Rockingham County Review, NCHSAA Regional Finals | Reidsville defeats West Craven, 23-21, to earn spot in the state championship

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Thanks to Alex Pinaloza’s go-ahead field goal and an interception from Dionte Neal to finish the job, the Reidsville Rams are back in the state championship. A 23-21 victory at Community Stadium in Reidsville allowed the one seed to eliminate two-seeded West Craven.

In the first quarter, West Craven safetied Reidsville to go up, 2-0. Early in quarter number two, the West Craven Eagles would score a touchdown to go up 8-0, but their two-point conversion attempt failed. Prior to the break, Reidsville punched in a touchdown and scored a two-pointer. At the half, it was 8-8, with the top two 4A East teams all knotted up.

Back-to-back touchdowns for Reidsville in the third gave them a two-possession lead, but both their two-point conversion and extra point attempt failed. Up 20-8, they gave up a six-pointer, but West Craven would miss their two-point conversion attempt. Heading into the final quarter, it was a 20-14 Reidsville lead.

Over halfway through the fourth, West Craven would pass for a touchdown that tied up the game at 20 apiece. And for the first time in this state semifinal matchup, they scored an XP kick, giving them a 21-20 lead.

Reidsville drove down field, with the season on the line, and put the fate of their season on kicker Alex Pinaloza. Pinaloza split the uprights with one minute to go to give the Rams a 23-21 advantage! And to drive the final nail in the coffin, Dionte Neal picked off a West Craven pass to send Reidsville to the state final.

The Rams are now hoping for state title number twenty-four seven days from today. More information on the location and opponent will be given when available.

1 thought on “Rockingham County Review, NCHSAA Regional Finals | Reidsville defeats West Craven, 23-21, to earn spot in the state championship”

  1. Steve Williams

    West Craven 2 6 6 7 – 21
    Reidsville 0 8 12 3 – 23

    WC – Safety, ball snapped out of end zone in punt formation, 1:56 first quarter
    WC – D.J. Davis 2 run (pass failed), 9:12 second quarter
    R – Michael Smith 6 run (Damarian Whitted pass from Tyson Broadway), 6:14 second quarter
    R – Smith 20 run (pass failed), 9:15 third quarter
    R – Frankie Galloway 31 pass from Broadway (kick failed), 5:43 third quarter
    WC – Davis 2 run (kick blocked), 1:03 third quarter
    WC – Christopher Person Jr 12 pass from Davis (Philip Snider kick), 5:04 fourth quarter
    R – Alex Penaloza 21 field goal, 1:48 fourth quarter

    Note: It was the first career field goal by Penaloza

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