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Elizabeth City, N.C. – In a heated rivalry matchup dubbed the Spooktacular by the community, the Pasquotank County Panthers stunned the high school football world with a 21-14 victory over Northeastern, snapping a 19-year losing streak in the series and shaking up the postseason outlook.
Pasquotank closed its regular season at 7-3, their best finish in recent program history. Northeastern also finished 7-3, but Friday night’s loss cost them the Northeastern Coastal Conference championship, handing the title to Martin County, whom Northeastern had defeated just one week earlier.
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A Sloppy Start Turns into a Thriller
The game opened chaotically, with both teams combining for four turnovers in the first quarter. Each defensive front delivered early, while Pasquotank continued its physical ground-and-pound identity and Northeastern leaned heavily on junior quarterback Zak Ishman, who battled through pressure to keep the Eagles afloat.
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First-Half Exchange of Blows
Northeastern struck first when Ishman punched it in on a quarterback sneak, giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead after the PAT. Pasquotank responded later in the quarter, capitalizing on an interception deep in Northeastern territory to tie the game 7-7.
A botched snap by Pasquotank late in the second quarter gave Northeastern excellent field position. Ishman converted the opportunity with a strike to sophomore receiver Tevaughn Bell, putting the Eagles ahead 14-7 at halftime.
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Pasquotank Takes Control
With 9:24 left in the third quarter, Pasquotank quarterback Josiah Bennett handed the ball to Jayon Harris, who burst through a seam and into the end zone to tie the game 14-14.
“We came together in the second half and solved our problems,” Harris shared post-game — continuing his trend of making timely plays for the Panthers.
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The Play That Changed Everything
The defining moment came when Bennett connected with senior wide receiver Tyrell Williams, who slipped multiple tackles and sprinted downfield to score what may go down as the most iconic touchdown in Pasquotank football history. The explosive play electrified the home crowd and sealed the 21-14 victory, ending nearly two decades of heartbreak in dramatic, March-Madness-like fashion.
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Reactions & What’s Next
Pasquotank head coach praised Northeastern’s longstanding success, saying,
> “It’s been a phenomenal thing Northeastern has been doing over there for the last couple of years.”
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Meanwhile, Northeastern head coach Antonio Moore urged his team to reset quickly, emphasizing the importance of practice focus and telling next year's senior class to remember the sting of this loss when Pasquotank travels to Northeastern in 2026.
As Pasquotank celebrated their historic win, Panthers standout Marcus White reflected on the moment and the playoffs ahead:
> “It’s phenomenal — you couldn’t ask for a better situation,” White said in anticipation of a potential home playoff game.
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For Northeastern, frustration boiled during post-game scenes as players exchanged heated words. The Eagles will look to regroup quickly as postseason play begins.
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Final
Pasquotank 21, Northeastern 14
A rivalry rewritten. A streak erased. A statement sent across Eastern North Carolina.