Even with the misting rain still coming down in Shelby around 4:20 p.m., we still plan to kick off the Shelby-Brevard matchup at 7:30 p.m. at Blanton Memorial Stadium's Pearley Allen Field.
The Crest-Ashbrook game has already been postponed to Monday night due to the weather. The other two county games -- Burns at Forestview and Parkwood at Kings Mountain -- are still on tap.
7 p.m. -- it's coming down even harder now. Both teams are on the field going through their warmups. Only a handful of folks on both sides have left their cars to sit in the stands at this point.
7:25 -- almost gametime. Kudos to the Shelby cheerleaders and the
band ... all decked out in their rain gear ready to do their thing!
7:30 -- Brevard wins the toss, defers to the second half. Shelby will receive and be headed toward the north end zone.
Jonathan Hopper returns the kick for Shelby to the Brevard 34. It takes the Golden Lions eight carries to score from there. Michael Copeland goes in from the one with 7:49 on the clock. Turner Almond's kick makes it ... Shelby 7, Brevard 0.
Shelby forces a punt and takes over on its 23. On the first play, Hopper breaks free for 35 yards to the outside, putting the Golden Lions at the Brevard 42. That's followed by gains of 16 yards by Larry Raper and 18 by Copeland before the Shelby fullback (Copeland) bulls in from the 8. Almond's kick with 3:19 on the clock makes it ... Shelby 14, Brevard 0.
On the first play after the kickoff, Hopper (at cornerback) strips the Brevard ballcarrier of the football and recovers it for the Lions at the 46. Shelby moves for one first down but is held short on fourth-and-one at the 26 on the final play of the quarter. Score stays 14-0.
Brevard punts again and Raper returns it to the Blue Devil 45. Shelby moves into position for a 34-yard field goal by Turner Almond. With 4:30 left in the half, Shelby leads ... 17-0.
On second down after the kickoff, Lions' defensive end Quevalas Murray intercepts a screen pass giving Shelby the football at the Brevard six. On first down Raper goes over the right side for the score. Almond's kick with 3:30 on the clock makes the score ... Shelby 24, Brevard 0.
That's the way the half ends, 24-0.
Shelby keeps the football most of the quarter, ending up at the Brevard 4 facing third and goal with the horn sounded.
Copeland scores from the four on the first play of the final quarter. Daniel Pennington kicks the extra point. With 11:56 left in the game, it's ... Shelby 31, Brevard 0.
Latest scores from elsewhere: Forestview 20, Burns 0 late in third period; KM leads Parkwood at halftime, 9-0.
Shelby reserves drive to the Brevard 9 but fumble it away with 5:41 left in game.
Game ends: Shelby 31, Brevard 0.
Shelby (3-2) will host Watauga next Friday.
Golden Lions ended up with 312 yards on the ground, 14 in the air.
Brevard gained eight yards rushing and threw for 72 yards.
Shelby had a 16-5 edge in first downs.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
10 biggest coaching mistakes I've seen in high school football
First off, this column will likely get me in trouble with some coaching friends. Still, here goes.
Those that follow high school football are quick to point fingers at coaches when things don't go right for their favorite team. That goes with the territory.
Sometimes it's the standard: "Why don't we throw the ball more?" or "Why don't we try a blitz more frequently?"... those kinds of comments.
Coaches though are human and, like their players, do make mistakes from time to time.
In my 30 years of covering high school football fulltime, I've seen some doozies.
Here are the biggest coaching gaffes that I've witnessed in person:
No. 10: The punt -- some of my friends from high school still shake their heads thinking about this one.
My school, Northwest Cabarrus, had fourth-and-four to go at the Ragsdale 24 in a close 3A State quarterfinal game in 1972. Did we throw it, run the option, or try a field goal?
Nope. The punting team went in and the booming kick hit the high bank of the horseshoe and gave Ragsdale the ball at the 20 ... a change of only four yards.
No. 9: Shotgun spread -- I covered a Kings Mountain-North Gaston game in 1986 at Gamble Stadium. On the first series, the Mountaineers punted and the kick rolled down at the North two.
The Wildcats lined up in a shotgun spread formation ... with the offensive line far off at the right hashmark while the center, one blocking back and the quarterback, wer aligned far to the left.
