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The impact of hormones on your physical, emotional, and psychological development is significant. In fact, hormones play a crucial role in various functions of your body, such as regulating sleep, managing stress, maintaining alertness, and promoting happiness. Having a healthy balance of hormones is important for feeling and looking great - especially for women. Unfortunately, when hormone levels fluctuate, several adverse effects can manifest that affect your health and well-being.
One day, you wake up in the morning and attack the day with a smile on your face and a goal in your mind.
The next day, it feels like your emotions are all over the place. Despite sticking to a healthy diet, your weight keeps going up. To make matters worse, hot flashes seem to pop up out of nowhere, making you irritable both at work and at home. The simple truth is that life is hard for ladies after their 50th birthday. That's especially true when it seems like your body is plotting against you every day of the week.
If you're a middle-aged woman and you notice your body going through changes, you should know this is a natural process of aging. It's called menopause - and according to the National Institutes of Health, over a million women experience this transition per year. During this time, it's common for your hormones to start depleting. When that happens, you'll probably notice symptoms that can be challenging to deal with and overcome.
Take a moment and see if any of these signs sound familiar:
Trying to deal with hormone deficiency can be a big ordeal for women and their partners. Thankfully, going through menopause and getting older doesn't mean you have to settle for an undesirable life. Hormone replacement therapy in Weddington addresses the hormonal imbalances in your body so you can get back to feeling normal. These clinically proven treatments are now available from Better Life Carolinas and can help women just like you reclaim the youthful vigor you're used to having.
Before we explore the many benefits of HRT for women, let's first look at two of the hormones that can fluctuate during menopause - progesterone and estrogen.
As a female, your reproductive health thrives on progesterone and estrogen. Made by your ovaries, these hormones play a major role in a range of functions, such as:
During your childbearing years, estrogen is responsible for preparing the lining of your uterus for a fertilized egg, while progesterone helps prepare and sustain the pregnancy once the egg has implanted. However, as you age, both of these hormones begin to decline, leading to a stage known as perimenopause, which occurs before menopause.
This transition period is characterized by significant changes in your body as it prepares for the next stage of life, where you can no longer bear children. Unfortunately, the years leading up to menopause can be extremely uncomfortable due to these hormonal fluctuations. That's where female HRT starts to make a lot of sense.
During menopause, many women opt for hormone replacement therapy. Menopause marks the end of the reproductive phase, and as you enter perimenopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels decline, and eventually, your body produces a fraction of the hormones it used to. This hormonal imbalance results in uncomfortable symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy restores the depleted levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in your body, helping to alleviate the common symptoms of menopause and reducing the risk of long-term diseases. At Better Life Carolinas, our goal is to provide hormone replacement therapy that ensures healthy and balanced hormone levels for your overall wellness.
Maintaining hormone stability is crucial for women to live a healthy life. This is where Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) comes into play, as it helps in balancing the hormones that would otherwise get altered due to menopause.
At Better Life Carolinas, we recognize that every woman is unique, and, by extension, every patient is different. Therefore, our team of specialists and doctors offer personalized treatment options by combining holistic treatment, nutrition, fitness plans, and more to supplement our HRT treatments for women.
Many women wonder if HRT is the solution to their exhaustion, weight gain, and mood swings. It's hard to say if you're a good candidate for treatment without a comprehensive examination by an HRT expert at our clinic. What we can say is that when a woman's hormones are better balanced, she has a much better chance of enjoying life without the debilitating symptoms that other women experience. At Better Life Carolinas, that's our primary goal - to help you live a healthy life that you love.
Unlike some women's health clinics, money isn't our main motivator. Our HRT options aren't meant to keep you coming back for years and years. They have been developed to help provide your body with the balance it deserves through a patient-focused approach.
The Better Life program by Dr. Barber empowers patients with information about their health and wellness and, most importantly, puts in place a plan for the future. Most of us have a financial plan, but very few have a health plan. Our greatest asset is our health, and setting goals to manage our health plan is vital.
Better Life wants to partner with you to make the right choices for optimal health. For women going through menopause, hormone replacement therapy is often the best choice to reclaim your quality of life. Most of us know we need to lose weight, exercise, eat better, and quit smoking. Unfortunately, very few of us understand how to get out of the rut we tend to fall into. Our experienced team will design custom programs to empower you to make this life change for years to come.
