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Virginia signee Hamrick leads Shelby Crest to its 7th North Carolina high school football title by beating Hunt

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3 months ago

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Virginia signee Hamrick leads Shelby Crest to its 7th North Carolina high school football title by beating Hunt


Wilson J.B. Hunt and Shelby Crest will battle for the Class 5A North Carolina High School Athletic Association title at 8 p.m. at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham. 

Both teams enter with 12-2 records in this contest. 

Crest has won 6 state titles, the most recent came in 2015 in Class 3AA. 

The Crest Chargers have won five in a row since a 21-14 loss to Ashbrook on Oct. 24. During the playoff run, the Chargers have knocked off Concord, 69-6; East Lincoln, 31-14; South Point, 28-14 and Hickory, 39-21.

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East Lincoln and Hickory were both ranked ahead of the Chargers in the state.

The Hunt Warriors carry a 6-game winning streak into the finals. One of the two losses came against fellow finalist Tarboro, which is in the 2A finals. 

The postseason run has included a pair of close wins for the Warriors, 30-28 against Eastern Alamance in the first round and then 32-29 over Croatan in the quarterfinals. Last week, Hunt beat Northside-Jacksonville, 20-7, to punch the ticket to the finals.

According to MaxPreps, dating back to 2004, these teams have not played. 

Crest

QB Ely Hamrick, sr. — 2,686 yards passing and 29 TDs; 706 yards rushing and 17 TDs; signed with Virginia; once played at IMG Academy

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RB Malachi Gamble, jr. — 501 yards rushing and 9 TDs

WR Michael Edwards, sr. — 48 catches for 801 yards and 8 TDs; 24 carries for 248 yards and 10 TDs 

WR Namjay Thompson, jr. — Has 47 catches for 804 yards and 13 TDs

LB Chris Gunter, sr. — Leads team with 81 tackles; has 10 TFL 

S D’Various Surratt, sr. — Team-high 4 interceptions; signed with North Carolina State 

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S Lyrick Pettis, sr. — 3 interceptions; Duke signee 

Hunt

LB Judah Harris, jr. — 184 tackles, 49 TFL, 6 sacks, 56 QB hurries, 2 FF, 2 FR

DT CJ Dickerson, jr. — 174 tackles, 46 TFL, 15 sacks, 40 QB hurries

WR/CB Isaiah Chadwick, sr. — 6 interceptions; 23 catches, 361 yards, 2 TDs

WR/CB Jamauris Howard, sr. — 16 catches for 307 yards, 3 TDs; 8 interceptions 

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LB Trevorous Cooper, fr. — 127 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FR

QB Mez Harris, jr. — 1,435 yards passing and 8 TDs; 122 carries for 1,271 yards and 16 TDs rushing

RB Doryan Jones, so. — 243 carries for 1,754 yards and 21 TDS

Tell us who you think will win the game with High School On SI’s Pick ‘Em Challenge

Watch on NFHS

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1st

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2nd

3rd

4th

Hunt

7

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7

0

0

14

Crest

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7

17

7

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31

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Hunt gets the all first

Nehemiah Rayquan Parker nearly gets a pick for Crest. Bobbled it twice but it fell to the ground

Crest gets the ball

Hamrick to Edwards for a first down and the ball is near midfield

Big play! Cooper with a blocked punt with 8:02 left. The Warriors will have good field position

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Jones with a first-down run. Ball at the 30-yard line; Pettis is hurt on the play

Jones with another big run off tackle. This time, going to the right; Ball at the 5-yard line

Jones with another carry and taken down at the 2 The ball pops out but he is ruled down by contact

TOUCHDOWN! Harris with a 2-yard run at 5:42. PAT is good. Hunt 7, Crest 0

Crest has to punt again. Hunt ball with 4:46 left but ball at the Crest 43-yard line

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TURNVOER! Hunt goes deep and Javion Hopper hauls it in. Ball at the 5-yard line. 4:32 left

Ball at the 1-yard line after a TFL

Hamrick to Thompson for a 49-yard completion 2:58 left

Big play! Jason Black runs down to the 3-yard line but a horse collar tackle will make it closer. Crest ball at the 2

Flags on the play

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Offsides on Crest

1st and goal at the 7

TOUCHDOWN! Edwards with TD no. 11 on the season. Hamrick ran ahead of Edwards toward the goal line. 1:29 left. Crest 7, Hunt 7

