Here are previews for first-round high school football playoff games featuring teams in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties , with reporter Joe Hughes making a prediction for each. Watch football games on NFHS Network

Top first-round matchups

5A West | Erwin at Hunter Huss

Records: Erwin is 3-7; Hunter Huss is 5-5

Web: NFHS Network ($)

The word: Huss plays host to a first-round playoff game for the first time since 2019, which also happens to be the last time it earned a postseason win. After a 4-1 start, the Huskies have lost four of their last five. Quincy Fortenberry has been a Swiss Army knife, rushing for 486 yards and seven touchdowns, along with 27 catches for 393 yards and six TDs. He also has 52 tackles and six interceptions. Erwin also slid toward the back half of th

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