One of the first and most frequently asked questions that our women's health doctors get usually focuses on the benefits of hormone replacement therapy. If you're trying to ease your way into menopause, chances are you're wondering about that too. When combined with healthy life choices like diet and exercise, we're happy to say that the benefits of HRT are both numerous and significant.
By now, this benefit probably sounds like a no-brainer, but it's one of the major advantages of HRT, so it's worth mentioning again. Menopause can often lead to uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms can vary in intensity and can significantly impact your daily routine. Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment option that can help regulate estrogen and progesterone levels, thereby alleviating many of these symptoms.
While the most obvious benefit of HRT for women is relief from menopause symptoms, there's good evidence that suggests this treatment helps improve bone health, too. One study conducted on over 25,000 women aged 50-79 found that HRT reduced the risk of fractures. This benefit is especially important for women who had their uterus and ovaries removed before the age of 45 and experienced "surgical menopause." Such women are at a higher risk of bone loss and osteoporosis.
Your brain's ability to get energy from glucose, your body's primary fuel source, decreases during menopause due to a drop in estrogen levels. As a result, your brain switches to using fats (lipids) for fuel, which unfortunately leads to the harvesting of fat from the brain's white matter. This process produces ketones - chemicals created in the liver - to provide energy. However, starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT) before reaching menopause can reduce the risk of this fuel switch and cut a woman's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in half.
As people age, their libido tends to decline, which is true for both men and women. For women, menopause can also cause vaginal dryness, which can make sexual intercourse less appealing. Hormone replacement therapy in Weddington can help boost your libido by restoring the levels of reproductive hormones in your body. When your reproductive hormones are balanced, you can get a boost in sex drive and alleviate problems like vaginal dryness.
As you approach menopause, you may notice that your weight tends to fluctuate more frequently. While this is a common occurrence as you age, it can make it difficult to shed extra pounds. Hormone replacement therapy isn't a magic solution for weight loss, but it can address the hormonal aspect of weight gain. Hormones can make it harder to maintain or lose weight, and hormone replacement therapy can help with that. By combining hormone replacement therapy with a healthy diet and regular exercise, you may be able to manage your weight more effectively and improve your overall health.
The benefits listed above are only a snapshot of what HRT can help you deal with and overcome. Contact Better Life Carolinas to learn about other advantages of hormone replacement treatment. But our women's health services don't end with HRT. Our doctors also provide several pain-free, non-surgical solutions for female intimacy problems.
We're talking about Femiwave Therapy, O Shot, and the Emsella Kegel Chair.
Are you ready to enjoy a normal sex life without having to rely on strange pills or invasive procedures? Femiwave therapy uses pulse waves to improve blood flow to the vaginal area without ever needing to go under the knife. This procedure enhances sensitivity, lubrication, tightens, strengthens, and improves the physical appearance of your vagina and the surrounding area. It has been shown to boost sexual satisfaction and function with no downtime, drugs, or lasers, and the results are long-lasting. The procedure is based on established shockwave therapy and has been backed by clinical studies for years to increase blood flow and restore healthy tissue.
Ideal candidates are women experiencing low libido, urinary incontinence, menopause symptoms such as painful intercourse and vaginal dryness, or women looking to improve their sex life. This procedure is quick and comfortable with no downtime, meaning you can swing by our office when it's best for your schedule and get treatment without disrupting your day.
Women in South Carolina use Femiwave therapy alongside hormone replacement therapy in Weddington because it is:
While our male patients have enjoyed many benefits from our P-Shot (or Priapus Shot), we know that women deserve to enjoy some fun, too. Better Life Carolinas now provides a powerful treatment called the O-Shot (Orgasm shot) that can deliver incredible results for women. This simple procedure utilizes platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to stimulate new tissue growth, and as a woman's own PRP is used, the O-Shot is completely safe and free of side effects. The health benefits of the O-Shot are numerous, and a revitalized sex life is just one of them.
The O-Shot earned its name by increasing a woman's intensity during orgasm, but it is also a natural approach to treating the following:
The Emsella Chair is a breakthrough innovation for women experiencing urinary incontinence. This common issue affects over 15 million women in the US and can cause embarrassing leakages, loss of sleep, and poor work performance. The Emsella Chair offers a non-invasive solution to this problem without the need for surgery or medication.