4th and 1 at the 35 now for Crest; Hunt jumped off sides to make it a little bit shorter

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TOUCHDOWN! Edwards with 35-yard run and Hamrick is one of the lead blockers. Crest 14, Hunt 7, 9:17 left in 2nd

Hunt punts; Crest taking over with 5:57 left

TV timeout

Black with a 9-yard run on the first play for the Chargers

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Hamrick keeps it and runs for a first down. Ball into Hunt territory; 6-foot-5 TE Romeo Sanders with a big block for the Chargers

Hunt calls a timeout with 3:52 left. Chargers are driving

Edwards in a QB in a Wildcat formation and gets down to the 5 but flags on the play

Holding on Chargers will move the ball back

On a draw, Jason Black runs up the middle and the ball is at the 6.

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TOUCHDOWN! Hamrick on a tush-push play. 2:06 left. Crest 20, Hunt 7

Offsides on Hunt; offense coming out for 2 points now

A lineman jumps offsides and Crest is sending kicking unit out for the second time

PAT is good. Crest 21, Hunt 7

Television replay just saw the flag thrown on Crest prior to the game; don’t see that often

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TOUCHDOWN! Harris tries to pass; finds no one and goes through a entire Crest defense for an 80-yard score. 1:42 left. Crest 21, Hunt 14

Crest calls timeout with 18 seconds left

Hamrick to Surratt — usually a defensive player — for a big gain. Ball at 10

Another timeout with 8 seconds left

incomplete pass; 4 seconds left

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FIELD GOAL Carson Grier with a 27-yard FG. 0:00; Crest 24, Hunt 14

Crest gets the ball first

Hamrick to Brock Melton for a first down. WR got an extra 7 yards after initial tackle

Unsporstmanlike call against Crest; guessing for Melton’s celebration after catch, but no mic on ref that time to know who call was against and I can’t read lips that well

TOUCHDOWN! Hamrick with another TD run from the 24. 9:56 left Crest 31, Hunt 14

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Jones gets the ball near midfield with a long run. He’s up to nearly 100 yards on the night. Ball is at the 48

Harris drops back and finds nothing. He runs for a first down and the ball is at the 32

Bad snap — high — turns into a TFL for Christian Stowe. 4th down coming up for Hunt with 5:37 left and rolling

TURNOVER! 38-yard FG goes wide right; 5:10 left

Crest ball coming out of Media timeout

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Hamrick and Black with back-to-back first down runs. Ball at a midfield for the Chargers

Cooper is hurt for Hunt with 2:03 left. He looks to be favoring a shoulder injury

TURNVOER! Harris with an interception with 7 seconds left in third quarter

Incomplete pass; Hunt still doesn’t have any passing yards; Incomplete pass celebration gets a flag on Crest. 1 second left in the 3rd

Hunt calls a timeout with 11:53 left

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Hunt punts the ball again; Crest ball with 10:45 left

Big play from Hamrick to Edwards and the ball is at the 13-yard line now.

Crest facing a 4th and 31

TOUCHDOWN! Hamrick to Thompson for a TD at 4:16.

Thompson did a backflip after TD and a flag followed, so … connect the dot

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Unsportsmanlike call on Crest; so touchdown is off the board

TURNOVER! Harris fumbles and Gunter recovers with 3:22





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North Carolina

Duarte girl kidnapped in 2020 at 5 years old found safe in North Carolina

Published

6 hours ago

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March 11, 2026

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Duarte girl kidnapped in 2020 at 5 years old found safe in North Carolina


A girl who was kidnapped from Duarte in 2020 when she was just 5 years old has been found safe in North Carolina.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said it found Karen Rojas, who is now 11, on Tuesday. She was enrolled in school under an alias, according to investigators.

Authorities said she was kidnapped on June 2, 2020.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services notified Washington County law enforcement that she may be in the state.

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They coordinated with several agencies, located the girl and took her into protective custody.

“These are very rare occurrences to have such a positive outcome on such an old case as this, but it reminds us that through hard work, and dedication, and cooperation, stories with positive outcomes like these can happen,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post.

Due to the age of the child, further information was not immediately available.

Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.



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North Carolina

These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

Published

19 hours ago

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March 10, 2026

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These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026


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A new list from WorldAtlas named the publication’s top 10 favorite North Carolina towns of 2026, including several locations located in Western North Carolina.

Founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife, Chris Woolwine-Moen, WorldAtlas publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics, and travel.

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Previous Citizen Times articles have covered numerous mentions of Western North Carolina from WorldAtlas, including “idyllic” and “unpretentious” towns, scenic drives, a favorite downtown area, and more. In the new list, published March 9, WorldAtlas writers chose their all-time favorite North Carolina towns ― almost half of which were located in the western region of the state.

Here’s what WorldAtlas had to say about mountain North Carolina towns, plus the full list and more.

What to do in Banner Elk, N.C.

WorldAtlas noted the range of activities offered in Banner Elk throughout the year. The town sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains between the Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain ski resorts. Writers highlighted the following locations and activities in Banner Elk:

  • Wildcat Lake, which has a lifeguarded white-sand beach and is used for swimming, non-motorized boating and fishing for largemouth bass, trout, and bluegill
  • Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum, a museum located at Grandfather Mountain
  • The Mile High Swinging Bridge, the highest suspension footbridge in the United States, which visitors can cross on foot

What to do in Blowing Rock, N.C.

Also included on the WorldAtlas list, Blowing Rock takes its name from a rock formation where the wind appears to blow upward. The list highlighted the following locations and activities in Blowing Rock:

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  • The town’s namesake, “Blowing Rock,” is a rock formation known for views of Johns River Gorge and the surrounding forest
  • Fishing, spelunking and rock climbing opportunities in the area
  • Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, also known locally as “Cone Park,” which has hiking trails and is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Memorial Park on Main Street, where town events and concerts often take place

What to do in Brevard, N.C.

Brevard, also known as the “Land of Waterfalls,” is home to more than 200 waterfalls located across Transylvania County. WorldAtlas highlighted the following locations and activities in Brevard:

  • Museums, trails, rock climbing and the surrounding area’s many waterfalls
  • Guided Jeep and hiking tours to view waterfalls throughout Transylvania County
  • Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, a museum displaying artifacts from U.S. military conflicts
  • Transylvania Heritage Museum, a museum focused on local history and genealogy

What to do in Hot Springs, N.C.

Hot Springs’ name comes from the natural springs that attract visitors from across the state and region. The springs are commonly visited by hikers seeking relief after traveling along the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the town. WorldAtlas highlighted the following activities and events:

  • Kayaking on the French Broad River
  • Trailfest, a celebration of hiking typically held in April
  • French Broad River Festival, a celebration of the French Broad River held each year on the first weekend of May
  • White-water rafting and ziplining opportunities in the area
  • Fishing, skiing, sport shooting, golf, disc golf, biking and horseback riding opportunities throughout the area
  • A range of accommodations including campgrounds, privately owned cabins, apartments, suites and cottages, with options from basic to luxury experiences

WorldAtlas’s best towns in North Carolina

The full list of WorldAtlas’s favorite North Carolina towns of 2026 included:

  • Banner Elk
  • Beaufort
  • Blowing Rock
  • Brevard
  • Davidson
  • Edenton
  • Hot Springs
  • Seagrove
  • Manteo
  • Wrightsville Beach

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.



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North Carolina

‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war

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1 day ago

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March 10, 2026

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‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war


An North Carolina State University professor is back home Monday night after he was trapped in the Middle East as war with Iran broke out.

Rich Spontak was stuck in Qatar while traveling from Bangkok to Spain and was forced to stay in the country for about a week. Several travelers were trapped for days in the Middle East after Iran’s
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several defense leaders were
killed in joint strikes by the United States and Israel.

Spontak, like many travelers, found himself stranded in the Middle East after the initial attacks, which quickly entangled more surrounding countries, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where seven U.S. service members were killed in retaliatory attacks from Iran.  

Spontak said there were times he thought he wouldn’t make it out.

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“I would just keep looking out and looking for the missiles,” Spontak said. “Some people that I met along the way were hit by shrapnel from the missles. It was dire.”

Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria remained closed, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. Azerbaijan also shut the southern sector of its airspace on Thursday after accusing Iran of a drone attack that injured four civilians and damaged an airport building.

Lilia Austin, a Chapel Hill woman who was part of a group of 100 women who went to Israel for a trip the day before Khamenei was killed, also returned home on Sunday after she left Israel through Egypt.

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