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Northside’s football team is already in the second round of the state playoffs after receiving a forfeit win. Meanwhile, Southside and Washington will begin the playoffs on the road. That’s according to the NC High School Athletic Association, which released the state playoff brackets on Sunday.

Northside is the No. 5 seed in the Class 1-A playoffs while Southside is No. 24. Washington is No. 29 in Class 2-A. The first round is Friday and continues each week through the state finals, slated for Dec. 20-21 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh and Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill. There are six rounds overall.

In 1A, Northside (7-3) was scheduled to host East Columbus (0-10), the No. 28 seed. On Tuesday, Northside received word that the Gators were forfeiting the game. That means the Panthers are in the second round without playing a game. Their next game will be at home next Friday.

Meanwhile, Southside (1-9) will go to Warren County (8-2), the No. 9 seed. In 2A, Washington (4-6) will go to No. 4 Wallace-Rose Hill (7-3). Both games will be Friday at 7 p.m.

Northside will be home through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Possible opponents are Washington County (2-8) or Gates County (6-4) in the second round and a meeting at Pender County (7-3), the No. 4 seed, in the third round. Pender County ended Northside’s season in 2021, 34-28. The Panthers could also have a home date and rematch with Rosewood (5-5), the No. 13 seed. Northside beat Rosewood, 31-14, on Sept. 20, the fifth week of the football season.

A win by Southside in the first round would put the Seahawks on the road at either Perquimans (7-3) or Northwest Halifax (2-8).

A win by Washington on Friday could put the Pam Pack either on the road at Cummings (8-2), the No. 13 seed, or at SouthWest Edgecombe (5-5), the No. 20 seed. The Pam Pack beat SouthWest 34-22 on Oct. 25.

Click here to see the brackets for all four classifications.