Kings Mountain was prepared for this and had several of its fastest defenders raring to go. Two of them dashed in after the snap and nailed the unprotected quarterback for a safety that ignited a rout.
No. 8: Going for it -- I hate to pick on North Gaston but when Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989, the Wildcats went to Burns for a Saturday afternoon contest played in a monsoon.
For some reason, North Gaston elected not to punt ... no matter where they were on the field. On fourth down, they went for it several times in the first half and each time the Bulldogs stopped them, taking over deep in North territory to set up quick scores that blew the contest open.
No. 7: Fourth and forever -- East Rutherford and Burns were battling it out for a playoff spot in 1997 on the final night of the regular season. East had a first-and-goal inside the Bulldog 5 late in the game for a possible go-ahead score.
However, after a run ahead into the line, a Cavalier player was called for a deadball personal foul that moved his team back. The East coaching staff protested so vehemently they drew a pair of unsportsmanlike calls and before you knew it, it was second-and-goal near midfield, dramatically altering how the game would unfold.
No. 6: Beware the pile -- Maiden has won a lot of football games through the years but never against Shelby. To show how fired up they were, the Blue Devils ran onto the center of the field at Blanton Memorial Stadium before the 2000 matchup and did a copycat version of Shelby’s pre-game pile.
The Shelby coaches had worried beforehand about the Golden Lions being “up” for this game but upon witnessing the Maiden gesture, Shelby players were instantly in a frenzy. Sixty-three points later Shelby had scored about many points as any Maiden team had allowed in a game in the past 40 years.
No. 5 and No. 4 (simultaneously): Strange ending -- Shelby vs. Crest in 1985. Shelby was trying to run the clock out with a one-point lead but was backed up deep in its end of the field.
Shelby elected to run a play on fourth down rather than risk a kick, yet when the official blew the whistle at the end of the play, time had not elapsed and Crest took over inside the 10 yardline with enough time to try a field goal. Yet the Chargers, as was their habit at that time, lined up in an offset formation. Crest was shifting into field-goal alignment when the referee started the clock and it ran out before the Chargers got the ball snapped.
No. 3: Stealing the ball -- This was another of those dramatic finishes to a Crest-Shelby game, this one in 1993. The game seemed to be ending as a tie when Crest tried an option play deep in its own territory in the final minute. Defensive back Robert Williams timed it perfectly and stole the pitch and dashed into the end zone to give Shelby the surprising victory.
No. 2: Goal-line pass -- The 1979 South Point-King Mountain game was one of the best I’ve ever seen. The Mountaineers had future NFL running back Kevin Mack along with another huge back named Avery Smith.
Kings Mountain, which rarely threw the ball because of its potent ground game, was inside the South Point 5 with a chance to go ahead late in the game. Instead of giving the ball again to Mack or Smith, the Mountaineers attempted a quick pass over the middle that was intercepted, preserving the win for the Red Raiders (eventual 3A stat champs).
No. 1: The quick kick -- It was Cherryville vs. Burns in 1989. The Bulldogs were dominating the season opener at Rudisill Stadium. The host Ironmen didn't get a first down in the opening half.
Late in the third quarter though, Cherryville completed a pass across midfield for its initial first down that got the home crowd cheering. Yet trailing by three touchdowns, moments later on third and about seven in Burns’ territory, the Ironmen launched a quick kick that gave possession right back to the Bulldogs.
Those that follow high school football are quick to point fingers at coaches when things don't go right for their favorite team. That goes with the territory.
Sometimes it's the standard: "Why don't we throw the ball more?" or "Why don't we try a blitz more frequently?"... those kinds of comments.
Coaches though are human and, like their players, do make mistakes from time to time.
In my 30 years of covering high school football fulltime, I've seen some doozies.
Here are the biggest coaching gaffes that I've witnessed in person:
No. 10: The punt -- some of my friends from high school still shake their heads thinking about this one.
My school, Northwest Cabarrus, had fourth-and-four to go at the Ragsdale 24 in a close 3A State quarterfinal game in 1972. Did we throw it, run the option, or try a field goal?
Nope. The punting team went in and the booming kick hit the high bank of the horseshoe and gave Ragsdale the ball at the 20 ... a change of only four yards.
