Now, people are beginning to learn it.
The Knights (3-2 overall, 0-2 SPC) scored three times on the Rebels (3-3, 2-0) with some special contributions from junior receivers Alex Scearce and Malcolm Miller and had a better showing than in their SPC debut against Lincolnton Sept. 2, a 55-7 loss. Michael Dorsainvil hit Scearce and Miller each for 45-yard touchdowns, and Scearce scored on an 82-yard punt return in the fourth quarter.
Those were just a few of the signs of LNC’s progress in its first year in the 1A/2A state-sanctioned league. The next step for Bob McKay’s Knights is to eliminate mental mistakes in crucial moments.
“I thought we moved the ball well on offense, but we shot ourselves in the foot with mistakes here and there like some fumbled snaps, an interception or penalty,” said McKay. “Against a team like West Lincoln, if they’re holding onto the ball, they are controlling the clock and limiting their opponents’ time of possession.
The Knights compiled just 70 yards rushing on a very physical team, but the swift shift to a more pass-oriented attack was warranted by the early deficit the Knights were facing, said McKay.
“We got down so quick, it was hard to try and stick with the running game, so we never really got it going,” said McKay. “We’d get it offensively, and make a mistake, (West Lincoln) put up another (score) and that put us into a hurry-up mode that we didn’t think we’d have to be in.
“We felt that we were going to be able to pass on (West Lincoln) due to the wet conditions, so we tried to do everything we could to get Alex and (backs LaMarcus Smith-Kelly and Nathan Windham) involved,” said McKay.
McKay praised his team’s effort, but said his team still has work to do.
“The kids fought hard, and honestly, last year, against an extremely physical team like (West
Lincoln), the score probably would have said 56-0,” said McKay. “We are getting closer to our goals in just year two (of varsity competition), but we have got to learn that when you get an opportunity like that, you need to make the most of it.”
The Knights will look to be more opportunistic as they get set to take on Bessemer City (1-4, 1-1) Friday on the road.
“We will revisit both some of the great things we did tonight and others that we need to button up and continue to grow from there,” said McKay.
PATs
LNC linebacker senior Sean Kane continues to be everywhere. He was in on 28 tackles, including a sack, and caused three fumbles against West Lincoln. Lee Bobo and Scearce both had double-digit tackles while Chase Webb contributed with an interception and five tackles. ... Five penalties won’t kill a team in yardage, but the timing of them can. Offsides calls on third down plus personal fouls late in the game combined with the two early, third-quarter turnovers thwarted any Knights’ attempt at turning the momentum. ... The running Rebels were a force with 333 yards and all five touchdowns pounded in on the ground. West Lincoln attempted just one pass, which resulted in Webb’s interception.
