Friday night, North Moore and Pinecrest football teams won conference titles on senior night.
For the first time in school history, the Pinecrest Patriots solely wins the conference championship. Going undefeated in this conference is no easy task playing teams like Richmond, Lee, and Scotland. The Patriots started the season with a goal and completed it.
Pinecrest beats Union Pines on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
Cross county conference rival, the Union Pines Vikings, came looking to spoil the Patriots title but couldn’t. The Vikings were in their second year of the conference and were still looking to find their momentum.
Only one conference win this season for the Vikings, the Patriots would be too much for them. The Vikings defense did hold the Patriots to their lowest scoring game of the season. The Patriots would go on to win 24-7.
The Patriots begin the state playoffs Friday night at home as a seventh seed in the east taking on 26 seeded Laney.
On the other side of the county, the North Moore Mustangs were celebrating their first sole conference title since 1996, defeating Chatham Central 49-6. The Mustangs also completed their first perfect season since 1994.
During the season, they shut out four teams. Outscoring their opponents by 306 points, they clearly earned the right to be a two seed in the state playoffs. Out of the 79 points the defense gave up, over half came from two conference games.
“It’s incredible, and so much credit goes to these kids,” said North Moore Football Coach Carrouth. “They fight every week. They’re not selfish whatsoever. They want our team to be successful and not themselves.”
The Mustangs will begin their 1A state playoff journey Friday night at home against 31st ranked Lejeune. Lejeune will come to Robbins as the underdogs.
“To go 10-0 and win a conference championship is incredible,” said Carrouth. “Our story is not over. I feel like it’s just beginning, and now it’s do or die.”
Feature photo: North Moore beats Chatham Central on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
~Article and photos by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Curtis Self. Contact him at [email protected].
