If you were to ask most football fans and high school sports pundits which team was going to represent the 4A East in the state championship game, it’s a pretty easy assumption that Scotland would not have been the name that most people would have chosen. The Fighting Scots, led by Coach Richard Bailey, seemed to limp into the playoffs with a 5-5 record, losing to rival Richmond in the next to last week of the regular season before defeating Jack Britt in a re-rescheduled season finale. After knocking off Jordan in the first round, the Scots went back to the Triangle and shocked many when they took down #2 seed Cardinal Gibbons. The Scots clinched their ticket to the state championship game with a shutout win over a conference rival Seventy-First, avenging a 21-6 loss earlier in the season.
Gaining the 10-seed after their placement in the Southeastern 4A conference, the Fighting Scots were forced to go on the road for their entire playoff run if they wanted to reach Duke's Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday night. After starting their playoff run in Durham with a win, the Scots return to Durham this Saturday night to take on the East Forsyth Eagles in the 4A state championship game.
Scotland loves to run the ball and has had a steady supply of running backs over the last few seasons. This season, Shyheim McQueen led the Fighting Scots on the ground with 1,254 yards, but Joseph McKoy has been just as crucial, stepping in for an injured McQueen during the regional final, and his 140 yards put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
East Forsyth did not face challenging of a schedule in the playoffs until the regional final, but were definitely tested during Central Piedmont Conference play, having to match up with county rivals West Forsyth and Reagan. Special teams pushed East Forsyth to the regional title over Porter Ridge and special teams are just as crucial this Saturday to secure coach Todd Willert‘s first state football title and East Forsyth's second title in school history.
Amani Marshall has gained more than 1,000 yards on the ground the season and scored twenty touchdowns on the year. Coach Willard credits his team's offensive line play for the success they have seen the season.
The Eagles are looking to complete a perfect season for only the second time in school history, but a determined Scotland team will definitely be the toughest team the Eagles will see this year.
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