Wake Forest (N.C.) vs. Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.)
James Smith, Mallard Creek
Photo by Troy Cherry
The North Carolina Class 4AA state championship is a repeat engagement of the same matchup from a year ago. Mallard Creek won that one, 59-21, to claim its first state crown. The Mavericks (14-1) earned the right to defend their title this Saturday by
defeating Lake Norman, 48-41, in last week's semifinals. Junior quarterback
James Smith rose to the occasion with 409 combined passing and rushing yards with four touchdowns as Mallard Creek won its 13th consecutive game. On the other side of the bracket, senior running back
Bryce Love ran for 233 yards and two touchdowns to lift Wake Forest to a 27-13 win over Garner Magnet. Love,
rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports, has 2,118 yards and 32 touchdowns on just 178 carries (11.9 average) this year for the Cougars (15-0).
See live scoring updates of this game via QwixcoreJust the fact: Mallard Creek aims to become the 12th team from the Charlotte metro to win the state title in North Carolina's largest classification since 2000. … Prior to last school year, Wake Forest High School was called Wake Forest-Rolesville High School. But in 2013, a new Rolesville High School was opened and Wake Forest changed its name to Wake Forest High.
Mitch Stephens: Mallard Creek 35, Wake Forest 27
Kevin Askeland: Mallard Creek 35, Wake Forest 34
Jamie DeMoney: Mallard Creek 45, Wake Forest 28
Stephen Spiewak: Mallard Creek 38, Wake Forest 32
Leland Gordon: Mallard Creek 36, Wake Forest 31
Colin Ward-Henninger: Mallard Creek 37, Wake Forest 30
