Cherryville capitalized when it had the chance, and LNC did not in a 38-14 Cherryville win.
LNC (4-5 overall, 1-5 Southern Piedmont) converted on just one of its four trips into the Ironmen red zone, while Cherryville, which proved it could sustain a scoring drive, also hit the Knights with some big plays at key times.
After LNC forced a Cherryville (5-5, 4-2) turnover on downs in the first quarter, Frank Morrow intercepted Michael Dorsainvil on the next play and ran 25 yards for the game's first score. And when LNC's first second-half drive ended with a fumble, Cherryville quickly went the other way for a 60-yard Darerius Taylor scoring run to double the momentum it had just gathered. Cherryville also put its field goal kicker to use. As the first half clock wound down and it appeared LNC might enter the break down just two scores, Cherryville methodically set up Joel Varela for a 44-yard field goal, which he hit to extend the lead to 17-0.
Meanwhile, LNC went backwards on two of its red zone appearances. After penetrating to the Cherryville 2 on its fourth possession, LNC turned the ball over on downs after Dorsainvil was sacked for a 10-yard loss. Then the Knights appeared to be climbing back into the game when Dorsainvil hit Malcolm Miller for what appeared to be a touchdown on the first possession of the second half. But Miller was ruled down at the 1, and two plays later, a snap that sailed over Dorsainvil's head was recovered by Cherryville's Clay Fuller.
Not scoring on that drive, said LNC coach Bob McKay, was significant to the game's outcome.
"That kinda deflated us," he said.
Running the double wing offense, the Ironmen threw the ball just once, but ran 54 times for 357 yards. That's 6.6 yards per carry.
LNC, totaling 16 yards on 21 carries, instead chose to attack through the air. Dorsainvil finished 18-of-32 passing for 211 yards with two interceptions (one in the end zone) and a 6-yard touchdown pass to Alex Scearce on a fourth-quarter fake field goal play.
Scearce made a lot of plays against the Ironmen. He tip-toed the sideline on a 40-yard catch in the first half, caught eight passes for 123 yards and had a 94-yard kickoff return for score in the third quarter.
"Lincolnton's loaded, East Lincoln has some of those athletes," said Cherryville coach Keith Fox. "He's right there with that type of athlete."
LNC closes the regular season at Highland Tech Friday with their preseason goals of at least a .500 record and a state playoff bid still alive.
— Justin Parker
Titans drop close one
Having trailed for the majority of the game at Vance last Friday, Hopewell got a spark from Dominique Heath, who returned a kickoff 85 yards for a score to tie the game at 25-all with 1:49 left. Heath's return gave the Titans some hope and forced overtime in a key game in the I-Meck standings, but ultimately, Hopewell lost 31-25.
The loss was the Titans' third in a row and dropped them to 2-4 in I-Meck play (3-6 overall) with only a home match-up against rival North Meck remaining.
The Titans started well, finding the end zone on just on just their second play when senior Denzel Heath bounced outside for a 64-yard touchdown run. The elder Heath gained all 75 yards in the Titans' first drive after opening the game with 11-yard carry. And when Ryan Santee booted a 31-yard field goal, Hopewell led 10-6 early in the second quarter.
That, however, was the last time Hopewell had the lead as second and third quarter Cougar touchdowns pushed Vance ahead, 19-10.
The Titans pulled within two when quarterback Chandler Chase found Darius Smalls in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown pass with nine minutes to play, and after Cougar running back Larenz Bryant bolted 28 yards for a score with just 1:59 remaining to put Vance up by eight, the Cougars elected to go for two and were stopped, setting the stage for the Titans' game-tying score.
Following Dominique Heath's return, Chase scrambled into the end zone for the two-point conversion, knotting the score at 25. But Bryant scored his third touchdown of the night from 10 yards out on the first play of overtime, and the Titans were then unable to match the score after reaching only the 5-yard line after four plays.
Titan defensive lineman Tevin Stevenson returned from a knee injury and recorded two sacks.
— Ian Richardson
Huskies tied for third
Hough needed a win over Lake Norman to improve its I-Meck Conference and state playoff standing, but the Huskies fell short last Friday in a 20-9 home game that featured just one offensive touchdown.
The loss put Hough (4-6 overall, 3-3 I-Meck) in a three-way tie for third with Vance and Lake Norman. And now the Huskies must play unbeaten I-Meck leader and state powerhouse Mallard Creek this week to close the regular season.
Hough, Lake Norman and Vance went 1-1 against each other, and it's possible there could be a five-way tie for third after Friday's contests, a logjam that could be settled not by what happens on the field but by what coaches draw from a hat.
Hough lost four fumbles against Lake Norman, and also lost three starters to injury. Receiver Sanders Poff broke his collarbone and had surgery Tuesday. A three-sport athlete, Poff will now miss part of the basketball season. Receiver Nick Burrow and lineman Brian Graham will also miss this week's game after suffering concussions.
Hough's points against Lake Norman came via a 42-yard James Jackson field goal and on a 65-yard interception return by Mark Fields.
Lake Norman kicker Alan Robertson hit two 43-yard field goals.
Eagles host FCD Friday in key game
SouthLake Christian outgained Village Christian 364-100 last Friday and won 41-0 in Fayetteville. The win moves the Eagles to 8-1 entering Friday's regular season finale with Forsyth Country Day, a team the Eagles have never beaten.
"We've come close a few times, but they always seem to get us in the long run," said SouthLake coach Rich Landis. "We've got to (beat them this time), we've got to finish strong."
More than just beating FCD for the first time, the state playoff seeding meeting is this weekend, and another win can only help SouthLake's cause.
Against Village Christian, SouthLake running back Adam Gilkerson rushed for 107 yards and three scores, while quarterback Randy Schroeder and Demetri Allison hooked up for scores of 6 and 21 yards. SouthLake's Alex Rose started the night's scoring by returning a blocked punt 28 yards to pay dirt.
Devils keep Vikes winless in I-Meck
Mooresville's offense was efficient, and North Meck remained winless in the I-Meck with a 30-8 loss to the Blue Devils at home last Friday.
Blue Devil quarterback Deonte Black, known more as a running threat, completed 8-of-9 passes for 101 yards and threw for two touchdowns while running back Dee Tomlin ran for 93 yards and one score. Mooresville, second in the I-Meck, improved to 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the conference.
North (1-9, 0-6) scored in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard pass from Bryll Moss to Rashaan Brown. Moss threw to Jaylin Harvell for the two-point conversion.
The win gave Mooresville the northern Mecklenburg sweep. The Blue Devils won at Hopewell, at Hough and at North in consecutive weeks.
Wildcats have dropped four straight
Davidson College hosts Campbell in Pioneer Football League action Saturday at 1 p.m., and the Wildcats are in need of a win.
Davidson (2-5, 0-4 PFL) has lost four straight games, including last week at Jacksonville (6-2, 5-0) by a 56-13 margin.
Davidson receiver Lanny Funsten had a career-best 11 catches for 85 yards and scored on a 9-yard pass from Jonathan Carkhuff, which gave the Wildcats their first offensive touchdown in more than three games.
Davidson's Chase Culbertson added a 5-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
— Staff
