Crest’s classroom under the lights: Chargers play for a title, and a future
The stage is bright, the stakes are real, and the lesson plan is simple. Execute, adapt, finish. Crest High School, back in the state spotlight for the first time since 2015, kicks off the Class 5A North Carolina title game against Wilson J.B. Hunt at 8:00 p.m. ET in Durham. The Chargers enter at 12 to 2, riding a playoff surge that reads like a statement. This is football, and it is also career training in real time.
A return built on defense, discipline, and details
Crest’s path to Durham looked composed and ruthless. The Chargers rolled through Concord 69 to 6, then handled East Lincoln 31 to 14. They beat South Point 28 to 14, then closed Hickory 39 to 21. That is not luck. That is planning, film, and hard choices at practice.
Coach Greg Lloyd is in year two and has set a clear standard. The defense sets the tone. Safeties D’Various Surratt, an NC State commit, and Lyrik Pettis, a Duke signee, close windows and punish mistakes. That gives the offense short fields and the clock. It also teaches every player how to play a role with pride.
Quarterback Ely Hamrick brings balance and control. He has more than 2,600 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. He also has over 700 rushing yards and 17 rushing scores. When a quarterback reads one high safety or a late blitz, that is pattern recognition. In a math class, we call that analysis. On a résumé, we call that decision making under pressure.
Players, write down three in-game decisions you made this month. Note your read, choice, and result. That is interview gold.
Tonight is a game. It is also a career moment.
High school championships are more than banners. They connect students to colleges, apprenticeships, and first jobs. That is true for athletes, managers, band, media crew, trainers, and security teams. I watched Crest’s student video team track routes, cut highlights, and post clips on deadline. That is a live newsroom. It proves you can work fast, follow rules, and tell a clear story.
For players, the habits that win in December match what employers test in June. Show up early. Communicate under stress. Adjust at halftime and after feedback. Every rep is practice for your first shift or your first internship.
Where the jobs are around the game
You do not have to make a college roster to build a career in sports or education. The market around Friday nights is wide and real.
- Sports medicine and athletic training, aiding recovery, prevention, and return to play
- Data and video analysis, breaking down film, tagging plays, building reports
- Facilities and event operations, field care, logistics, security, ticketing
- Coaching and teaching, from youth programs to strength and conditioning
If you love the game, start where you stand. Ask to help with scouting sheets. Tag plays for the staff. Shadow a trainer for a week. The work is close to the action, and it builds a network.
GPA and core classes still decide many doors. Keep transcripts clean, emails professional, and deadlines tight.
Learning tips from Crest’s week
Use film like a textbook
Crest’s secondary is elite because they study splits, stances, and tendencies. Students can copy that approach. Break big tasks into small clips. Review, note a pattern, try again. Five focused minutes beats thirty scattered ones.
Build a simple game plan for finals
Players live by script and schedule. You can do the same.
- Map your week on one page, classes, exams, practice, sleep.
- Pick two top priorities per day. Finish them before you relax.
- Close with a quick review of tomorrow. Pack your bag, charge your gear.
Turn highlights into proof
Hamrick’s stat line is proof of growth. Your proof can be a portfolio. Save your best lab, a short video of a project, or a scouting report you built. Attach it to internship emails. Show your process, not just the end.
What a win would mean for Crest
A title would stamp a decade of waiting with joy and momentum. It would fuel alumni support, upgrade gear, and draw more eyes to the program. It would also validate a model. Defense first. Smart offense. Clear roles. That is a template schools can use across classes and clubs. The point is not just a trophy. The point is a standard, one students can carry into college and work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What time is the championship kickoff and where is it played?
A: Kickoff is 8:00 p.m. ET at Durham County Memorial Stadium.
Q: How did Crest reach the title game?
A: Crest went 12 to 2 and won four playoff games, Concord, East Lincoln, South Point, and Hickory.
Q: Who are the players to watch for Crest?
A: Quarterback Ely Hamrick runs a balanced attack. Safeties D’Various Surratt and Lyrik Pettis anchor the defense.
Q: What can non athletes learn from this run?
A: Time management, teamwork, and clear communication. These skills transfer to jobs and college.
Q: Which careers connect to high school football?
A: Athletic training, analytics, facilities operations, coaching, and media production.
Crest’s bus rolled into Durham with pads, clipboards, cameras, and dreams. The Chargers want a ring. They also want a future. Tonight, under stadium light and winter air, a football team is teaching North Carolina a simple truth. Winning is a skill, and so is learning how to win.
