The Chapel Hill High School football team’s marvelous playoff run came to a screeching halt, as the Tigers were walloped by Northern Guilford 34-15 on Friday night in a state 3AA semifinal contest.

The No. 12 seeded Tigers (11-4), who earned the “Express” moniker after impressive road wins at West Brunswick, Terry Sanford and most notably Southern Durham, seemingly ran out of steam against the Greensboro area foe.

CJ Freeman was the Nighthawks star, piling up three rushing scores before getting knocked out of the game with a possible head injury midway through the third quarter. He was upset at first about not being able to re-enter the game, but was later celebrating the lopsided victory with his teammates.

No. 7 Northern Guilford (14-1) advances to face Weddington. which toppled Cuthbertson in the other semifinal, next Saturday for the state 3AA title at NC State’s Carter-Finley Stadium. The powerhouse Nighthawks will be playing for their fourth state title in less than a decade.

The Tigers hopes at playing under the big lights in Raleigh collapsed under the weight of five turnovers, including four interceptions by quarterback Connor Stough. The signal-caller threw for over 200 yards, but Chapel Hill had to take to the air too often and abandon its rushing attack when the Tigers fell behind early.

Freeman had touchdown runs of 2 and 6 yards for a 13-0 Nighthawks lead. Chapel Hill cut into the lead briefly on a Jeff McNeal short touchdown plunge midway through the second quarter to make it 13-7.

That was as close as the Tigers would come, however, as Freeman’s third touchdown dash before intermission put the Nighthawks up 20-7.

Northern Guilford quarterback Cam Harris sealed Chapel Hill’s fate in the second half with a touchdown run and scoring strike.

Stough hit Austin Turner on a late touchdown pass for his 25th scoring strike, but the junior quarterback and the “Express” had made their final stop of the season.

 

 

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill High Football Fights Until the End vs. Orange Despite QB Injuries
During the 20-13 loss to Orange High, Chapel Hill High resorted to their running back taking snaps after a second QB injury in two weeks.
Chapel Hill Flattens Rival Carrboro, 55-6
In a matchup of cross-town rivals (and big cats), it was the Chapel Hill High Tigers who ruled as kings of the jungle Friday night in a 55-6 rout of the rival Carrboro High Jaguars. Chapel Hill wasted no time in lighting up the scoreboard, with quarterback Caleb Kelley connecting with receiver Ameer Burman for […]
Chapel Hill Survives Late Surge, Defeats Orange 27-21
Chapel Hill High School and Orange High School are only separated by 10 miles. On a hot, muggy night in Hillsborough, their separation on the football field was even slimmer. Chapel Hill used a run of 20 unanswered points between the second and third quarters to take a 12-point lead, and withstood a furious fourth […]
'Express Delivery': Upset-Minded Tigers Take On Nighthawks
Chapel Hill looks to knock off Northern Guilford in H.S. football playoffs
Chapel Hill Shocks Southern Durham In Third Round; Orange Stomped By Northern Guilford
The Chapel Hill High School football team did the unthinkable Friday night, stunning the undefeated defending state champion Southern Durham 39-28 in a Class 3AA third-round playoff game.
Chapel Hill Ends Regular Season with Win vs. ECHHS, But May Fall Short of Playoffs
After a 48-8 win vs. East Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill High football finished with a 4-6 record in head coach Ryan Horton's first season.
2024 High School Football Round-Up: Week 11
Every week during the season, Chapelboro will post the scores of local high school football games. Here are the scores from Week 11! Chapel Hill (4-6): Beat East Chapel Hill, 48-8 Cedar Ridge (0-10): Bye East Chapel Hill (4-6): Lost to Chapel Hill, 48-8 Carrboro (3-7): Lost to Southern Durham, 30-3 Orange (2-8): Lost to […]
No Answer For The Run Game As Chapel Hill High Loses, 42-13
Written by JEREMIAH ARTACHO Chapel Hill High School (3-6, 2-1) was riding high on a two-game football win streak after defeating Riverside High School and Northern High School. On the flip side, Hillside High School (5-4, 4-0) is listed as the second best team in the 4A DC 6 conference and they proved it on […]
2024 High School Football Round-Up: Week 10
Every week during the season, Chapelboro will post the scores of local high school football games. Here are the scores from Week 10! Chapel Hill (3-6): Lost to Hillside, 42-13 Next: vs. East Chapel Hill Cedar Ridge (0-10): Lost to Williams, 65-0 Next: Bye East Chapel Hill (3-6): Lost to Riverside, 12-10 Next: at Chapel Hill […]
Chapel Hill High School Serves Its Own Shutout, 49-0, to Northern High School
Northern High School held its homecoming ceremonies on Friday night prior to the football game, but Chapel Hill High School ruined the party.
›