Cleveland quarterback Darius Ocean goes to the air.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Cleveland took a 26-7 lead at Southeast Guilford in the 3-AA East regional football championship on Friday night but the Falcons rallied for a 37-33 win.
“It’s about the journey,” said Rams coach Scott Riley, whose team was seeded fourth in the East and finished 12-3.
Wyatt Covey got Cleveland on the board first with a 30-yard field goal. Connor Stanley followed with a 25-yard interception return for a score and a 10-0 lead.
Darius Ocean found Jon Barnes on a 6-yard scoring pass in the second quarter as the Rams went ahead, 16-7. Covey connected from 27 yards for a 19-7 Cleveland advantage. A 33-yard scoring pass from Ocean to Barnes built the lead to 26-7.
The Falcons (14-1) reeled off 23 unanswered points to go up, 30-26. Cleveland’s last lead came on a 1-yard scoring run by Jalen Chadwick in the fourth quarter.
The Falcons answered with the go-ahead touchdown on a 71-yard scoring pass from Ryan Douglas to Tyler Hoff.
Southeast will meet Weddington for the state title at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Here are all the NCHSAA football championship matchups:
N.C. State, Carter-Finley Stadium
Saturday
2-A
11 a.m. Northeastern vs. Reidsville
2-AA
2:30 p.m. North Davidson vs. Shelby
1-AA
6 p.m. Tarboro vs. East Surry
UNC-Chapel Hill, Kenan Stadium
Friday
3-AA
7:30 p.m. Southeast Guilford vs. Weddington
Saturday
3-A
11 a.m. Jacksonville vs. Charlotte Catholic
Duke, Wallace Wade Stadium
Friday
4-AA
7:30 p.m. Wake Forest vs. Vance
Saturday
1-A
3 p.m. Pamlico County vs. Murphy
4-A
7 p.m. Scotland County vs. East Forsyth
Cleveland takes the field for the East 3-AA regional final.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Wes Covey kicks a field goal for Cleveland.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Connor Stanley returns an interception for a touchdown.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Jalen Chadwick escapes on a 62-yard run for the Rams.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Kouren Artis makes a catch for Cleveland.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Falcons QB Ryan Douglas breaks free on a scoring run.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Jacquez Durham of the Rams on a stop.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Cleveland quarterback Darius Ocean in scrambling mode.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
Cleveland coach Scott Riley talks to the Rams after a narrow loss.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/Paul Burgett)
