The one-seeded Reidsville Rams will face their toughest test of the 2025 season when they take on the four-seeded Central Davidson Spartans. The winner advances to the 4A East Finals and moves one step closer to a championship ring, while the loser will be spending December watching the playoffs from afar.
These two teams have followed fairly similar paths. Reidsville received a first round bye, steamrolled 17 Red Springs 44-0, and, most recently, eliminated the nine-seeded Eastern Wayne Warriors, 41-24. Central Davidson earned a bye week as well, before taking down 13 Carver, 49-8, in the second round and defeating 12 North Pitt last week, 40-22.
Central Davidson has only lost one game all season long. One must keep in mind that the reason for them being a 4 seed despite the win percentage is because of their less-than-stellar opponent’s win percentage in the RPI, which was below .500. In fact, their only loss came to the below .500 Eastern Alamance Eagles. But it is not the case that Eastern Alamance is an unimpressive football team because they have a losing record, as they had one of the most daunting strength of schedules in North Carolina. Furthermore, as a 16-seed in the 5A, they only lost to 1 Hunt by two points. Eastern Alamance’s résumé is better than people may think, so a loss by Central Davidson is not egregious. It is undeniable, though, that Reidsville have had an immensely more difficult strength of schedule than the Spartans. Coaches harp on the importance of being battle-tested for later on in the year, and that time has come when those earlier games against difficult opponents will matter.
The only common opponent Reidsville and Central Davidson both faced was Carver. Reidsville dominated their Mid-State Conference rival in late September, winning 44-8, whereas Central Davidson sent Carver home in the Round of 32 with a similar 49-8 victory.
While many teams would be intimidated to head into the Football Capital of NC, Central Davidson is undefeated on the road this year. This is even more impressive when taking into account that their away schedule has been substantially more difficult than their home schedule. However, it is a lot different to walk into any old stadium as opposed to walking into Community Stadium, where the dreams of playoff glory for many football teams have ended. Since 2016, Reidsville has went an otherworldly 71-3 at home.
Both head coaches involved in this matchup took over their respective squads in 2023. It was the first head coaching gig for both men. Jonathan McIntosh brought Central Davidson its first playoff win in eleven years during his first season with the program. While he won eleven games in his first two seasons, he has now matched that total with eleven wins in his third season. His head coaching record stands at 22-13. Reidsville’s Erik Teague achieved massive success in his first season, bringing the Rams their 23rd state title in 2023. He walks into this game with thirty-six wins and four losses, meaning he has walked off the field with a win ninety percent of the time.
In the past four years, Central Davidson played in five playoff games, seizing their lone playoff win in the stretch in 2023. They floated between the 16 seed and the 21 seed. Meanwhile, the Rams played in eighteen playoff games during that stretch, losing in the championship in 2022 and winning the title in 2023. The Rams have been a one seed every year since 2022. And whereas Central Davidson has never won a title, Reidsville is seeking championship number twenty-four.
The winner will face either two-seed West Craven or the final double-digit seed in the 4A, 11 Southwest Edgecombe, who is coming off of two away wins by a combined eight points. The winner of that game, which would take place next Friday, would advance to the 4A State Championship.
For one of these teams, this will be the final football game of 2025, and for one of these teams, this game will be a stepping stone to the 4A East Regional Final. Central Davidson hopes for their first-ever title. Reidsville seeks to continue their championship legacy. On Black Friday, we will find out which of these dreams will stay alive.