Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland Week3 Best to Last

1. Kings Mountain
2. Crest
3. Hunter Huss
4. South Point
5. Ashbrook
6. Shelby
7. Stuart Cramer
8. West Lincoln
9. Cherryville
10. Mountain Island Charter
11. Forestview
12. East Lincoln
13. Burns
14. Bessemer City
15. North Lincoln
16. North Gaston
17. Lincolnton
18. East Gaston
19. Highland Tech

 

Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland County Week 3 Picks

Clover, SC 35 @ Hunter Huss 28

Forestview 21 @ South Point 35

Ashbrook 21 @ East Lincoln 10

North Gaston 42 @ Lincolnton 28

Stuart Cramer 48 @ East Gaston 13

Shelby 24 @ Burns 14

West Lincoln 27 @ Cherryville 17

Bessemer City 21 @ Chase 17

Kings Mountain 45 @ T.C. Roberson 13

Graham 14 @ Mountain Island Charter 42

South Davidson 21 @ Highland Tech 7

North Lincoln 21 @ Fred T. Foard 24

Blue Eagles Rip Jaguars

Clover opened the season with a 26-21 win over rival, York. Forestview beat East Lincoln last week 20-7. But this game belonged to the Blue Eagles as they would take a 14-0 third quarter score and bust out to a 35-3 victory at Forestview’s Joe Alala Stadium. Blue Eagles runningback David Hall got things started with a 41-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Gabe Carroll connected with Zion Robbins for a 59-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter. Austin Clark’s extra point kick was good. That made the score 14-0 at half-time.

 

Missed Opportunities: The Blue Eagles were in position to go up two scores on their second drive, but Hall fumbled near the one-yard line and Forestview’s Jason Young took it inside Clover territory, but the Jaguars could not capitalize. The Jaguars had an opportunity to put some points on the board, but a 52-yard field goal attempt by Holt Cloninger fell just short. Clover missed another key opportunity to put more points on the board when the Blue Eagles were stopped at Forestview’s three-yard line on fourth down.

 

Fourth Quarter Surge: With Forestview’s offense not getting anything going and with the defense having to carry the weight. The Blue Eagles’ offense went on a tear and the Jaguars defense was unable to hold. David Hall scored another touchdown run, this time from 15 yards. Gabe Carroll also scored another touchdown when he connected with Heze Massey for a 69-yard touchdown pass. After Eagles DB Cole Pilgrim picked off a pass by Forestview back-up quarterback Graham Wiggins, back-up QB Markus Nastase connected with Andrez Dalton for a 26-yard touchdown reception to put the Eagles on top 35-0.

 

Avoiding the shutout: Forestview avoided the shutout with a last second 39-yard field-goal by Holt Cloninger.

 

Yard-sticks: Gabe Carroll led the Blue Eagles offense with 309 yards passing. David Hall amassed 223 total yards (184 rushing and 39 yards receiving).

 

“I’m extremely proud of our team. I thought we played hard. I wish Clover the best of luck, especially in region play.” said Forestview head coach Chris Medlin “We just couldn’t make the play that we needed. We just couldn’t get over the hump.”

 

Forestview travels to South Point next week. Clover will be back on the road against Hunter Huss.

Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland Week 2 Picks

Lincolnton 14 @ South Point 42

Clover 21 @ Forestview 14

East Mecklenburg 14 @ Ashbrook 35

Hunter Huss 42 @ Cox Mill 14

North Gaston 21 @ East Rutherford 35

East Gaston 7 @ Bessemer City 35

Stuart Cramer 35 @ Mountain Island Charter 28

South Caldwell 6 @ Kings Mountain 54

Chase 10 @ Cherryville 20

Shelby 35 @ A.C. Reynolds 20

T.C. Roberson 7 @ Crest 35

Thomas Jefferson 48 @ Chatham Central 13

Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland Week 2 Best to Last

1. Kings Mountain
2. Crest
3. Hunter Huss
4. Shelby
5. South Point
6. Mountain Island Charter
7. Ashbrook
8. West Lincoln
9. Stuart Cramer
10. Forestview
11. East Lincoln
12. Cherryville
13. North Gaston
14. Burns
15. Bessemer City
16. Thomas Jefferson
17. North Lincoln
18. Lincolnton
19. East Gaston
20. Highland Tech

 

Jaguars Force Four Turnovers, Topple Mustangs 20-7

               DENVER: Last year then these two teams played, it was a defensive prize fight with Forestview coming away with the 7-6 victory. This game would look very similar at first as points were hard to come by. But a little history would be made tonight as Forestview kicker Holt Cloninger would set a school record by hitting a 52-yard field goal to get Forestview on top 3-0 in the first quarter. The Jaguars would add to their lead in the second quarter when quarterback Jake Lee connected with Jacob Ash for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Cloninger’s extra point was good.