The Emsella Chair is an FDA-approved device designed for patients who want to improve their quality of life by addressing the symptoms of urinary incontinence. Sometimes referred to as the "Kegel Throne," this comfortable chair is an excellent option for those who have tried other solutions like medication and surgery but found that they negatively impact their daily lives.
The Emsella Chair uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic technology (HIFEM) to stimulate contractions in your pelvic floor muscles. These contractions can help you regain control of your bladder and improve the strength of your pelvic floor muscles, much like kegel exercises but with greater efficiency. The Emsella Chair is unique in that it targets the entire pelvic floor with thousands of contractions per session, making it a highly effective treatment option for women.
While using the Emsella Chair, you may feel your pelvic floor muscles contracting. This is a normal reaction and indicates that the machine is functioning correctly. You might also experience a mild tingling sensation during the treatment, but it is not painful. After your session, you're free to resume regular daily activities without any downtime required. The best part is that, unlike surgery, there is no need for any medications to manage the pain or grogginess that usually comes after an invasive procedure.
The Emsella Chair is an excellent solution for women of all ages, but it is more commonly used by older women who tend to experience urinary incontinence. There are various symptoms related to urinary incontinence which can be effectively treated with the Emsella Chair.
Some of those symptoms include the following:
As thousands of women across the United States have said, our doctors can help you say "NO!" to urinary incontinence with Emsella Chair treatments.
At Better Life Carolinas, we're proud to be a partner on your path toward better wellness and healthy aging. Our team of women's health specialists and doctors provides constant encouragement, status checks, and recommendations to ensure that you receive personalized and ongoing medical management. We believe that receiving plenty of face-time and individual care from your personal physician is crucial to making a profound difference in your life - both now and in the future.
Whether you're approaching middle age or have already started menopause, our hormone replacement treatments could be an answer to your age management challenges. Contact our office today to learn more about the Better Life Carolinas difference and how our team provides the guidance you need to achieve a healthy life.
A Weddington home exploded for reasons that remain a mystery, putting a man and woman in the hospital, according to investigators.The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports it received “numerous reports of a large explosion” around 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, on Steeple Chase Circle in the Steeple Chase subdivision. The neighborhood is about a 16-mile drive southeast ...
A Weddington home exploded for reasons that remain a mystery, putting a man and woman in the hospital, according to investigators.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports it received “numerous reports of a large explosion” around 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, on Steeple Chase Circle in the Steeple Chase subdivision. The neighborhood is about a 16-mile drive southeast from uptown Charlotte.
“Law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel quickly arrived at the scene, discovering severe damage to a portion of a home,” the Union County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
“First responders provided immediate aid to the injured occupants.”
The couple was identified only as an “elderly man and woman.” The man suffered burns during the explosion and he is in stable condition at Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, Union County officials said in a Facebook post.
“His wife, who was also injured, was treated at a local hospital and has since been released,” the county reported.
He was inside the home when it exploded, officials said. His wife’s location was not revealed.
An investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing, officials said.
Commenters on social media report the explosion was strong enough to be felt at other homes in the area, and some people have reported hearing it miles away in nearby towns like Indian Trail.
“On behalf of all the first responders involved, we would like to express our gratitude to the Union County community for their outpouring of support and concern for this local family,” the sheriff’s office said.
November 15, 2024 11:04 AM
This story was originally published November 18, 2024, 5:16 AM.
Whirlies trailed 10-0 at halftime in 35-23 playoff victory over defending champion WeddingtonGrimsley (14-0) will host Weddington (13-0) on Friday in a Class 4A state semifinal.Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern time from Jamieson...
Whirlies trailed 10-0 at halftime in 35-23 playoff victory over defending champion Weddington
Grimsley (14-0) will host Weddington (13-0) on Friday in a Class 4A state semifinal.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern time from Jamieson Stadium in Greensboro.
Grimsley is coming off a 35-28 victory over Hough. Senior tailback Mitchell Summers ran for 302 yards and two touchdowns for the Whirlies while junior quarterback Faizon Brandon, a five-star Tennessee commit, had three touchdown passes.
Weddington, the defending 4A state champion, took down East Forsyth in the quarterfinals, 37-21. The Warriors have won 19 straight games dating back to last season.
Underway: Grimsley gets the ball first tonight and returns the opening kickoff to the 21.
Field conditions: The Grimsley natural grass field looks a bit rough. It’s tough to have a pristine grass field in mid-December.