No. 9: Shotgun spread -- I covered a Kings Mountain-North Gaston game in 1986 at Gamble Stadium. On the first series, the Mountaineers punted and the kick rolled down at the North two.
The Wildcats lined up in a shotgun spread formation ... with the offensive line far off at the right hashmark while the center, one blocking back and the quarterback, wer aligned far to the left.
Kings Mountain was prepared for this and had several of its fastest defenders raring to go. Two of them dashed in after the snap and nailed the unprotected quarterback for a safety that ignited a rout.
No. 8: Going for it -- I hate to pick on North Gaston but when Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989, the Wildcats went to Burns for a Saturday afternoon contest played in a monsoon.
For some reason, North Gaston elected not to punt ... no matter where they were on the field. On fourth down, they went for it several times in the first half and each time the Bulldogs stopped them, taking over deep in North territory to set up quick scores that blew the contest open.
No. 7: Fourth and forever -- East Rutherford and Burns were battling it out for a playoff spot in 1997 on the final night of the regular season. East had a first-and-goal inside the Bulldog 5 late in the game for a possible go-ahead score.
However, after a run ahead into the line, a Cavalier player was called for a deadball personal foul that moved his team back. The East coaching staff protested so vehemently they drew a pair of unsportsmanlike calls and before you knew it, it was second-and-goal near midfield, dramatically altering how the game would unfold.
No. 6: Beware the pile -- Maiden has won a lot of football games through the years but never against Shelby. To show how fired up they were, the Blue Devils ran onto the center of the field at Blanton Memorial Stadium before the 2000 matchup and did a copycat version of Shelby’s pre-game pile.
The Shelby coaches had worried beforehand about the Golden Lions being “up” for this game but upon witnessing the Maiden gesture, Shelby players were instantly in a frenzy. Sixty-three points later Shelby had scored about many points as any Maiden team had allowed in a game in the past 40 years.
No. 5 and No. 4 (simultaneously): Strange ending -- Shelby vs. Crest in 1985. Shelby was trying to run the clock out with a one-point lead but was backed up deep in its end of the field.
Shelby elected to run a play on fourth down rather than risk a kick, yet when the official blew the whistle at the end of the play, time had not elapsed and Crest took over inside the 10 yardline with enough time to try a field goal. Yet the Chargers, as was their habit at that time, lined up in an offset formation. Crest was shifting into field-goal alignment when the referee started the clock and it ran out before the Chargers got the ball snapped.
No. 3: Stealing the ball -- This was another of those dramatic finishes to a Crest-Shelby game, this one in 1993. The game seemed to be ending as a tie when Crest tried an option play deep in its own territory in the final minute. Defensive back Robert Williams timed it perfectly and stole the pitch and dashed into the end zone to give Shelby the surprising victory.
No. 2: Goal-line pass -- The 1979 South Point-King Mountain game was one of the best I’ve ever seen. The Mountaineers had future NFL running back Kevin Mack along with another huge back named Avery Smith.
Kings Mountain, which rarely threw the ball because of its potent ground game, was inside the South Point 5 with a chance to go ahead late in the game. Instead of giving the ball again to Mack or Smith, the Mountaineers attempted a quick pass over the middle that was intercepted, preserving the win for the Red Raiders (eventual 3A stat champs).
No. 1: The quick kick -- It was Cherryville vs. Burns in 1989. The Bulldogs were dominating the season opener at Rudisill Stadium. The host Ironmen didn't get a first down in the opening half.
Late in the third quarter though, Cherryville completed a pass across midfield for its initial first down that got the home crowd cheering. Yet trailing by three touchdowns, moments later on third and about seven in Burns’ territory, the Ironmen launched a quick kick that gave possession right back to the Bulldogs.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Crest vs. Shelby action
The sun popped out here in Shelby about 4 p.m. and it looks like we're going to have a clear evening for football at Pearley Allen Field.
Be sure to check out longtime Star photographer Jeff Melton's blog here at http://www.shelbystar.com/ for a photo blog of tonight's contest.
Kickers from both teams are out on the field getting in their workouts two hours before the contest is scheduled to begin.
Crest co-captains: Justin Price, Reggie Wilkins, Taylor Crosby and Martavis Burris ... Shelby co-captains: Larry Raper and Chavalo Wright.
