High school football playoff bracket released; Ashley-Laney rematch highlights week one slate

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released preliminary brackets for the high school football playoffs on Sunday afternoon.

The brackets feature over a dozen teams from around southeast North Carolina, spread out over the four classifications (1A, 2A, 3A and 4A).

The six-week playoff schedule kicks off Friday night, with championships scheduled for Dec. 20-21 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh and Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill.

A rematch – and county rivalry game – between Ashley and Laney highlights the local slate. The Buccaneers won the first matchup 28-7 at home in September – one of just two losses the Screaming Eagles suffered this season – but the playoff meeting will take place at Ashley.

Conference champions Hoggard (Mideastern), Whiteville (Waccamaw) and Wallace-Rose Hill (East Central) also earned first-round home games. The Vikings will look to make another deep postseason push after playing for the 4A state title last year.

WECT will have full postseason coverage, beginning with Friday Night Football later this week.

Here’s a list of the week one matchups involving local teams:

4A

(16) Ashley vs (17) Laney

(21) New Hanover at (12) Pinecrest

(3) Hoggard vs (30) Broughton

(29) Topsail at (4) Richmond

3A

(10) North Brunswick vs (23) James B. Hunt

2A

(2) Whiteville vs (31) Pasquotank

(14) South Columbus vs (19) Kinston

(4) Wallace-Rose Hill vs (29) Washington

(12) James Kenan vs (21) Roanoke Rapids

(25) East Duplin at (8) St. Pauls

1A

(4) Pender vs (29) Chatham Central

(15) East Bladen vs (18) Southeast Halifax

(19) West Columbus at (14) KIPP Pride

(27) Union at (6) North Moore

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