North Forsyth pounds way into postseason

COAL MOUNTAIN -- As if making the Class AAAAA playoffs for the first time wasn't statement enough, North Forsyth added an exclamation point as they clinched their first postseason bid in the state's highest classification on Friday night.

The Raiders scored 28 points in the first quarter as they stormed to a 50-7 win over Northview in Coal Mountain.

North Forsyth (7-3, 5-3 Region 7-AAAAA) will take on Lassiter, the champion from Region 6-AAAAA in the first round of the playoffs next Friday.

Knowing they needed a win to ensure a playoff bid, the Raiders -- who entered the night tied with Norcross in the Region 7-AAAAA standings despite owning a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Blue Devils -- ensured their would be no anxiety amongst their fans, as Joey Vicary, Steven Hester, Tyler Slaton and Aaron Busse each scored in the opening period.

Slaton, Hester and Vicary, the trio of backs who have paced North Forsyth all season, each finished with over 100 yards on Friday. Slaton led the way with 152 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries. He also surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the year during the third quarter. Hester also had 134 yards and two scores on eight carries, and quarterback Vicary added 10 rushes for 133 yards. He also had the touchdown pass to Busse in the first quarter.

Northview managed just 133 total yards on the night -- 51 of those coming in their only score of the game, a 51-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

The Raiders tacked on 15 points in the second quarter and led 43-0 at the half.

North Forsyth finished as the fourth seed from 7-AAAAA. This will be the Raiders first playoff appearance since reaching the Class AAAA postseason in 2005.