GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The road to a state championship begins Friday night as five Wayne County high school football teams prepare for the opening round of the 2026 North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Football State Playoffs.
Rosewood, Eastern Wayne, Southern Wayne, C.B. Aycock, and Princeton have all earned postseason berths and will take the field on Friday, November 6, looking to advance to the second round.
Two Wayne County teams will enjoy home-field advantage in the opening round, while three others will hit the road.
Princeton will welcome Pender to town for its first-round matchup, while Rosewood will host Pamlico County.
Meanwhile, C.B. Aycock will travel to Rocky Mount, Southern Wayne will head to Eastern Alamance, and Eastern Wayne will make the trip to Washington.
NCHSAA First-Round Playoff Matchups — Friday, November 6
- C.B. Aycock at Rocky Mount
- Southern Wayne at Eastern Alamance
- Eastern Wayne at Washington
- Pender at Princeton
- Pamlico County at Rosewood
With the regular season now in the books, each team enters the postseason knowing that every game could be its last. A victory will send the winner into the second round, while a loss will bring the season to an end.
For Wayne County football fans, Friday night promises another exciting chapter of high school football as five local programs compete for an opportunity to continue their seasons and move one step closer to a state championship.
Comments