Carolina Wildcats defensive back DeAundra Barfield (left) and Cape Fear Heroes lineman Demarcus Whitehurst competed in an American Arena League indoor football match on April 28 at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

FAYETTEVILLE | Sunday’s American Arena League indoor football match had some familiar local faces matched up against each other.

The Cape Fear Heroes defeated the Carolina Wildcats 50-36 in an American Arena League indoor football contest at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, with former high school stalwarts DeAundra Barfield and Demarcus Whitehurst playing significant roles.

Barfield, who plays defensive back for the Wildcats, graduated from Jones Senior in 2007 and helping the Trojans win a combined 18 games in his junior and senior campaigns. Since graduating from Elizabeth City State in 2012, Barfield has played in several semi-pro leagues and had some notable accomplishments, including a Coastal Football Alliance All-Star selection in outdoor football last season. His team, the Triad Outsiders, ended up winning a second consecutive national championship.

“I love the competition and the knowledge of the game,” Barfield said. “I’m definitely thankful for the coaches I had at Jones Senior — they pushed us and wouldn’t allow us to take no for an answer.”

Transitioning back into arena play has given Barfield another perspective.

“It’s 8-on-8 in the arena league and the field is smaller, so the game speed is faster,” Barfield said. “You have to be faster to the ball because the timing of the quarterback is different.”

Carolina trailed 25-0 early, but closed the gap to 44-36 and had a chance to tie the game after Barfield recovered a fumble at the Wildcats 1 with about 6 minutes remaining. The offense couldn’t capitalize and the Heroes scored on the game’s last play to close out the score.

Whitehurst was the anchor on the Heroes’ offensive line and a reason the team is currently 5-1. The center graduated from North Pitt High School in 2012 and played college ball at UNC-Pembroke. Whitehurst is an assistant football and wrestling coach with Greene Central, but said he still has passion for the sport.

“I never stopped playing,” Whitehurst said. “This is my second year doing this after playing with the High County Grizzlies last season. An opportunity came up here and I said ‘I’ll take the drive to make it to practice and the games.’ I’m happy to play with a great group of guys here and continue my career.”