Golden Lions Regain Their Throne After Dominant Victory

                Last year, the Golden Lions had hopes of winning their fifth consecutive state championship. But their dreams ended last year in the fourth round at the hands of Hibriten, 19-7. They decided that one year was enough. They avenged that loss with a 28-21 victory at Hibriten last week and returned to the title game. The Golden Lions took care of business last night with a convincing 42-21 victory over North Davidson.

                This was the Black Knights’ first ever appearance in the NCHSAA football championship and they wanted to make it count. After stopping Shelby on their first drive, North Davidson quarterback Landon Moore connected with Themus Fulks for a 62-yard pass that put the ball at the Golden Lion 16-yard line. However, Moore was intercepted a few plays later by Jack Hollifield. Hollifield took it 93 yards for a Golden Lion touchdown (PAT good). That seemed to set the tone for the rest of the game.

                Shelby would go up 14-0 on their next drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Isaiah Bess to Diavonni Daley (PAT good). Those two would connect for another touchdown (22 yards). Caden Sheeley’s PAT kick would make it 21-0. The Black Knights would get on the board with a three-yard touchdown run by Colby Garfield (PAT good). The second quarter would turn into a turnover battle as each team had two turnovers apiece. Shelby did get deep into North Davidson territory before the half. But instead of kicking a field-goal, the Golden Lions would go for it but Bess was sacked by Blake Stephens to end the half. The halftime score would remain 21-7 at half-time.

                Late in the third quarter, the Golden Lions would extend their lead. On fourth down on the 18-yard line, Isaiah Bess was under immense pressure but was able to find Fabian Pettis for the 18-yard touchdown pass (PAT good). The Black Knights would answer that with a score of their own early in the fourth quarter. On fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line. The ball was directly snapped to Jackson Perrell. Perrell took it in for the three-yard touchdown run (PAT good). That cut the lead to 28-14.

                But every time the Black Knights cut it closer, the Golden Lions would shut the door. Donye Fuller would make it a three-score game again with a two-yard touchdown run (PAT good). After Shelby was forced to punt on their next drive, there was some controversy. The ball sailed over punter Kobe Farmer’s head and he appeared to recover it and down it but the ball was popped loose and Gage Williams returned it for a touchdown (PAT good). That would be as close as North Davidson would get. Shelby would ice it with a one-yard touchdown run by Jaylon Scott. Caden Sheeley was 6-for-6 on his extra point kicks.

                Isaiah Bess led the Golden Lion offense with 185 yards passing and three touchdowns, but was intercepted twice. Diavonni Daley was his top receiver. He amassed 103 yards along with his two touchdowns. Donye Fuller amassed 86 yards and a touchdown. Landon Moore led the Black Knight offense with 229 passing yards and 41 rushing yards. He was also intercepted three times. His top receiver was Themus Fulks. He amassed 153 yards. On defense, Dorian Davis and Dashaun Christopher each had an interception along with that interception returned for a touchdown by Jack Hollifield. Nick Stites recovered a fumble and Malaki Hamrick recorded a sack. Themus Fulks had two interceptions for the North Davidson defense. Gage Williams had one. Blake Stephens registered three sacks in the game. Maddox Johnson and Devon Welch combined for a sack.

                Shelby wins their fifth state title in six years with the 42-21 victory.

Charlotte Catholic Returns to the State Finals, Crushes Kings Mountain 30-7

                After defeating Hunter Huss 28-7 last week, it was time for the Cougars of Charlotte Catholic to face off with another Big South opponent. The Kings Mountain Mountaineers defeated top-seeded Northwest Cabarrus last week 49-28 and were looking to knock off the defending state champs.

                But on the first drive, mistakes started hurting Kings Mountain. On 3^rd-and-1, a fumble by Ricaylen Mack would set the Cougars up at the Mountaineer 34-yard line. On the first play, Paul Neel would put the Cougars on the board for a 34-yard touchdown run (PAT good). On their third drive, the Mountaineers would make it to the Cougar 25-yard line, but would shoot themselves in the foot again. The drive stopped when Kaylon Wade was intercepted by Daniel Boll in the end zone.

                In the second quarter, the Cougars extended their lead with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Chris Walton to Michael Neel (PAT good). The Cougars looked to extend the lead when Walton connected with Adam Robbe for another touchdown, but it would be called back due to a holding penalty. The score remained 14-0 at the half.

                It would get worse before it got better for the Mountaineers. A 31-yard pass from Walton to Michael Neel set the Cougars up at the two-yard line. Lamagea McDowell would punch it in two plays later for a one-yard touchdown run (PAT good). Kings Mountain would get on the board later in the third quarter with a Kaylon Wade one-yard touchdown run (PAT good). That was set up by a 29-yard pass from Wade to Kobe Paysour on the previous play. But that would be as good as it got for the Mountaineers.

                The Mountaineers would be pinned deep near their own end zone on two drives in the fourth quarter. One of those resulted in a Cougars safety. Catholic would put the final nail in the coffin when Chris Walton connected with Michael Neel for a 42-yard touchdown reception (PAT good). Will Griggs was 4-for-4 on his extra point kicks. The game would end on an interception by the Cougars’ Brian Jacobs and a couple of kneel downs by Chris Walton.

