The Cleveland High School varsity football team (Clayton, NC) will play a home playoff game against Heritage High School (Wake Forest, NC) today at 7:30 PM. This game is part of the 2024 NCHSAA Football Championships – 4A tournament.

Heritage vs Cleveland Football Game Info:

What: North Carolina High School Football Playoffs
Who: Heritage vs Cleveland
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m.
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Game preview: Heritage vs Cleveland

Tonight, the Heritage High School football team will face off against the undefeated Cleveland High School in a highly anticipated playoff game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM at Cleveland’s home field in Clayton, NC. After a tough season, Heritage (2-8 overall, 2-3 conference) will look to bounce back against a Cleveland team that has dominated its competition this year, going undefeated at 10-0 overall and 7-0 in conference play.

A Look Back: August 30th Matchup

The two teams met earlier in the season, on August 30, where Cleveland emerged victorious in a non-conference game with a commanding 34-6 win over Heritage. In that contest, Cleveland’s offense was relentless, scoring in every quarter with touchdowns from Jackson Byrd, Kaleb Ferrell, and others. Heritage struggled to generate offense and was only able to put up six points. Now, as the two teams meet again in the postseason, Heritage will need to find a way to overcome the odds and exact some revenge.

Team Performance and Key Stats

Heritage:

• Heritage has struggled with consistency this season, averaging just 8.8 points per game.
• Their rushing game has been relatively weak, with an average of 78.2 yards per game, far behind Cleveland’s powerful 150.2 yards per game.
• Quarterback Dylan Schmitt has been one of the bright spots, passing for an average of 106.5 yards per game.
• The Heritage defense has allowed an average of 31.5 points per game, which has contributed to their 2-8 record.

Cleveland:

• Cleveland has been an offensive powerhouse, averaging 40 points per game, and is led by quarterback Jackson Byrd, who has been stellar with 291.3 passing yards per game.
• Their rushing attack, led by Kaleb Ferrell (69.5 yards per game), complements the explosive passing game and gives them a balanced offensive attack.
• Cleveland’s defense has been solid, holding opponents to an average of just 20.1 points per game, with standout performances from players like Sawyer Lowe (14.4 tackles per game) and Markus Medley (1.0 sacks per game).
• The team has been dominant in all aspects, both at home and on the road, with a perfect 5-0 record in each setting.

Key Players to Watch

Heritage:

• Dylan Schmitt (QB): The team’s leader in passing yards, Schmitt will need to be efficient and productive to keep the offense moving.
• LaDainian Person (RB): The senior running back has been the top rusher for Heritage, averaging 66.0 yards per game.

Cleveland:

• Jackson Byrd (QB): Byrd has been a dynamic force for Cleveland, with over 280 passing yards per game and 400 total yards in the regular season finale.
• Deangelo Ruffin Jr. (WR): Ruffin has been Byrd’s primary target in the passing game, with an average of 74.7 receiving yards per game.
• Sawyer Lowe (LB): Lowe leads Cleveland’s defense with 14.4 tackles per game, and he’ll look to shut down Heritage’s offense.

Game Preview

Tonight’s playoff game will present a stark contrast in styles. Cleveland comes in as the heavy favorite, with a high-powered offense and stingy defense that has been nearly flawless this season. Meanwhile, Heritage will need to pull off a major upset to continue their playoff run. The key for Heritage will be to establish some form of offensive rhythm, something they struggled with during the regular season. Defensively, they’ll need to contain Byrd and Ruffin, which has proven difficult for every team Cleveland has faced so far.

Cleveland will look to keep their perfect season intact, while Heritage has nothing to lose and will likely come out swinging in what could be their final game of the season. If Heritage can somehow find a way to control the clock, limit mistakes, and capitalize on any mistakes by Cleveland, they may just be able to pull off the upset.

Conclusion

With Cleveland’s dominance throughout the season, they are expected to win this matchup. However, in high school football, anything can happen. The pressure will be on Heritage to play their best football of the season and challenge Cleveland’s flawless record. Fans can expect an exciting game, with Cleveland’s explosive offense looking to outpace Heritage, while Heritage will rely on their resilience to try and stay competitive. The game starts at 7:30 PM, and it’s sure to be an exciting playoff showdown.