Crest will kick off to Shelby with the Golden Lions heading for the south end zone.
Shelby's Larry Raper runs the kickoff back 85 yards for a score but it's wiped out by illegal block penalty. Golden Lions start from their own 17.
The running of Michael Copeland and Jonathan Hopper move Shelby down inside the Crest 10 where the defense stiffens. Turner Almond comes on to kick a 22-yard field goal. Shelby leads, 3-0, with 7:15 to go in the first quarter.
The teams exchange punts with Crest getting the better end of the deal, taking over at the Shelby 44 with 0:59 left in the first quarter.
Quarter ends with Shelby in front, 3-0.
Teams continue to trade kicks. Short punt puts Shelby in possession at Crest 38. Drive ends with errant field goal. Still 3-0 with 5 minutes left in half.
After 2 more punts, Crest starts moving. Reggie Wilkins gains 33 yards on a QB draw, then passes eight yards to Aldrich Watson to put Chargers at the Shelby 26 with 43 seconds left in half.
At the 22, Wilkins scrambles away from the rush and finds Kendall Kee all alone in the right side of the end zone for TD. Trever Austin's kick puts Crest in front, 7-3, with 0:23 left in the half.
Score stands at half -- 7-3 Chargers.
Comment: Defenses seem to have the edge so far in this game but Crest's Wilkins began to break Shelby's containment on the last drive. Golden Lions, after the initial drive, have struggled offensively with only the running of fullback Michael Copeland the only consistent yard producer.
2nd Half: Crest takes second half kickoff and marches in for a score.
Freshman Qourtez Wright breaks free on a 30-yard run off the left side to reach the end zone. Austin's kick is good. Crest leads, 14-3, 9:09 left in third period.
Shelby gains a pair of first downs after the kickoff but then fumbles it back to the Chargers. Crest takes over at Shelby 40 with 6:17 on the clock. Crest fumbles it right back to the Lions on the next play.
Shelby mounts a drive late in third period. Larry Raper carries five times in a six-play, 61-yard drive. Raper breaks free up the middle on a 26-yard touchdown run with :04 left in third period. Almond's kick cuts Crest's lead to 14-10.
After a Crest punt, Shelby goes on the march again. Raper and Copeland share the ball-carrying load. Copeland punches it in from the one with 3:00 on the clock. Extra point is no good. Shelby leads 16-14.
A sack and a holding penalty push Crest back to the 16. Chargers punt it away, giving Shelby the football at the 47 with 1:26 to go.
Shelby runs out the clock, taking a knee on two straight snaps to end it.
Final score: Shelby 16, Crest 14.
Comment: Shelby's offensive line found its rhythm midway in the second half and wore down the Charger defensive front. Raper came up big for the Lions, running out of a deep single back formation and rushing for 97 yards in the final two quarters.
Be sure to check out longtime Star photographer Jeff Melton's blog here at http://www.shelbystar.com/ for a photo blog of tonight's contest.
Kickers from both teams are out on the field getting in their workouts two hours before the contest is scheduled to begin.
Crest co-captains: Justin Price, Reggie Wilkins, Taylor Crosby and Martavis Burris ... Shelby co-captains: Larry Raper and Chavalo Wright.
Crest will kick off to Shelby with the Golden Lions heading for the south end zone.
Shelby's Larry Raper runs the kickoff back 85 yards for a score but it's wiped out by illegal block penalty. Golden Lions start from their own 17.
The running of Michael Copeland and Jonathan Hopper move Shelby down inside the Crest 10 where the defense stiffens. Turner Almond comes on to kick a 22-yard field goal. Shelby leads, 3-0, with 7:15 to go in the first quarter.
The teams exchange punts with Crest getting the better end of the deal, taking over at the Shelby 44 with 0:59 left in the first quarter.
Quarter ends with Shelby in front, 3-0.
Teams continue to trade kicks. Short punt puts Shelby in possession at Crest 38. Drive ends with errant field goal. Still 3-0 with 5 minutes left in half.
After 2 more punts, Crest starts moving. Reggie Wilkins gains 33 yards on a QB draw, then passes eight yards to Aldrich Watson to put Chargers at the Shelby 26 with 43 seconds left in half.
