The Buckin' Elks and Rams both won second-round post-season football games at home Friday night, with Elkin shutting out Hobbton 28-0 in 1A action and Starmount romping past West Davidson 37-13 in the 2A brackets.
Elkin (11-2) has yet to give up a point in the playoffs and has outscored its last three foes 90-7 combined. The Buckin' Elks jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first half Friday night, getting touchdowns from Aaron Rabin and Trey Hayes.
Hobbton (8-5) mounted a long-distance drive late in the second quarter, getting inside the Elks' 15. But the Wildcats bogged down, and Elkin senior Russell Stewart knocked down a fourth-down pass in the end zone.
Elkin will host Robbinsville (12-1) in third-round action next Friday, Nov. 28. Robbinsville drilled North Duplin 38-0 in its second-round game and also has yet to give up a point in the post-season.
Starmount (10-3) beat West Davidson (9-4) for the second time in 2008, but Friday's victory was much more convincing than the 28-24 decision back in September.
The Rams got superb play from its defense, with a blocked field goal by Jerome Gadberry on the final play before halftime proving a major tide-turner.
Jake Barr scooped up the loose ball and ran it back for a touchdown, putting Starmount ahead 23-7 at the break. West could have closed to within a touchdown had the field goal play been successful.
West Davidson got to within 23-13 after returning a punt for a TD early in the third quarter, but the Rams answered on their next series. Barr connected with Antonio McClelland -- one sophomore starter to another -- for a 51-yard touchdown.
Starmount cruised from there, getting an icing touchdown from Israel Murphy in the fourth quarter. The Rams ended the game inside the Green Dragons' 10-yard line.
Starmount. the No. 4 seed in the 2A West bracket, must travel to top-seeded South Columbus on Friday. South is located in Tabor City, about a four-hour drive from Yadkin County.
Rams' fans and players had thought for awhile they would be enjoying another home game in round three. Lexington, the No. 8 seed, led South Columbus at halftime by a couple of touchdowns. But South Columbus rallied to win, with that announcement coming over the Starmount P.A. system shortly after players left the field following the game.
For more information on the two playoff games, plus more photos and a look ahead to round three of the state playoffs, check out The Tribune's print edition Monday.
In other playoff games involving area teams, Mount Airy beat South Stanly 50-6 and Murphy beat East Surry 20-0. The Wilkes Central-Mountain Heritage game has been moved to Saturday because of snow in the mountains that cancelled school for Heritage on Friday.
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