Hough hoists the 2025 state championship trophy | Photo by Max Gallagher

By Ryan Moxon — The Hough football team begins its quest for a second consecutive state title tonight as the team hosts Palisades in the second round of the NCHSAA 8A playoffs.

The top-seeded Huskies received a first-round bye, while the Pumas advanced with a 55-17 victory over Ardrey Kell.

Palisades averages 173 rushing yards per game, led by senior Jamari Glover. But the Pumas will face a Hough defense that has stymied opponents who rely heavily on the running game. The Huskies have shut out their last six opponents and haven’t allowed a touchdown since Sept. 11 against Mooresville.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Hough. Tickets are $11 through the GoFan app. The game is also scheduled to stream on the NFHS Network with a subscription.

Girls flag football: Hough nearly avenged its only loss of the season but fell to Palisades 32-27 in the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs.

The Huskies, who lost 31-0 to the Pumas in their season opener, held a 27-20 lead after three quarters but surrendered 12 points in the final frame.

In its inaugural season as a state-sanctioned sport, Hough finished 12-2 overall and won its conference with a perfect 9-0 record.

Cross country: The girls finished 12th in the state championships last Saturday at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville. Freshman Stella Stromburger led the Huskies with a time of 20:07.88. Senior Sophia Hoogsteen and sophomores Ava Long, Reese Sazama and Madie Epperson all finished within one minute of Stromburger.

The boys finished 11th. Junior Grant Collum led the Huskies with a 15th-place finish in 16:13.11. Sophomore Will Shaffer was the next Hough runner to finish, with a time of 16:32.23.