Jacksonville 52, Harnett Central 12

After allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown on the game’s first play, top-seeded Jacksonville scored 52 straight points en route to a victory over No. 16 Harnett Central in the second round of the NCHSAA 6-A playoffs.

The Cardinals (10-0) host eighth-seeded Scotland (8-3) in the third round.

Jacksonville took a 7-6 lead on Anthony Washington’s 4-yard touchdown run. He then found SaRonn Thompson for 66 yards to make it 14-6. Yondez Baker then returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.

Amari Pearson followed with a 25-yard touchdown before Washington scored on a 33-yard run and then found the end zone from two yards out as time expired to end the second quarter as the Cardinals led 42-6 at halftime.

Michael Blackwell added a 4-yard touchdown while Brody Weston kicked a 30-yard field goal for Jacksonville. 

Northside 41, Person 20

Freshman Zion Jones rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 35 carries as third-seeded Northside pulled away from No. 19 Person in the second round of the 5-A playoffs.

This was the Monarchs’ first playoff win since 2019.

Jones’ 2-yard touchdown helped give the Monarchs an 8-0 lead on the game’s opening possession while his 5-yard score gave Northside a 14-8 lead in the second quarter.

Reginald Gray III completed nine of 21 passes for 76 yards and he ran for 64 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries, scoring on a 1-yard run in the third and added scoring runs of 1 and 3 yards in the fourth. Anoop Monroe added a 5-yard touchdown run in the third.

The Monarchs forced five turnovers as Muhamed Diouf, Cameron Napier and Josiah Williams all had fumble recoveries while Jackson Duke and Kaiden Bell each had interceptions. Emmanuel White recovered an onside kick to open the third to set up a touchdown by the Monarchs.

Northside (9-2) hosts sixth-seeded St. Pauls (10-1) in the third round. Person ended 5-7. 

Croatan 49, Seaforth 13

Andrew Boucher scored seven touchdowns as fourth-seeded Croatan downed No. 20 Seaforth in the second round of the 5-A playoffs.

The win sent the Cougars (10-1) into the third round the first time in program history. Croatan hosts No. 12 Havelock (7-5) in the third round. The Cougars also tied a team record with their 10th win.

Boucher set the tone early with a 60-yard touchdown to give the Cougars a 7-0 lead.

Seaforth tied the game, but Boucher followed with a 10-yard touchdown. He scored his fourth touchdown with 2:58 left in the second quarter as the Cougars led 28-7 at halftime.

East Duplin 48, North Johnston 20

Shawn Davis and Aaron Hall combined for 335 yards rushing and five touchdowns as third-seeded East Duplin topped No. 14 North Johnston in the second round of the 4-A playoffs.

East Duplin (9-2) hosts No. 11 SouthWest Edgecombe (7-5) in the third round. North Johnston ended 6-6.

Davis rushed for 173 yards on nine carries, scoring on runs of 34 and 95 yards. His first score gave the Panthers a 13-6 first-quarter lead while his longer touchdown made it 20-6 in the second.

Hall added 162 yards on nine carries. His 59-yard touchdown run gave East Duplin a 7-6 lead while his 58-yard score made it 34-6 in the third. He added a 9-yard touchdown.

Keeshaun McKinney had a 41-yard touchdown run and a 38-yard scoring catch from Branson Norris. 

Northern Nash 48, White Oak 18

Trailing just 7-6, No. 18 White Oak was outscored 35-6 in the second quarter as the Vikings fell at second-seeded Northern Nash in the second round of the 6-A playoffs.

The Vikings ended 5-7 while Northern Nash (10-1) hosts seventh-seeded Seventy First (9-2) in the third round.

White Oak struck first on the first of two Josh Smith touchdown passes. Smith ran in the Vikings’ third score in the third quarter. 

Northeast Guilford 49, Dixon 22

Dixon was outscored 28-8 in the first quarter as the No. 18 Bulldogs fell at second-seeded Northeast Guilford in the second round of the 5-A playoffs.

The Bulldogs led 8-0 in the first couple of minutes before Northeast Guilford scored 28 straight points.

Dixon ended 6-6. Northeast Guilford (9-2) hosts seventh-seeded Rocky Mount (8-3) in the third round.

Chris Miller can be contacted via email at cmiller@jdnews.com. Follow him on X @jdnsports.