NC high school football championships in the spotlight this week
NC State’s Dereon Seabron (1) is fouled by Nebraska’s CJ Wilcher (0) in NC State’s 104-100 four-overtime win over Nebraska at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.
ehyman@newsobserver.com
The spotlight in the region is turning to the prep stars over the coming week with the NC High School State Championship games taking place on Friday and Saturday.
For fans of Triangle varsity sports, this will be a great time to complete the holiday shopping. Not much is happening in terms of home games due to campus exam week.
The Carolina Hurricanes haven’t even played in the country for three games this week. The Canes do not return home until a Dec. 16 game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Future stars of the grill
UNC’s Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill and NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh will host all four of the State Football Championship games for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association‘s four classifications.
It kicks off with the 3A title match on Friday at 7 p.m. at Kenan Stadium. Then Saturday at noon, Game 1A will be at UNC. Match 2A will take place at Carter-Finley Stadium at 3 p.m. Saturday followed by match 4A at 7 p.m.
Bound bowl
NC State and UNC football fans can start planning their respective bowling trips. The Wolfpack won a Level I bowl in the ACC tie-ins thanks to their second place finish in the Atlantic Division.
College hoops for men
The NC State men’s basketball was likely in need of a week off after playing an extra 20 minutes in their 104-100 four-overtime win over Nebraska last Wednesday. The Pack withdraws from ACC play after Saturday’s game against Louisville and returns to campus. Thursday’s game against Bethune-Cookman will be played at the Reynolds Coliseum on campus, not the PNC Arena.
NC State’s biggest challenge of the season to date comes Sunday in Brooklyn. The pack takes on Purdue, possibly the newest No.1-ranked team, at the Barclays Center for the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational.
Carolina will try to maintain her momentum. He will be 4-0 at home when he faces Elon at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Duke has a week off.
Cannes in Canada
The Canes are heading for a three-game Canadian roadside momentum. Carolina will play in Winnipeg on Tuesday, Calgary on Thursday, and end their journey north with back-to-back games in Edmonton on Saturday and Vancouver on Sunday.