After winning 3rd state title, Wake Forest football team named HSOT Honors Team of the Year
Wake Forest High School's football program has reached a level that no other Wake County football program has reached before.
Three years ago, the Cougars became the first Wake County football team to win a state championship since Garner High School in 1987. They've not looked back since.
Wake Forest has the longest active winning streak in the state at 45 games, which includes three consecutive 4AA state championships.
The past fall, the Cougars put together a perfect 14-0 record, including a 5-0 mark in the Northern Athletic Conference.
After opening the season with a 51-0 win at Millbrook, the Cougars returned to Trentini Stadium for a tough home opener with perennial power Richmond. Despite falling behind early, Wake Forest built a three-touchdown lead in the second half and rolled to a 49-28 win over the Raiders.
In Week 3, Wake Forest faced a test from Middle Creek. The Mustangs led 3-0 after the first quarter and 9-8 at halftime. But the Wake Forest defense didn't allow another score in the second half and the Cougars claimed a 22-9 win to move to 3-0.
Wake Forest also picked up non-conference wins over Leesville Road (31-18) and Franklinton (42-7) before conference play started on Oct. 5.
The Cougars' closest game in conference play came on Oct. 19 at Rolesville where they won 24-7. They began to roll going into the playoffs though with a 42-0 win over Wakefield, a 38-2 win at Heritage, and a 70-7 win on senior night against Corinth Holders.
There were no close games in the first three games of the playoffs for Wake Forest. After a first-round bye, the Cougars dominated Fuquay-Varina 55-7 in the second round, beat Leesville Road for a second time in the third round by a 41-10 score, then blasted Pinecrest 49-7 in the regional championship.
That led Wake Forest to the 4AA state championship once again. The Cougars were on the goal line late in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 7-7, but a field goal attempt to win the game failed and Vance High School took over on its own goal line. That's when the Wake Forest defense stepped up. In fitting fashion, Wake Forest won the 4AA state championship on a safety, beating Vance 9-7 to keep its state championship run alive.