At the 22, Wilkins scrambles away from the rush and finds Kendall Kee all alone in the right side of the end zone for TD. Trever Austin's kick puts Crest in front, 7-3, with 0:23 left in the half.
Score stands at half -- 7-3 Chargers.
Comment: Defenses seem to have the edge so far in this game but Crest's Wilkins began to break Shelby's containment on the last drive. Golden Lions, after the initial drive, have struggled offensively with only the running of fullback Michael Copeland the only consistent yard producer.
2nd Half: Crest takes second half kickoff and marches in for a score.
Freshman Qourtez Wright breaks free on a 30-yard run off the left side to reach the end zone. Austin's kick is good. Crest leads, 14-3, 9:09 left in third period.
Shelby gains a pair of first downs after the kickoff but then fumbles it back to the Chargers. Crest takes over at Shelby 40 with 6:17 on the clock. Crest fumbles it right back to the Lions on the next play.
Shelby mounts a drive late in third period. Larry Raper carries five times in a six-play, 61-yard drive. Raper breaks free up the middle on a 26-yard touchdown run with :04 left in third period. Almond's kick cuts Crest's lead to 14-10.
After a Crest punt, Shelby goes on the march again. Raper and Copeland share the ball-carrying load. Copeland punches it in from the one with 3:00 on the clock. Extra point is no good. Shelby leads 16-14.
A sack and a holding penalty push Crest back to the 16. Chargers punt it away, giving Shelby the football at the 47 with 1:26 to go.
Shelby runs out the clock, taking a knee on two straight snaps to end it.
Final score: Shelby 16, Crest 14.
Comment: Shelby's offensive line found its rhythm midway in the second half and wore down the Charger defensive front. Raper came up big for the Lions, running out of a deep single back formation and rushing for 97 yards in the final two quarters.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
It's Crest vs. Shelby time
It's that time of year again.
Below is the list of scores in the Crest-Shelby high school football series that annually pits two of the better programs in the western half of the state. Shelby leads the matchup 24-15-1.
Here are some of my memories/thoughts about specific games in the series. I've had the good fortune to cover most of the action when the two hook up since 1980.
Breakthrough (1980): Crest's 21-0 triumph was their first official win over the Golden Lions, though the 1973 tie had gone to the Chargers (the former Western North Carolina High School Activities Association didn't recognize results from overtimes unless the two teams were tied in the standings at the end of the season).
Other than Kibby Daves' 55-yard run early in the third quarter that broke the scoreless deadlock, what stays in my head most about this encounter is how the Charger fans stayed on the field so long afterwards, not wanting to leave Blanton Memorial Stadium.
Crazy ending (1985): This ranks as one of the strangest endings I've ever seen. Shelby was trying to run the clock out with a one-point lead but was backed up deep in its end of the field. Shelby elected to run a play on fourth down rather than risk a kick, yet when the official blew the whistle at the end of the play, time had not elapsed and Crest took over around the 10 yardline with enough time to try a field goal. Yet the Chargers, as was their habit at that point in time, lined up in an offset formation and was shifting into its field-goal alignment when the referee started the clock and it ran out before Crest got the play off.
And yes, that explanation of what happened is just as complicated as it sounds.
Overtime duel (1987): This marked the first time that Jim Taylor and Mike Stewart coached against one another. The Lions were in the second year of a back-to-back state championship run but three costly mistakes in the kicking game helped put the game into overtime, where James Harbison's TD run lifted Crest to victory.
Stealing the ball (1993): This was another of those dramatic finishes. The game seemed to be finishing as a tie when Crest tried an option pitch deep in its own territory in the final minute. Robert Williams timed it perfectly and stole the pitch and dashed into the end zone to give Shelby the surprising victory.
Wide right (1998): Another of Shelby's state championship clubs ran afoul of the Chargers. Though the Lions maintained ball control much of the night, it missed three field goals leaving the contest tied 7-7 late in the game. Fighting the clock, Shelby went to the air but it was picked off and returned for a score to give Crest the win.
Making a stand (2003): Crest had won five straight years over the Golden Lions but that came to end when Shelby halted a last-gasp Chargers' drive. The Lions' Tavorris Jolley, only a sophomore, made the stop on fourth down when Crest was inside the five-yardline and allowed Shelby to hold on.
