MAKING RADIO WAVES: I have lived on both coasts of the United States and covered sports in New York and California, but I don’t remember a more enjoyable night of high school football than Friday when Orange barely edged Chapel Hill and Southern Durham escaped Northwood for a two-point win.

The games, which aired on WCHL and chapelboro.com couldn’t have been any different, either, with Orange and Chapel Hill engaged in a defensive battle finally settled by Garrett Cloer’s to Ky Muller’s 55 yard touchdown pass play in the closing seconds. Northwood, meanwhile, made a valiant effort to come back from a big fourth quarter deficit to nearly pull off a win at Southern Durham.
What does it all mean? Orange’s defense was as awesome as it has been throughout the season. HOWEVER, its offense was exposed a bit by a tough and relentless Chapel Hill ‘D’ that was nearly its equal. Northwood, meanwhile, HAS to prove it can get defensive stops when it needs to. That said, the pair is a worthy No. 1 and No. 2 in the WCHL/Chapelboro.com ‘Super Six’ Poll.
POLL NEARLY SMASHED: When you endeavor to do a high school football poll it should have as much integrity as possible, like those conducted by Mark Tennis of Cal-Hi Sports. That would have been a chore, however, had No. 1 Orange fell to a below .500 team in Chapel Hill AND No. 2 Northwood had lost more decisively at Southern Durham.
With the way No. 3 Carrboro has struggled this season we actually may have had to consider moving Chapel Hill up four places to No. 1! The Tigers, at 4-4 with the win could have made a case to be in the top spot in our poll. Even with the loss, Chapel Hill (3-5 overall) still may move up in the WCHL/Chapelboro.com ‘Super Six’, but you’ll have to listen to ‘The Grid With Matt & Matt’ 6 pm Friday on WCHL FM 97.9 to find out.
HAPPY IN HILLSBOROUGH: Persistence and perseverance pays off. That’s true for Cedar Ridge, which has suffered some miserable losses this season, including drubbings by Orange and Northwood, though the Red Wolves never gave up.
Cedar Ridge had plenty to celebrate Friday in topping a pretty decent Webb squad 24-17 for its first win of the season. Sophomore quarterback Peyton Pappas continued his improved play with a pair of touchdown passes and Cedar Ridge’s defense came up with a pair of picks in the second half to preserve the win.