Brian Baltimore's running and North Forsyth's mistakes were the difference last night as Concord Hickory Ridge beat the Vikings 25-6 in the first round of the NCHSAA Class 3-AA playoffs.
Baltimore gained 16 yards on his 40th carry to score his second touchdown as the Ragin' Bulls (7-5) went ahead 25-6 with 3:05 left.
Baltimore, a 5-7, 195-pound junior, had 199 yards at that point; he finished with 237 yards on 43 carries.
Hickory Ridge netted 231 yards on 53 carries and gained 18 yards on 3 of 7 passing.
North (5-7) rushed for -37 yards on 18 carries as Krishawn Coleman was sacked six times for minus 59 yards, and it gained 175 yards on 14-of-26 passing. The Vikings lost three fumbles and two interceptions, had one punt blocked and another tipped, and they averaged 13.7 yards on three punts.
"One (mistake) is more magnified in the playoffs than it is in the regular season," Coach Pete Gilchrist of North said. "I thought we'd be able to throw the ball and get into the end zone. I'm disappointed."
This was the first playoff game for Hickory Ridge, a third-year school.
"They are more athletic than us," Ragin' Bulls coach Marty Paxton said. "We knew that if we could hold down the big plays we'd be in good shape. We were able to chew up time on the clock; our defense played lights out, and we were able to put good pressure on the quarterback."
In the first half, the Vikings lost three fumbles and an interception, and two of the turnovers led to Hickory Ridge touchdowns.
North also had two long pass plays called back because of penalties.
At the end of the second possession, North's tipped punt carried 9 yards to the Vikings' 32, and the Ragin' Bulls scored in six plays. Baltimore got most of the yardage, and his 8-yard run carried to the 1. Nick Moelle scored on the sneak, making it 6-0 with 5:47 left in the first quarter.
Late in the half, North's Coleman passed long, and Ryan McGill intercepted him at the Bulls' 37-yard line and raced 63 yards for the touchdown. That made it 12-0 with 1:04 left in the half.
Early in the third quarter, Hickory Ridge drove 71 yards, with Baltimore breaking off runs of 28 and 19 yards. His 1-yard touchdown run made it 18-0 with 6:58 left in the quarter.
North then moved 75 yards in seven plays. Two of the big plays were passes of 21 and 13 yards from Coleman to Marvin Young. Coleman then lateraled to Joseph Malachi, who passed to an open Young for a 45-yard touchdown play. The kick failed, making it 18-6 with 2:28 left in the third period.
Hickory Ridge 6 6 6 7 -- 25
North Forsyth 0 0 6 0 -- 6
HR -- Moelle 1 run (kick failed)
HR -- McGill 63 interception return (pass failed)
HR -- Baltimore 1 run (kick failed)
NF -- Young 45 pass from Malachi (kick failed)
HR -- Baltimore 16 run (Ike kick)
R -- North Forsyth 5-7; Hickory Ridge 7-5
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