HobbsDailyReport.com
GRAHAM – Getting back to .500 by winning, visiting Lincolnton High rolled past Graham 39-19 to open the state 2A football playoffs on Friday night.
No. 12 LINCOLNTON 39
No. 5 GRAHAM 19
Running back Tyshaun Harris ran for nearly 260 yards on 35 carries to lead the 12th-seeded Wolves (6-6) into the second round.
Lincolnton meets No. 4 South Columbus (11-1) on the road next Friday night in the second round.
South Columbus advanced with a 14-0 home victory Friday over No. 13 Wheatmore.
The Wolves built an 18-0 lead over the fifth-seeded Red Devils (3-9) on TDs on a punt return by Harris, a run by quarterback Terrell McClain and Harris’ TD run.
Graham was within 25-13 after a scoring run by Zkiya Pettiford.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Red Devils got a TD run by Travis McDaniel to pull within six points.
A TD run by Tyreke Hollis and another by McClain held off Graham.
Hollis intercepted three passes for Lincolnton, the only team from the South Fork 2A to get past the first round this season.
The Wolves, 31-11 since Ledford Gibson became head coach three years ago, are in the postseason for the 18th consecutive year.
Lincolnton has now won at least six games in each of the last 10 seasons and has only one losing season (5-7 in 2006) since 2000.