NCHSAA to Push Back Football Playoffs

CHAPEL HILL — For the second time in three years, the N.C. High School Athletic Association will push back the start of its football playoffs because of a hurricane.

"In light of the devastation caused by Hurricane Florence and the resulting aftermath, the NCHSAA Board of Directors approved changes to the playoff schedule and calendar for fall sports," NCHSAA officials wrote in an email to athletics directors.

Among the changes will be the extension of the football regular season and the postponement of the start of the football playoffs.

The final regular-season games can now be played Nov. 9, with seeding taking place Nov. 10.

Each round of the football playoffs will be pushed back by one week. State championships will be played Dec. 14 and Dec. 15, but the sites have yet to be determined.

No area teams had to postpone football games because of the hurricane, so any Guilford or Rockingham county teams that qualify for the playoffs will have a off week before the postseason.

The end of the boys soccer regular season has been pushed back from Oct. 29 to Oct. 31. First-round games will be played Nov. 3, second-round games Nov. 6, third-round games Nov. 8 and fourth-round games Nov. 10. Regional finals will be played Nov. 13, followed by state championships Nov. 17 as originally scheduled.

Volleyball teams in areas affected by Hurricane Florence are permitted to exceed the weekly limitation and can play a maximum of five matches per week. Daily limitations remain unchanged.

Seeding for the volleyball playoffs has been pushed back from Oct. 18 to Oct. 22. First-round matches are Oct. 23, with additional rounds Oct. 25, Oct. 27, Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 and state championships Nov. 3.

The reporting deadline for girls golf has been pushed back from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 10. Cross country's reporting deadline has been pushed back from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 19.

There are no changes in state championship or regional dates for girls golf or cross country. The NCHSAA did not make any changes to the girls tennis schedule.

Read More of Today's AB Headlines

Subscribe to Our Daily E-Newsletter