Butler shuts out WF-R, takes 4-AA crown

By The Associated Press

Raleigh, N.C. — Jahwan Edwards rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns to help Matthews Butler beat Wake Forest-Rolesville 44-0 on Saturday for the Class 4-AA North Carolina High School Athletic Association championship.

Austin Stewart had two interceptions, including one he returned 93 yards for a touchdown, for the Bulldogs (16-0). Butler won its second consecutive state title and extended its winning streak to 31 games.

"It's really satisfying," Butler coach Mike Newsome said. "This is a great group of young men, and it's been a wild ride for us this whole season. This just tops it off and makes it so much sweeter."

Marcus Jones rushed for 57 yards for the Cougars (14-2), who had six turnovers in their first state championship game. Wake Forest-Rolesville threw three interceptions and lost three fumbles in cold, rainy conditions. The Cougars finished with 150 total yards, never venturing inside Butler's 20-yard line.

"It was definitely frustrating because you don't want to turn the ball over, especially when you get to this point in the year in the championship game," Wake Forest-Rolesville coach Reggie Lucas said. "Against a team like Butler, you don't want to give them any extra opportunities. That's what we did with our turnovers."

Edwards, the game's MVP, had touchdown runs of 1, 2 and 29 yards after Butler carried a 23-0 lead into halftime.

Riley Ferguson completed 11 of 18 passes for 129 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for the Bulldogs. He threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ferguson — his brother — on Butler's first possession.

Channing Stribbling caught a 16-yard touchdown pass to put the Bulldogs ahead 13-0, and Stewart delivered his game-breaking interception return early in the second quarter.

Butler's defense remained solid throughout, allowing the Cougars to convert just 1 of 11 third downs.

"A shutout on defense in the state championship game, that's huge," Newsome said. "I told them at halftime that if we could continue that, it would be one of the biggest things we could do."