news-record.com

REIDSVILLE -- Friday night's 2-AA quarterfinal playoff game began with a scare for the Reidsville Rams, but by halftime, the thought of ending "the streak" was a distant memory.

Reidsville (14-0) held off a pesky Pittsboro Northwood squad 48-20 to extend the state's longest winning streak to 30 games and bring the Rams a step closer to their 17th state title.

The top-seeded Rams cruised to a 21-0 lead at intermission behind three touchdowns from junior quarterback Tyrell Houghton. Jarrett Barnett caught a 20-yard touchdown pass on the Rams' first possession and Houghton rumbled for scoring runs of 11 and 35 yards, respectively, on their next two drives.

Northwood (11-3) opened the game with a 17-play drive that chewed 8:56 off the clock, but a fumbled snap at the Reidsville 4 stalled the drive and the Chargers played catch-up the rest of the way.

"Definitely were challenged," Reidsville coach Jimmy Teague said. "That's the most points we've allowed all year but the important thing at this stage is to move on to the next round."

Reidsville, entered third in the state in scoring (45.3 points per game) and also third in points allowed (5.77 ppg), regardless of classification.

The Rams flexed their muscles offensively, totaling 373 yards on the ground, but struggled at times with Northwood's passing attack.

The fourth-seeded Chargers found some success through the air, especially over the middle of the field. Northwood's first sustained drive came toward the end of the first half, but Reidsville defensive lineman Bryon Johnson intercepted Sam Griffin's screen pass to thwart the Chargers' threat.

Reidsville tacked on another touchdown -- a 17-yard run by E.J. Foster -- to open the third quarter, but the Chargers struck back with two scores over the next 67 seconds.

Two Reidsville pass interference penalties kept Northwood's next drive alive, and Ridge Smith scored on a 3-yard run to get the Chargers on the board. Reidsville had four pass interference penalties and were whistled for 142 yards total.

Houghton fumbled the ensuing kickoff deep in his own territory to set up another Northwood touchdown to make it 28-14 with 7:51 left in the third.

But the Chargers had no answer defensively, as Reidsville scored again with three and a half minutes remaining in the quarter on Aaron Easton's 21-yard burst through the middle.

Houghton added his fourth TD early with just over 9 minutes left to make it 41-20.

The Rams have outscored opponents 637-95 this season (156-26 in the playoffs) and will host No. 2 seed Forest Hills (11-3) next week.

R -- Jarrett Barnett 20 catch from Tyrell Houghton (A.J. Williams kick)

R -- Houghton 11 run (Williams kick)

R -- Houghton 35 run (Williams kick)

R -- E.J. Foster 17 run (Williams kick)

N -- Ridge Smith 3 run (pass failed)

N -- Demetrius Johnson 4 run (Smith pass from Griffin)

R -- Aaron Easton 21 run (Williams kick)

N -- Johnson 1 run (pass failed)

R -- Houghton 35 run (run failed)

R -- Foster 20 run (Williams kick)