Preview of Friday night playoff football

It’s a long and complex story, but the New Hanover Wildcats won’t be playing their eastern 4-A state title game until Saturday afternoon against Harnett Central.

The game will be played at Campbell University at 1:30 due to wet conditions at Harnett Central. It’s the first time in the east finals for New Hanover since the early 90’s of the Trot Nixon era.

“For a long time around here everyone’s fired up about basketball. This year we haven’t heard much about basketball. Football is now the talk, and a lot of folks are fired up. Three weeks ago we all needed to be fired and we didn’t have a clue. We were terrible and everything else, but now we’re the greatest thing since sliced bread,” said New Hanover head coach Kevin Motsinger.

Tevin Mishoe scored twice last Friday versus Southern Durham in Round 3. The Cats need to have another solid performance from him, plus another solid defensive effort as well.

“We’d like to be a part of history here at New Hanover High School. The plan is to put this program back on top,” Mishoe said.

East Bladen is used to being on top. They are undefeated and they are one win away from being in a state title game for the second year in a row. The Eagles host Tarboro in the 2-A Eastern Championship game Friday night. SW Onslow will host Goldsboro on the 1-AA level. Wallace-Rose Hill gets to host North Edgecombe in the Eastern 1-A title game.