Grimsley punt: The Weddington defense surrenders one first down before stiffening. The Warriors will begin their first drive at their own 43.
Weddington on the move: Quarterback Gregory Fee and running back Nick Diamond are looking good early. Weddington has it first-and-10 from the Grimsley 13.
Field goal Warriors: Owen McNulty connects on a 31-yard field goal to put Weddington up 3-0 with 2:21 remaining in the opening quarter.
End of quarter: Weddington 3, Grimsley 0. That quarter flew by.
Grimsley punt: Five-star quarterback Faizon Brandon is stopped on a third-down keeper. Weddington takes over at its own 38.
Missed field goal: After converting his first field goal attempt, Owen McNulty is just wide left on his second try from 32 yards. Whirlies, trailing 3-0, will have it at their own 20 when play resumes.
Fourth-down stop: Bryce Larson makes a big stop on Grimsley running back Mitchell Summers on a fourth-and-four. Weddington takes over at its own 43.
Warriors marching: A Gregory Fee keeper sets Weddington up with a first-and-10 at the Grimsley 18.
Touchdown Warriors: Nick Diamond punches it in from two yards out to put Weddington up 10-0 with 18 seconds remaining in the half.
Halftime: Weddington 10, Grimsley 0. Warriors will get the ball to start the second half.
Play resumes: Weddington begins the second half at its own 31.
Weddington fumble: Grimsley, trailing 10-0, gets a much-needed fumble recovery at the Weddington 41. Jasiah Hussey fell on it for the Whirlies.
Touchdown Whirlies: Kaden Catoe takes a quick screen pass from Faizon Brandon 39 yards to the house. Weddington 10, Grimsley 7, 9:56 remaining in the period. Grimsley could not have asked for a better start to the half.
Warriors on the move: Brody Anson catches a short pass and rumbles all the way to the Grimsley 19.
Touchdown Warriors: What an answer from Weddington as Gregory Fee connects with Javon Barber for a 16-yard touchdown on a post route. Weddington 17, Grimsley 7, 6:56 to go in the quarter.
Strip sack: Four-star junior Aiden Harris strips Faizon Brandon of the ball on a sack. Weddington recovers at the Grimsley 15.
Warriors punt: Bryce Davis gets a big sack to push Weddington back, and the Warriors are forced to punt. Grimsley, trailing 17-7, takes over at its own 20. The poor field conditions contributed more to the play than Davis, but a sack is a sack.
Touchdown Whirlies: Kaden Catoe hauls in a perfect deep ball from Faizon Brandon for a 55-yard touchdown. Weddington 17, Grimsley 14, 1:02 left in the quarter.
End of quarter: Weddington 17, Grimsley 14.
Weddington punt: Kosci Barnes with a huge third-down tackle for loss on what appeared to be a broken play. Grimsley takes over at its own 43 following a Weddington punt.
Touchdown Whirlies: Faizon Brandon to Kaden Catoe AGAIN. This time for 46 yards on a busted coverage. Grimsley 21, Weddington 17. What a comeback for the Whirlies.
Weddington punt: Warriors can’t get anything going and punt it back to Grimsley with 7:49 remaining. First-and-10 Whirlies from their own 26.
Touchdown Whirlies: Mitchell Summers takes it in from 45 yards out to put Grimsley up 28-17 with 6:53 to go. That is 21 straight points for the Whirlies.
Touchdown Warriors: Weddington isn’t out of this one. Gregory Fee connects with Jonathan Manley for a 45-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion run fails on a great tackle by Jasiah Hussey, but Grimsely’s lead is trimmed to 28-23 with 5:59 remaining.
Timeout Warriors: Weddington calls its first timeout with 2:52 remaining. Grimsley has picked up one first down on this drive on a fabulous pitch and catch from Brandon to Patrick Carter.
Touchdown Whirlies: Mitchell Summers explodes up the middle for a 26-yard touchdown that will likely put this one away. Grimsley 35, Weddington 23, 1:56 remaining.
Warriors driving: Weddington, needing a miracle, is in Grimsley territory.
Interception: Jasiah Hussey ends the comeback attempt with an interception.
Final: Grimsely 35, Weddington 23. Grimsely eliminates the defending Class 4A state champions with a huge second-half rally.
Kickoff: We are approaching 30 minutes until kickoff between Grimsley (14-0) and Weddington (13-0). Should be a great one tonight in Greensboro.