                “They have had such a great run here at Kings Mountain. They have won 12 games three out of four years. They have won a conference championship and made it to the state semi-final twice in the last four years.” Kings Mountain head coach Greg Lloyd said about his group of seniors “We had a great group of kids. It’s just been an unbelievable season. I am so proud of them and their effort and what they’ve been to Kings Mountain.”

                “We got a lot of guys back (next year). We’re losing some good ones too. We should have a good quality football team coming back next year.” Lloyd said.

                “It’s a great feeling. It’s been a long season and to finish up the season with a win at home and a chance to go back to the state championship is exhilarating, tiring but exhilarating.” said Charlotte Catholic head coach Mike Brodowicz “Our defense has been opportunistic all year. Our defense was stellar all year. Against a Kings Mountain team that’s been averaging 43 points a game, we had our work cut out for us. But our kids have risen to the challenge all year. This is one of the best defensive groups that I’ve had at this school.”

                “We are just excited to be back and play in the state championship game. That’s always our goal.” Brodowicz said “We don’t know who our opponent is but anybody coming out of the east, Jacksonville or Havelock, are very good teams that have run through the east pretty solidly. With all the adversity that they have faced with all the floods and the hurricane, they are going to bring a big crowd and be excited to bring their community together during their difficult year. So it’s going to be a heck of a good game and we’re just happy to get a chance to play in it.”

                Chris Walton led the Catholic offense with 166 yards passing and two touchdowns. 151 yards of those went to Michael Neel, who had two of the touchdowns. Kaylon Wade led the Kings Mountain offense with 133 yards (35 rushing and 98 passing) and a rushing touchdown, but was intercepted twice.

Hunter Huss’s Historic Season Ends at 13-1 With 28-7 Loss to Charlotte Catholic

                The undefeated Hunter Huss Huskies had aspirations of winning the state title on their minds. The defending state champions, the Charlotte Catholic Cougars, had repeating the state title on theirs. The Huskies have pitched 6 shutouts this year and have held three opponents to single digits. The Cougars have pitched five shutouts and have held four opponents to single digits. Both were coming off big shutout wins from last week. Prince Bemah returned to action for Hunter Huss after missing the previous two games with a sprained knee. So something had to give.

                The Cougars got the ball first and returned the kickoff to the Huskies 40-yard line. But would shoot themselves in the foot with procedure penalties. A sack by Jaheim Mullen would force the Cougars to punt. The Huskies were forced to punt on their first drive as well. A short punt gave the Cougars great field position around the Huskies 30-yard line.

                Catholic would get on the board with a Lamagea McDowell 10-yard touchdown run (PAT no good). In the second quarter, the Huskies were forced to punt deep near their end zone. Michael Neel blocked a Trevor Hargett punt and returned it ten yards for a touchdown. Paul Neel’s run for the two-point conversion made it 14-0. The Huskies tried to get a late drive going in the first half to avoid a half-time shutout but would get no closer than the Cougars’ 35-yard line.

                The Huskies received the second half kickoff and would make the drive count. Jamal Littlejohn would cap it off with a 14-yard touchdown run (Hargett kick). The Huskies got a big break on the following drive as the Cougars attempted a fake punt, but were stopped at the Hunter Huss 47-yard line well short of the first down. The Huskies were unable to capitalize on and were forced to punt. Brian Jacobs would return the punt 73 yards for the touchdown that extended the Cougars’ lead back to 13. The PAT was no good.

                Nothing would go right for Hunter Huss after that. Lamagea McDowell put the nail in the coffin midway through the fourth quarter with a seven yard touchdown run. McDowell’s run for the two-point conversion was good, giving the Cougars their largest lead of the night at 28-7. That score was set up by a 41-yard first down run by Paul Neel. That would be all she wrote.

                The Cougars defense registered three sacks and three interceptions. Nick King got two sacks and Ari Rodriguez had one. Jacob Schachte, Adam Robbe and Joseph Satori each intercepted a pass from Huss quarterback Zo Wallace. Robbe, King, Rodriguez, Schachte and Kevin Coss all had tackles for loss. Jaheim Mullen recorded two sacks for the Huskies. He, Deaven Lowery, Marcus Mauney and Prince Bemah also had tackles for loss.

                “It’s a tough loss. We have nothing to hang our heads about. I’m proud of these young men. Nobody expected us to even be here throughout the course of the season.” said Hunter Huss head coach Jamar McKoy “We finished the season 13-1 and I am proud. Right now, it just hurts. Right now, it’s just painful.”

“We needed special teams to be special and that didn’t happen for us.” McKoy said “We had a blocked punt for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown. They scored 14 offensive points and we scored 7. If those things don’t happen, we’re still in this ball game and possibly tie it or just win it in the end. We had some miscues and turnovers and that hurt us in the end. That punt return for a touchdown was the turning point in the game.”

                Charlotte Catholic will host another Big South foe, Kings Mountain (11-3). The Mountaineers defeated the top seeded Northwest Cabarrus (13-1) 49-28. Hunter Huss’s season ends at 13-1.