Championship week's upon us
... and Dudley and Western Alamance have a chance to bring the Triad 3-A two state football titles, one with a lights-out defense, the other riding a dynamic offense to Chapel Hill.
Western got just enough out of its offense to beat Dudley in OT back on Oct. 26, 14-7. The Panthers haven't lost since, with Northeast Guilford -- also out of the Triad 3-A -- coming closest in an 18-13 2nd-round loss. Perhaps Charlotte Catholic will be Dudley's toughest test yet, but when they say they're "battle-tested," the Panthers have a very solid case.
The offense continues to make things interesting with drives stalling inside the 30 and, with no kicking game to speak of, no points. Penalties were the culprit at Oxford Webb on Friday, according to Jim Young's report. They did get one 50-yard TD run from QB Ricky Lewis Jr., who has been Dudley's most impressive ball-carrier of late.
On defense, Dudley survived thanks largely to a nice 2nd-half adjustment. Webb had found a size mismatch on 6-3 receiver William Alston's defender and scored on a jump-ball pass. Dudley moved 6-2 corner Kenny Okoro to Alston's side of the field and he blanketed him. A late goal-line stand, and the Panthers are on to the 3-AA final -- 3:30 kickoff Saturday at Kenan against the West regional champ, Charlotte Catholic (13-2), a 24-7 winner over Asheville TC Roberson.
Western Alamance (15-0) looks to win the 3-A state championship vs. North Gaston (12-2) after three straight heartbreaking losses in the final. If you know Hal Capps, you'll be rooting for the Warriors to get it done this time and avoid that Buffalo Bills comparison.
Capps' Warriors got here by hanging 50 points on Rocky Mount, though to give their defense due credit, Levon Curtis scored the final points on an interception return. Western also had to rally from a 22-21 halftime deficit. Showing some moxie in a tight East regional final.
The question for Reidsville, also 15-0 and looking for the school's 16th state title, is: How will the Rams react to a tight, tooth-and-nail game? Haven't even been close in the playoffs, blowing everyone out of the water by halftime (161-7 in the first half). So Dudley's done it with defense, Western with offense and Reidsville with domination on both sides of the ball. Jimmy Teague's spread offense is clicking like nobody's business, and even if the Rams give up some points to Shelby, I like their chances to win No. 16 and give a little payback for their '05 loss to Shelby in the 2-AA final.