Weather: It was a cloudy day in Greensboro. Temperature is expected to be in the mid-40s at kickoff with a slight chance of precipitation under the lights.
Grimsley offensive leaders: Junior quarterback Faizon Brandon (141 of 186 passing, 2,374 yards, 30 touchdowns, one interception, 582 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, five-star Tennessee commit); Senior running back Mitchell Summers (240 carries, 2,073 yards, 45 total touchdowns); Junior wide receiver Kadon Catoe (54 receptions, 703 yards, eight touchdowns); Junior tight end D.J. Howerton (14 catches, 261 yards, seven touchdowns)
Weddington offensive leaders: Senior quarterback Gregory Fee; Junior running back Brody Anson; Senior running back Nick Diamond; Junior wide receiver Kelson Tate; Junior wide receiver Jonathan Manley; Senior tight end Joseph Madden
Grimsley defensive leaders: Senior defensive lineman Bryce Davis (78 total tackles, 17 sacks, 30 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, four-star Duke signee); Junior linebacker Drew Searls (73 total tackles); Senior safety Jasiah Hussey (35 total tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups); Junior cornerback Kosci Barnes (36 total tackles, three interceptions, three pass breakups)
Weddington defensive leaders: Junior defensive lineman Aiden Harris (four-star prospect); Junior defensive lineman Andrew Harris (four-star prospect); Senior linebacker Braeden Barger
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Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports
Published Dec 13, 2024|Modified Dec 13, 2024
Grimsley football coach Darryl Brown remembers the frustration from last year’s fourth round playoff loss to Weddington that ended an undefeated season.But for Brown and the Whirlies (14-0), Friday’s 4A West regional rematch with the Warriors (13-0), at 7:30 p.m. in Greensboro, isn’t about revenge or payback but about making sure history doesn’t repeat itself in the pursuit of a state championship.“Revenge or anything doesn’t win you a game,” Brown said. “It’s more about how...
Grimsley football coach Darryl Brown remembers the frustration from last year’s fourth round playoff loss to Weddington that ended an undefeated season.
But for Brown and the Whirlies (14-0), Friday’s 4A West regional rematch with the Warriors (13-0), at 7:30 p.m. in Greensboro, isn’t about revenge or payback but about making sure history doesn’t repeat itself in the pursuit of a state championship.
“Revenge or anything doesn’t win you a game,” Brown said. “It’s more about how we got beat down there last year. We did not play well in the second half. We did not play well defensively, it caused us to get out of synch offensively, and some frustration built and that was a credit to them. So really, it’s not Weddington — we are more worried about ourselves.
“We want to make sure we play the way we want to play, play physical and play well. If we don’t play well, we are not going to win, but if we play well, if we tackle, if we block, if we play hard, if we play together, then we’ll give ourselves an opportunity on Friday night.”
Last season, No. 4 seed Grimsley led No. 1 Weddington 20-14 at halftime, before falling 44-27 on the road to the eventual state champions.
In 2024, both teams finished the regular season undefeated, with Grimsley narrowly receiving the No. 1 seed over No. 2 Weddington based on RPI rating. The Whirlies’ rating was boosted by a resume that included wins over Mount Tabor, Northern Guilford, Northwest Guilford and Rolesville, all of which had a combined six regular season losses.
Meanwhile, the Warriors got a marquee win to open the season against Providence Day, defeated West Forsyth 48-13, and cruised through the 4A Southern Carolina Conference by a four-game score of 176-34.
In the playoffs, Grimsley handled its first three opponents, before needing a 4th-and-7 touchdown pass from Tennessee recruit Faizon Brandon to 6-foot-5 tight end DJ Howerton with just under a minute left to knock off No. 5 seed Hough 35-28 in a game where the Whirlies’ defense allowed a season-high in points but got a game-deciding stop on the final drive.
“Just a high-level high school football game with two really good teams,” Brown said. “Our kids played really hard and I thought there were a couple momentum shifts throughout the game. We got up in the first half, built a two-touchdown lead (Grimsley was up 21-6 at halftime) and felt pretty good about where we were at, played a really good first half, then they responded. … I was really proud of our guys about how they handle that. Again, stay composed, showed a lot of poise and never panicked in the moment.”
