Zach Leaptrott controlled the middle and South Iredell controlled the game.
The Vikings senior scored three goals and assisted three others Wednesday as South Iredell rolled to an 8-1 win over South Stokes in the first round of the 2A state playoffs.
Leaptrott showed deft footwork on a sloppy field, continually broke down the defense and made smart passes near the goal to pace a red-hot South squad.
He scored his third goal for the hat trick in the 50th minute to put South up 7-1 before he was pulled back on offense.
"He's consistently been that good this year," Vikings coach David Basinger said. "That's his fourth hat trick in a row. Zach has just had a great year."
Ociel Vasquez added a hat trick of his own, and Devon Saddler scored two goals for South (15-6-1), which advanced to the second round. The Vikings will play Saturday against Wilkes Central (17-3-1).
Saddler opened the scoring in the seventh minute. It took South Stokes (11-7-2) just a few minutes to respond when Cole Greene slipped behind the South defense to make it 1-1.
The Vikings took control from there, though, scoring four goals in the next 20 minutes to take a 5-1 lead at intermission.
"We've just been coming together," Leaptrott said. "We're making each other better."
Vasquez's play down the stretch is a big reason why South has won 10 consecutive games. It also forces opponents to play honest, with Leaptrott in the middle and Vasquez and Saul Garay on the outside.
"Ociel has been a key component," Basinger said. "He's complemented Saul up front and helped give us a two-headed attack. He's a really unselfish player."
The Vikings will get a tough test in the second round. Wilkes Central is a perennial power and ranked No. 10 in the state.
"We've just got to come out and play as a team," Leaptrott said. "We've got a chance to beat them. A good chance."
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