One-loss Southern Vance stands between Rams and state title shot

By STEVE CANNULI
Sports Editor
Three down and one to go for the Reidsville Rams, who are one win away from their 21st appearance in a state championship game. In the Rams' rearview mirror are three teams - St. Pauls, Cedar Ridge and Orange, who have learned the hard way that speed kills.
In addition to Reidsville's 165-30 advantage in the playoffs, the Rams have not allowed a single point (126-0) during the first halves of those three games.
Welcome into Community Stadium, Southern Vance (13-1) - winners over Northwood, 33-15 Friday night in a 2-AA Eastern quarterfinals contest.
The Raiders, the No. 2 seed in the east, were impressive on both sides of the ball, limiting Northwood running back and North Carolina State-bound Tobias Palmer to 25 yards on 14 carries.
Northwood's 15 points were a season-low. The Chargers had not been held to under 30 points all season.
Southern Vance's defense limited Northwood to 171 yards of total offense.
Raider head coach Mark Perry spoke highly of his team's next opponent - the Rams.
"We'll be on the road next week in Reidsville," said Perry to the Henderson Dispatch. "...Somebody will go home and somebody will go on to the state championship game. That's a powerhouse up there. They're a tremendous football team."
The lone Raiders loss came in week five, a 28-13 loss to Southwest Edgecombe. On the season, Southern Vance has outscored its opponents, 469-216 (33.5-15.4). In their playoff run, the Raiders have been equally impressive. In addition to the win over Northwood, the Raiders beat Richland (47-14) and West Stanly (44-14).
Friday's win over the Chargers was led offensively by Southern Vance's rushing attack that produced 200 yards on 42 attempts (4.7 per attempt). Jeremy Davis gained 71 yards on 16 carries and scored once, but O'Darren Gill accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) and 117 yards of total offense.
Gill (5-10, 165, Sr.) scored on runs of 58 and 10 yards and also hauled in a 24-yards touchdown pass from quarterback Jamere Pugh.
Pugh (5-10, 160, Sr.) was 8 of 16 passing for 140 yards and two TDs. His other touchdown pass - a 17-yarder to Rashod Campbell (6-0, 175, Sr.) - closed out the third quarter scoring.
The Raiders outscored the Chargers, 14-0 in the third quarter.
Southern Vance also intercepted Northwood QB Joaquin Green two times. Patrick Crews (5-11, 160, Jr.) hauled in two interceptions and Daric Hawkins (6-1, 160, Sr.) added the other. Palmer attempted one pass, but it was intercepted.
According to the Henderson Dispatch, it was the relentless pressure of junior defensive end Shelton Gill (6-1, 190, Jr.) that created the most problems for the Chargers' passing attack. Gill also blocked a 34-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the first half.
The FG would have cut Southern's lead to 12-10. Instead, the Raiders took a 12-7 lead into the intermission.
Green was just 9 of 19 passing for 99 yards.
The Raiders, champions of the Northern Carolina 2-A Conference, enter Friday's semifinal game riding a nine-game winning streak.
Reidsville, which has outscored its opponents 693-146, is averaging 49.5 points per game.
Rams running back Tayon Graves eclipsed the 5,000-yard rushing mark Friday night - finishing with 168 yards. Graves currently has 5,092 for his career to go along with 85 touchdowns.
Friday's winner will meet the winner of No. 2 Mount Pleasant (14-0) and No. 1 Shelby (13-1) in next Saturday's 2-AA NCHSAA State Championship game at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mount Pleasant edged North Lincoln 18-13 on Friday and Shelby defeated Pisgah, 40-14.
It was Shelby who defeated the Rams in the 2005 NCHSAA State Championship.
Reidsville and Southern Vance have met once before, a 50-7 Reidsville victory in the 2004 state playoffs. Pugh, this year's Viking QB, was a freshman starter in that game.

Southern Vance at a Glance
Opponent Score
Dur. Hillside W, 26-16
S. Granville W, 35-32, OT
Webb W, 37-27
N. Vance W, 21-9
SW Edgecomb L, 28-13
N. Nash W, 34-9
Bunn W, 26-14
Roanoke Rapids W, 43-15
NW Halifax W, 35-0
Warren Co. W, 34-9
Franklinton W, 41-14
2-AA State Playoffs
W. Stanly W, 44-14
Richlands W, 47-14
Northwood W, 33-15