Weddington’s playoff run has included a third-round 55-0 win over No. 10 seed Northern Guilford, which played without starting quarterback Jaxson Kemp, and a 37-21 fourth-round win over No. 3 seed East Forsyth in which they held the previously undefeated Eagles, averaging 50 points per game, to 14 points below their previous season low.
Brown said Weddington’s scheme looks similar to what it has looked like over the last couple years.
The Warriors’ balanced offense has averaged 187.5 rushing yards and 186 passing yards per game, with a multi-back ground attack utilizing a combination of duo, zone and counter concepts, mixed with eye candy and trick plays, behind a stout offensive line led by 6-foot-4, 300-pound Yale-committed left tackle Jimmy Randazzo. Senior quarterback Gregory Fee has completed 160 of 252 passes (63.5%) for 2,156 yards 25 touchdowns and six interceptions, while occasionally being a run threat.
The defense aligns in a base-four-man front and has only allowed an average of 8.7 points per game, with the 21 points to East last week being the most given up in a contest. The group’s defensive line features twins Aiden Harris (6-foot-4, 260) and Drew Harris (6-foot-3, 235), both 4-star juniors with a team-leading 77 tackles each, and 6-foot-4, 285-pound Ohio State recruit Trajen Odom, supported by linebackers Braeden Barger and Notre Dame recruit Thomas Davis Jr.
“They tackle well on the defensive side of the ball, they are aggressive, they get after you, they force you into some negative plays, which is what they want to do, and now they get you behind the chains and now you are off-rhythm and forced to do things you don’t want to do,” Brown said.
The Grimsley coach said he will continue to trust his offensive line to make holes for senior Mitchell Summers, a 5-foot-8, 175-pounder, who has rushed for 2,073 yards and 43 touchdowns this season and for 6,331 yards and 110 touchdowns over his career.
Last week, the two-time first team all-area selection matched his career high with 30 carries for a career-high 302 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s the epitome of Grimsley football,” Brown said. “He is what we preach and teach about, just being a team guy, playing hard and laying it on the line not only every Friday but every day. He has earned everything that he has gotten. … No matter what you ask him to do, he is going to do it to the best of his ability.”
The Whirlies’ ground attack (433 attempts for 3,548 yards and 61 touchdowns) has represented 68.4% of its plays this season, even though their passing attack has been effective when utilized.
Brandon, 247Sports’ No. 1 2026 recruit in the nation, has completed 141 of his 186 pass attempts for 2,374 yards, 30 touchdowns and just one interception.
On the season, Brandon is averaging 13.3 pass attempts per game, with a season-high 22 in Week 1 against Mount Tabor, but 75.8% of his throws have been completed while also averaging 12.8 yards per attempt. The 2024 Gatorade NC Player of the Year also rarely gets sacked and has averaged 9.4 rushing yards per carry.
“Faizon is not worried about anything other than winning football games,” Brown said. “He is going to do whatever it takes for us to win. People think, ‘Well, he threw the ball 10 times Friday night.’ Well, we are doing what we have to do to win the game. … It’s about the flow of the game and whatever it is dictating, and it’s not about individual accolades or stats.
“…But if you talk to Faizon right now, he is not going to talk about the Gatorade Player of the Year, he is going to talk about an opportunity to play Friday night and try to get to a state championship.”
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The defending 4A state champions are headed back to the state semifinals after picking up a win in a game between two unbeaten teams.(2) Weddington won its 19th straight game with a 37-21 win over (3) East Forsyth in the fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state playoffs on Friday night.The first half belonged to Weddington, but East Forsyth had some missed opportunities. The Eagles' Dominique Tshiboyi intercepted a Weddington pass on the opening drive, but the drive stalled and Weddington took over....
The defending 4A state champions are headed back to the state semifinals after picking up a win in a game between two unbeaten teams.
(2) Weddington won its 19th straight game with a 37-21 win over (3) East Forsyth in the fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state playoffs on Friday night.
The first half belonged to Weddington, but East Forsyth had some missed opportunities. The Eagles' Dominique Tshiboyi intercepted a Weddington pass on the opening drive, but the drive stalled and Weddington took over.
On the ensuing drive, Gregoy Fee connected with Javon Barber to get the Warriors down to the 8-yard line. The next two plays were runs by Nick Diamond, the last a four-yard run for a touchdown. Weddington led 7-0 with 3:47 left in the first quarter.
