Hough Outlasts Chambers in Top High School Football Matchup

Terence Hatchett

3 years ago

In a battle of the top-two teams in the state of North Carolina, it was the Hough Huskies that prevailed over Chambers 16-10.

Hough was able to get on the board early after a blocked punt set them up to take an early 3-0 lead. Chambers’ defense was able to hold Hough to another field goal before scoring the game’s first touchdown by Daylen Smothers. The touchdown was set up by a Hough muffed a punt.

Later in the first half Hough was able to pin Chambers back deep into their own territory and started the final possession of the first half on the Chambers 31-yard line. The drive would be capped off by a touchdown run by Zavion Turner-Knox to put Hough up 13-7 at halftime.

Hough was able to extend it’s lead to 16-7 midway through the 3^rd quarter, where it would rely on its defense to close the game. Chambers had several opportunities to get back into the game in the 2^nd half. At one point it looked like Chambers had taken back the lead, but a touchdown was called back on a holding penalty and Chambers would be stopped on 4^th down. In the 4^th quarter it looked like Chambers was on its way to score again, when they almost connected on a deep pass near the end-zone that was broken up at the last second and the drive stalled as Chambers would be forced to punt.

Chambers entered Huskie’s territory a few more times, but couldn’t convert on a 4^th down. This was a hard-fought game, but ultimately Hough was able to convert a few more plays when it needed to and Chambers couldn’t make plays at crucial times.

A lot of talent was displayed on the field in this game. Hough featured 2023 UNC commit Tad Hudson at quarterback, 2022 Wisconsin commit Curtis Neal, cornerback and App State commit Ethan Johnson, and cornerback Isaiah Brown-Murray who is heading to East Carolina.

Chambers featured edge rusher James Pearce who is leaning towards South Carolina, defensive lineman James Swindell who is committed to Wake Forest, and 2023 prospect Daylan Smothers who is being looked at by several schools such as Florida State, Boston College and Charlotte.