into this game because they did play Cleveland somewhat close after the Hampton inn during the regular season. Yeah, like I know Jordan told us in our group chat that definitely after memorial left the game, Clayton outscored Cleveland for the remainder. So at least the comments have that, I guess edge going in that, you know, they've outscored this Cleveland team without omarion Hampton. But uh, definitely, I think Clayton needs to rely on their running game. Um, I know they got, I won a really solid running back on there and the sean hidden. Um, but definitely, um, like I wish I could be there, obviously being from johnson County, I think it's a cool thing. I know it's a lot of buzz, you know, back home from what I've seen on social media and whatnot. Um, from both the Cleveland Clayton fan bases. Um, I will take Cleveland to win this battle of the blues Joko robbery game, but I definitely don't count out Clayton and just say, you know, uh, Cleveland, uh, I finally gotten past that lee county hump and this is their year. I do think the comments will definitely keep it close. Give me Cleveland and one score game I think. Mhm. So what do you agree with the rams? I think Cleveland's gonna win. I think it'll be by more than one score, actually. Um, then being that lead county seen by 22 points was very impressive to me. I thought that would be a closer game. Um, and I want to take that Leap County team overplayed. Uh, so I just feel like it's a lot different situation from losing Hampton in that game versus what, 34 or five weeks, they've had to adjust without him and they've done pretty well without him. So I think that it's going to be a different looking, a different kind of attitude that Clayton seem um, on friday night versus that first game after they lost him. So I'm gonna go with Cleveland, but now staying season for, for Clayton and one overall, um, they would finish a and two if they lost. It's still very good season. Zach mentioned Cleveland getting over the lee county hump. Our next game features Mount Tabor which got over the Weddington hump. Weddington had won the last 23 double A state championships. They will not be winning it this year because they lost a Mount Tabor, which credit Zach, he predicted on this very show last week. They are hosting Dudley, who is an extremely good football team, holding that eight seed next to their name. Um, Zach, I think Dudley has more name recognition in other parts of the state that aren't the triad. Um, What's your read on this game? Um I do want to make a note here. I don't want to jinx anything for any Mount Tabor fans that may be watching. But since head coach Sean Brown has taken over the program, Mount Tabor is five and against deadly. Um, and uh, this season it definitely wasn't the prettiest offensive game. But you know, when you have Mount Tabor involved, it's not going to be, you know, the high scoring in the thirties type of game. But Tabor 1 96 on a saturday evening um in Greensboro. Um, so definitely wasn't. Um uh you know, are the most prolific scoring effort. But Dudley did just put up 77 points against that T. C. Roberson. I'm not at all comparing the defense that Robertson and Taylor have. But definitely, it seems like Dudley found something a week ago. I'm in the mountains, but Mount Tabor um coming off that high against Weddington, they could have a letdown this week. Don't always know. But I trust what Coach Brown has working over there. I trust that defense with nearly every starter coming back From 2019 team. I've spent their goal since the summer uh to get to the state championship And potentially win one. So I'm gonna take Tabor. But I would not be surprised if I Dudley, I went to Winston. Uh put off a bit of an upset being that they are over five against Tabor in their last five meetings. Let's move to the 38 in the East Western elements, traditionally the best team in the east this year due to the predetermined conference brackets, uh have locked. Havelock the wire to wire number one in our high school. T top 25 east fall. I shouldn't say wire to wire yet because we've got one left, but they're wired wire so far. Um I like the rams in this one that Western elements defensive might be the biggest challenge. Havelock is pasted based, but I don't think there's many defenses in this state that can contain Andrew fraser and tomorrow Edmonds. Um yeah, I think Havelock wins this one probably by 2-3 scores. Well, they played last year in the playoffs and to block beat them by a touchdown. Um A lot of people are gonna talk about the slow start to block out against North would last week, I think they were down and so what was the second quarter? But then they kind of explode. They're like Bill to attribute that to the drive or whatever it is. But um that was probably the first time all year. They were legitimately challenged in the early part of the game. So I think that, that will actually help them this week. Um, like you mentioned, Andrew fraser Camaro Edmonds. That's, it's a tough, it's a tough deal to stop and also Jalen budget there. Um, uh, based on receivers as well. Um, the lines are big, uh, Western Allies is very good scene, but I just, I felt from the beginning that this is a special team for a block. So, um, I can't pick against them. I'll be taking have lock as well. But I did talk to coach Nuffer after, uh, the Eastern elements, Western elements game last friday, which was, I'm a very good game. Came down to the wire. Um, A player for the Warriors made a huge hit on Eastern elements quarterback Hunter Douglas on second down, which knocked him out of the game and then they put in the back up and just couldn't get anything going on the final two downs. But yeah, Western elements uh, definitely is prepared for have lock in a sense that hey, you know, we went there last year, almost one Western was leading at halftime of that game. Uh, oh, sniper knows what they're getting into with Andrew fraser and tomorrow Edmonds for sure. But I think this game will be closer than a lot of people were expected to be. Um, but still give me half luck over Western elements and this regional panel, Yeah, any time there's a playoff rematch is it's exciting. Um I just think, you know, the development of Andrew fraser is taking, I mean it's the freshman to sophomore leap. I think he's taking Havelock to a bit of a higher level this year. Monroe at charlotte catholic out west to 74 game catholic, of course, has very, very much been here before. Monroe with a dramatic win last week to get to this point. Can Monroe keep it going guys? Well, if they have as much success as they've had in the first two rounds, throwing the ball to their great receivers than yes, but this catholic defense is obviously very strong and typically is um sleep not slash last week at three touchdowns week before Elliot Reid with three touchdowns. Um, maybe someone else will get three touchdowns this week. I don't know. But uh it's talk about not, it does. I don't think you can just throw one guy out on that dude. You have to, if you're charlotte catholic you to pay extra attention, you have to have 22 different players with eyes on him at all times I think, and I think they probably will. A smart program. Um, That's the only real chance I would give Monroe's if not has a kind of a really big game. But I think overall Catholics just gonna be too much. Yeah, I think if if there's a defensive coaching staff that can find a way to limit one dynamic receiver uh, from a game catholic is one of the units that can do it. Zack. What do you like from this game? I'm gonna take charlotte catholic as well and I was definitely surprised by Monroe's two touchdown whenever Kings Mountain. I'm not sure any of us saw that coming, especially by that margin. But um, I think Monroe's extreme playoff run here um, is gonna come to an end against our catholic. All right in the two double A we in the east we have our first one versus two seed matchup that we've seen so far. There's a couple more coming I think at least. Yeah, two more. Uh That's cool. The random seating and that whole process got it right. In this case it is ST paul's at Washington, ST paul's of course has pulled off a winner to that surprised us there on this run now they're here and I don't think anyone can doubt them anymore, Washington of course, a very, very good team and a strong program. Uh Joel, what do you think