East Forsyth had another missed opportunity on its next drive. Backed up on their own goal line, the Eagles faced a fourth down from their own 6-yard line. Despite that, East Forsyth faked a punt and barely picked up the first down after an official measurement. Two plays later, Bryce Baker completed a deep ball to J.P. Gilchrist inside the Weddington 45-yard line, but the drive stalled again and the Eagles punted.
Weddington led 7-0 after the first quarter, but they quickly added to that lead in the second. On 4th & 13 from the 31-yard line, Fee found Joseph Madden for a touchdown, extending the Warriors' lead to 14-0.
East Forsyth finally found points on its next Drive. Baker connected with Jaylin Murry for a 27-yard gain down to the 3-yard line, then Corey Blair scored on the next play to get the Eagles within 14-7.
Weddington added a 21-yard field goal from Owen McNulty as time expired in the first half. McNulty missed a 31-yard field goal earlier in the quarter, but the Warriors led 17-7 at halftime.
East Forsyth tried to get within one score as it received the opening kick of the second half, but the Eagles were forced to punt and Weddington immediately took advantage. Diamond scored his second touchdown of the night with a 58-yard run to put Weddington in front by 17 points, leading 24-7.
East Forsyth went three-and-out on its next possession, and immediately, Fee connected with Barber for a 32-yard touchdown. The Eagles blocked the extra-point attempt, but Weddington's lead was 30-7 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
The Eagles finally got more points on their next drive. Baker completed a 14-yard pass to Murry on fourth down to cut Weddington's lead to 30-14, making it a two-score game with 4:11 left in the third quarter.
Any hope of a comeback took a hit on the first play of the fourth quarter when Fee completed his third touchdown pass of the night — a 25-yard connection with Brody Anson. That score gave Weddington a 37-14 lead.
East Forsyth got one last touchdown late in the fourth quarter when Baker threw a six-yard pass to Jaire Richburg in the end zone. That brought the Eagles within 37-21 with just over four minutes left.
Weddington was able to kneel out the clock on its next possession, returning to the 4A western regional championship game.
Weddington will face the winner of (1) Grimsley and (5) Hough in the semifinals for the right to play for a 4A state championship.
Weddington continues to remain as the top ranked team in North Carolina with Grimsley coming in right behind them in our latest set of rankings as the NCHSAA playoffs had into the state championshipsNorth Carolina high school football is in full playoff swing and so are our power rankings.The No. 1 team in the Tar Heel State remains undefeated Weddington followed by the Grimsley, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee and then Cleveland. Same four have kept a stranglehold towards the top of our weekly rankings as the playoffs move into the final ...
Weddington continues to remain as the top ranked team in North Carolina with Grimsley coming in right behind them in our latest set of rankings as the NCHSAA playoffs had into the state championships
North Carolina high school football is in full playoff swing and so are our power rankings.
The No. 1 team in the Tar Heel State remains undefeated Weddington followed by the Grimsley, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee and then Cleveland. Same four have kept a stranglehold towards the top of our weekly rankings as the playoffs move into the final stages.
Here’s the complete breakdown of North Carolina's elite high school football teams, heading into the fourth round of the 2024 postseason, as we see it.
Hoggard's #0 Kamar Fulton makes a tackle as Hoggard took on Weddington High School in the 4A Football Championship at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh Saturday Dec. 9, 2023. Weddington beat Hoggard 56 -21 to win the State Championship. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Warriors had another dominant performance last week to improve to 12-0 on the season when they rolled to a 55-0 win over Northern Guilford.
It's no leap to state that Mount Tabor at Grimsley will be one of the top match-up early in the North Carolina high school football season. / Anthony Wooten
There’s not many running backs in the Tar Heel State playing better than Mitchell Summers right now. The tailback has rushed for over 1,700 yards and has scored 41 touchdowns this season.
AC Reynolds sophomore running back Max Guest runs the ball against Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Friday night at AC Reynolds High School in Asheville, NC. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee defeated AC Reynolds 37-28. A Reynolds football Rabun Gap Max Guest / Josh Bell / USA TODAY NETWORK
There's honestly an argument to be had that this Rabun Gap-Nacoochee club could be the best team right now in North Carolina. The Eagles only two losses have come to Hun (New Jersey) and top-ranked Baylor out of Tennessee.