                The Mustangs tried to get a drive going at the bottom of the second quarter, but the drive would stall as quarterback Chase Jones was intercepted by Kyra Peterkin with less than a minute left. The Mustangs would be plagued with four turnovers on this night (three fumbles and one interception). One of those fumbles was a bad snap that was recovered by Forestview’s Turner Edwards. That led to another Forestview score. Jake Lee would use his feet instead of his arm for the Jaguars score when he took it in from the one-yard line. Cloninger’s kick made it a three-possession game with the point after kick.

                Not willing to go down without a fight, the Mustangs were facing fourth and 14. But instead of punting, Sydney Dollar ran the ball 29 yards. Add a personal foul on Forestview to the mix and the Mustangs were at the Jaguars 25-yard line. Two more penalties on the Jaguars would put the Mustangs even closer. Lucas McConnell would cap the drive off with a four-yard touchdown run. Ryan Shanklin’s extra point kick was good.

                Holt Cloninger would hit another 52-yard field goal to put the Jaguars up 20-7. Cloninger attempted another field-goal with less than five minutes left in the game, but it was wide left. He would finish the night going 2-for-4. That miss would not matter much however. The Mustangs were not able to muster up another drive and the Jaguars took over on downs to run the clock out.

                “I thought (Jake Lee) was gritty, tough and made good decisions. He’s the leader I expect him to be.” Said Forestview head coach Chris Medlin “I thought the defense played lights out. I thought East Lincoln played hard. It wasn’t easy by any means. It’s just a great way to start the season. We moved some people around to where maybe they could help us the most. But I thought the effort was tremendous for the first game.”

“They got us on the fake punt and we got a couple of penalties. Overall, they played really well.” Medlin said about East Lincoln’s scoring drive.

“That’s big every time you have a chance to score once you get to the 40-yard line.” Medlin said about Cloninger’s two 52-yard field goals “He’s legitimately got a chance from 55+. He gives you a good weapon.”

                “Forestview’s pretty dang good. I’ll tell you that much. They’re going to surprise people this year.” Said East Lincoln head coach David Lubowicz “Defensively, I thought we played stellar. You put the ball or in their hands four times, you’re not going to win a lot of those ball games. I can’t say enough about how good the defense played. They played a very good game. I can’t imagine that anybody who played offense for Forestview is going to wake up and not be sore because they were smacking.”

                Forestview will be home against Clover next week. East Lincoln will have a bye week before hosting Ashbrook.

Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland Week 1 Picks

Crest 24 @ South Point 10

Forestview 14 @ East Lincoln 21

East Gaston 21 @ North Gaston 28

Robert Patton 6 @ Hunter Huss 56

Cherryville 28 @ Bessemer City 17

Stuart Cramer 21 @ Lincolnton 28

Alexander Central 28 @ Burns 24

West Lincoln 35 @ Jimmy Draughn 14

Thomas Jefferson 14 @ North Lincoln 24

Christ the King 6 @ Mountain Island Charter 51

Bonus

York 28 @ Clover 21

Shelby Holds Off Freedom Rally To Get Shelby's 800th Win

               The Shelby Golden Lions and the Freedom Patriots kicked off the season by having the game on a Wednesday night due to the American Legion World Series starting this weekend in Shelby. The first quarter would end up being a scoreless stalemate. But the Golden Lions broke the ice when kicker Caden Sheeley kicked a 27-yard field goal to put Shelby on top 3-0. But it would not end there. Soon quarterback Isaiah Bess connected with Jahari Mitchell for a screen pass that he took 67 yards for a touchdown. Sheeley’s kick made it 10-0.

