“(He is) as advertised,” said Hopewell coach David Johnson. “It’s no secret. He doesn’t shock
anyone. He’s just got that motor, that heart. He plays hard, and we’re certainly glad to have him.”
With the win, their second in a row, the Titans (3-3 overall) are now 2-1 in I-Meck play and in a four-way tie for second with Hough, West Charlotte and Mooresville, the latter of which they were to
Hopewell snatched an early lead against Lake Norman (2-5, 1-2) and never looked back as Heath capped the Titans’ opening drive with a 30-yard touchdown run just more than two minutes into the first quarter. The five-play, 58-yard drive saw Heath receive four touches and gain 53 yards, a sign of what was to come for the Wildcats. play Thursday.
Heath later scored on runs of 3 and 4 yards and also broke a 74-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Hopewell kicker Ryan Santee, who hit a game-winning field goal against Hough the week before, nailed a 29-yard field goal in the first half. Hopewell quarterbacks Tijuan Sifford and Chandler Chase had touchdown runs of 10 and 1 yards, respectively, and Chase hit Jermaine Sanders for a 16-yard touchdown play in the fourth quarter. Hopewell’s defense registered a safety in the final moments when Corey Copeland and Michael Sweat brought down Lake Norman quarterback Colin Abercrombie in his own end zone.
“That was probably one of our best games,” said Johnson. “The offense was really clicking. The defense got us some stops, got us some field position, and we were able to turn it into some quick scores to get ahead of them and really put the game away.”
Riding the momentum
With their win over Lake Norman, the Titans are coming off consecutive victories for the first time this season after Santee’s last-second field goal gave them a narrow 24-23 win at Hough Sept. 23.
The win over the Huskies busted a three-game losing skid for the Titans, as well as prevented them from slipping into an 0-2 hole in I-Meck play. However, Johnson said the win has much more significance on the season as a whole.
“I thought that whoever could win that, especially in the fashion that we did, it could be a
springboard,” he said.
And with the Titans’ confidence now growing, Johnson cited that victory as a factor in defeating
Lake Norman, as well as a potential turning point for the season.
“We were able to capitalize on the momentum,” he said. “And we were really able to capitalize on the effectiveness of having a good week of practice and being up versus down. It really paid off this week.”
Titan quarterbacks stepping up
As the Titans continue to build momentum, Johnson is pointing to a single factor as the driving force behind their recovery from a 1-3 start to the season.
“Quarterback play,” he said. “We’re getting effective quarterback play out of both of them. If the quarterbacks can effectively move the ball and we can turn field position and get some quick scores, it really helps the defense and it builds team momentum.”
Against the Wildcats, Hopewell quarterbacks Sifford and Chase combined to complete 8-of-17
passes for 141 yards and a touchdown as well as rush for 91 yards and two scores.
Sifford excelled on the ground for the majority of the game before being replaced late in the third quarter due to cramps. Chase also made a case for himself, leading two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, and throwing the 16-yard strike to Sanders.
PATs
There were five extra points blocked, including four blocked by Lake Norman. ... The Titans
recorded four sacks, coming from Copeland (1.5), Sweat (1.5) and Gabe Crocker. Copeland recovered a fumble in Lake Norman territory in the fourth quarter, setting up Heath’s fourth touchdown. ... Hopewell’s Tony Higgins intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter.