Not many signal callers can boast the kind of stat line Jackson Byrd has through twelve games. The senior has completed 222-of-368 passes for 3,502 yards and 38 touchdowns this season. Byrd has led the Rams on a deep playoff run that could lead to a state championship.
Oct 21, 2011; Wake Forest, NC, USA; Wake Forest-Rolesville Cougars running back Casty St. Louis (28) carries the ball against the Millbrook Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Mark Dolejs-Imagn Images / Mark Dolejs-Imagn Images
The Rams looked impressive in last week’s 44-6 thrashing of Richmond in the third round of the playoffs.
Ralph Trey Blakeney has been a big reason why the Huskies are playing well, with the senior quarterback throwing for over 2,500 yards and 39 touchdowns to just a mere four interceptions.
Another quarterback that’s been playing really well in North Carolina is Bryce Baker, who has thrown for over 3,200 yards and 38 touchdowns this season. A showdown with top-ranked Weddington takes place this Friday night.
The Mavericks this season had totaled three shutout victories. Only losses have come to Grayson (Georgia) and Hough, twice. Mallard Creek season ended with a 34-0 loss to Hough last week.
Hoggard's #45 Jaret Austin returns a fumble as Hoggard took on Cardinal Gibbons in the 4A State Playoff Semi Final game Friday Dec. 1, 2023 at Hoggard's Scott Braswell Stadium in Wilmington, N.C. Hoggard won 41-20 to become the 2023 NCHSAA 4A East Champions. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK
Quarterback Gannon Jones has been a steady cog in the Crusaders' success this season, throwing for over 2,800 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Providence Day's only three losses this season have come up against top ranked Weddington and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee. Not bad losses if you ask us, but now Providence Day is officially out of the postseason.
The Panthers' defense has really been getting after opposing quarterbacks, racking up around 94 sacks through twelve games. Don't forget about the over 268 tackles that have for a loss. This front seven has been elite all season long.
Not many teams have run the ball as effectively as the Falcons this season. Seventy-First has totaled well over 4,300 yards and 50-plus touchdowns on the ground so far.
Not many opposing teams are able to put it altogther against Hickory's stingy defense, which has only allowed 171 points and recorded four shutouts. The Red Tornadoes had to lean on their offense last week in a wild 63-48 win over Crest last week.
Hoggard's offense lines up as Hoggard took on Mill Brook Friday Nov. 29, 2024 at Scott Braswell Stadium in Wilmington, N.C. Hoggard beat Mill Brook in Round 3 of the 2024 NCHSAA 4A East playoffs 28-21. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Vikings started off the season with a 35-32 loss to Cleveland and all they've done since then is continue to win twelve straight games. A heavily anticipated tilt with Cardinal Gibbons looms this upcoming Friday night.
Jaylen Hewitt is one of the leaders in the state in the passing, with over 4,100 yards and 40 touchdowns. Pretty solid numbers for the signal caller this fall.
The Bulldogs through 13 games had out-scored opponents 572-108. Not too shabby when it comes to the defensive side of things. Robinson's season ended last week in a 20-7 loss to Dudley.
Richmond just entered the rankings last week, but now see its season end after a 44-6 loss to Rolesville.
Hard to drop a team too far after their only losses have come to Providence Day and a talented Crest squad. Still hanging in strong in the Top 25 this week, even after a 42-14 loss to Grimsley to end their season.
The Patriots season ended with a 47-3 loss to Hough last week in the playoffs.
The Pioneers' dream season ended last week in a 23-0 loss to Mallard Creek.
West Forsyth dropped their fourth game of the season against No. 7 East Forsyth, 56-19. The Titans' season is effectively over.
The Nighthawks narrowly edged out Marvin Ridge, 28-24, in the opening round of the playoffs. North Guilford's season came to a close after a 55-0 rout by top-ranked Weddington last week.
Millbrook was another team that broke into the rankings recently, but faltered last week in a 28-21 loss to Hoggard.
For Clayton, the season came to an end last week after a 24-13 loss to Richmond.
The Knights only four losses on the season have come against Independence, Providence Day (twice) and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, all teams ranked ahead of Charlotte Christian.
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-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivenc
Published Dec 3, 2024
Andy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007, writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times, The Tampa Tribune, The Suncoast News, Tampa Beacon, Hernando Sun to name a few. Andy resides out of the Tarpon Springs, FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area. He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports, appearing frequently on podcasts, radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings, recruiting and much more.
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