                More disaster hit for Freedom as they were backed inside their own five yard line. Their punt would only reach the 20-yard line. But the Golden Lions would not capitalize as Sheeley’s next field goal attempt was blocked. But it would not matter. On their next drive, Bess would connect with Mitchell for another touchdown, this time from 39 yards out. Sheeley’s PAT kick made it a three score game at 17-0.

                The Patriots found a spark on the ensuing kickoff when Dezmond Caldwell returned the kickoff 97 yards for the Patriots’ first touchdown. Brandon Pieto’s extra point kick cut the lead to 17-7 and that’s what the score would be at halftime.

                Freedom would receive the second half kickoff but would not be able to seize momentum. It got worse before it got better for the Patriots as Shelby tailback George Dunlap punch it in from the one-yard line. Sheeley’s kick was good. It was 24-7, Golden Lions.

                Freedom would find some holes in the Shelby defense and take advantage. Patriot quarterback Jayden Birchfield connected with Dezmond Caldwell for a 34-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead back to ten. Early in the fourth quarter, Birchfield took it in from the one-yard line. Pieto’s extra point kick, cut the lead to three points. But that would be as close as the Patriots would get as Shelby’s Isaiah Bess would do a quarterback keeper for a touchdown of their own from 11 yards out. The extra point kick made the final 31-21. This would be win 800 for the Shelby football program.

                “I’m excited! I thought both teams played hard. I thought it was a great first ball game for both of us. I thought we both did some good things. It was the 800^th for Shelby.” said Shelby head coach Lance Ware “There were some things we’d like to do over again but we’re proud about how our quarterback played. (Bess) made some plays with his arm and with his feet we weren’t expecting. I thought Jaylon Scott did a great job all night on defense leading us. Jack’s (Hollifield) first game at linebacker, I thought he did some good things. We got some things to shore up. Our kicking game, of course, gave up a kick return. Those kind of things happen early in the season.”

                “We started off as bad offensively as we could. I don’t know if we had 30 yards offensively in the first half but our defense held us in the game.” said Freedom head coach Luke Little “A couple key adjustments at half-time, we decided to go over the middle a little more. We had a drive at the end, but could not come up with a couple of plays.”

                In his debut at QB, Bess amassed 323 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and an interception. Jahari Mitchell amassed 175 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Jayden Birchfield led Freedom’s offense with 168 yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown.

                Shelby will travel to take on A.C. Reynolds. Freedom will host county rival, Draughn.

Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland Best to Last

1.       Kings Mountain

2.       Crest

3.       Hunter Huss

4.       Shelby

5.       South Point

6.       East Lincoln

7.       Lincolnton

8.       Mountain Island Charter

9.       Ashbrook

10.   Burns

11.   West Lincoln

12.   Stuart Cramer

13.   Cherryville

14.   Forestview

15.   Bessemer City

16.   North Lincoln

17.   Thomas Jefferson

18.   North Gaston

19.   East Gaston

20.   Highland Tech

 

My pick for tonight’s game!

Freedom 14 @ Shelby 21

Pre-Season Area Conference Rankings

Big South 3A

1.       Kings Mountain

2.       Crest

3.       Hunter Huss

4.       Ashbrook

5.       Burns

6.       Stuart Cramer

7.       Forestview

8.       North Gaston

 

Southwestern 2A

1.       Shelby

2.       South Point

3.       East Rutherford

4.       R-S Central

5.       East Gaston

6.       Chase

 

South Fork 2A

1.       Maiden

2.       Lincolnton

3.       East Lincoln

4.       West Lincoln

5.       Bandys

6.       North Lincoln

7.       Newton-Conover

8.       Lake Norman Charter

 

South Piedmont 1A

1.       Mountain Island Charter

2.       Union Academy

3.       Cherryville

4.       Bessemer City

5.       Thomas Jefferson

6.       Pine Lake Prep

7.       Community School of Davidson

8.       Highland Tech

Area Jamboree Results

Gaston County

Ashbrook 14 - Berry Academy 6

Hunter Huss 29 - Garinger 6

Clover, SC 34 - North Gaston 7

East Lincoln 17 - Stuart Cramer 10

Cleveland County

Kings Mountain 21 - Newton-Conover 0

Crest 34 - Independence 13

Burns 14 - A.C. Reynolds 7

Jay M. Robinson 12 - Shelby 10

Other

Marvin Ridge 37 - Forestview 7