The shootout (2004): In a year in which both teams played all the way to their respective state championship games, the two put up the most combined points in the series. Shelby jumped to an early 21-3 lead but the Chargers came back to pull out a 38-35 triumph. There likely were more future college players on the field in this game than in any Crest-Shelby matchup ever played.
Chargers vs. Golden Lions
Year-by-year
2007 — Crest 14, Shelby 7
2006 — Shelby 21, Crest 7
2005 — Shelby 21, Crest 17
2004 — Crest 38, Shelby 35
2003 — Shelby 17, Crest 14
2002 — Crest 40, Shelby 0
2001 — Crest 28, Shelby 14
2000 — Crest 45, Shelby 13
1999 — Crest 21, Shelby 7
1998 — Crest 14, Shelby 7
1997 — Shelby 18, Crest 7
1996 — Crest 14, Shelby 7
1995 — Shelby 44, Crest 21
1994 — Crest 16, Shelby 3
1993 — Shelby 24, Crest 17
1992 — Shelby 35, Crest 14
1991 — Shelby 13, Crest 7
1990 — Shelby 20, Crest 3
1989 — Shelby 26, Crest 20
1988 — Crest 28, Shelby 21
1987 — Crest 27, Shelby 20
1986 — Shelby 13, Crest 7
1985 — Shelby 7, Crest 6
1984 — Shelby 12, Crest 7
1983 — Crest 13, Shelby 7
1982 — Crest 14, Shelby 0
1981 — Crest 12, Shelby 7
1980 — Crest 21, Shelby 0
1979 — Shelby 19, Crest 13
1978 — Shelby 26, Crest 7
1977 — Shelby 13, Crest 7
1976 — Shelby 20, Crest 0
1975 — Shelby 21, Crest 8
1974 — Shelby 14, Crest 6
1973 — Crest 14, Shelby 14
1972 — Shelby 31, Crest 8
1971 — Shelby 33, Crest 12
1970 — Shelby 41, Crest 7
1969 — Shelby 47, Crest 0
1968 — Shelby 45, Crest 7
Below is the list of scores in the Crest-Shelby high school football series that annually pits two of the better programs in the western half of the state. Shelby leads the matchup 24-15-1.
Here are some of my memories/thoughts about specific games in the series. I've had the good fortune to cover most of the action when the two hook up since 1980.
Breakthrough (1980): Crest's 21-0 triumph was their first official win over the Golden Lions, though the 1973 tie had gone to the Chargers (the former Western North Carolina High School Activities Association didn't recognize results from overtimes unless the two teams were tied in the standings at the end of the season).
Other than Kibby Daves' 55-yard run early in the third quarter that broke the scoreless deadlock, what stays in my head most about this encounter is how the Charger fans stayed on the field so long afterwards, not wanting to leave Blanton Memorial Stadium.
Crazy ending (1985): This ranks as one of the strangest endings I've ever seen. Shelby was trying to run the clock out with a one-point lead but was backed up deep in its end of the field. Shelby elected to run a play on fourth down rather than risk a kick, yet when the official blew the whistle at the end of the play, time had not elapsed and Crest took over around the 10 yardline with enough time to try a field goal. Yet the Chargers, as was their habit at that point in time, lined up in an offset formation and was shifting into its field-goal alignment when the referee started the clock and it ran out before Crest got the play off.
And yes, that explanation of what happened is just as complicated as it sounds.
Overtime duel (1987): This marked the first time that Jim Taylor and Mike Stewart coached against one another. The Lions were in the second year of a back-to-back state championship run but three costly mistakes in the kicking game helped put the game into overtime, where James Harbison's TD run lifted Crest to victory.
Stealing the ball (1993): This was another of those dramatic finishes. The game seemed to be finishing as a tie when Crest tried an option pitch deep in its own territory in the final minute. Robert Williams timed it perfectly and stole the pitch and dashed into the end zone to give Shelby the surprising victory.
Wide right (1998): Another of Shelby's state championship clubs ran afoul of the Chargers. Though the Lions maintained ball control much of the night, it missed three field goals leaving the contest tied 7-7 late in the game. Fighting the clock, Shelby went to the air but it was picked off and returned for a score to give Crest the win.
Making a stand (2003): Crest had won five straight years over the Golden Lions but that came to end when Shelby halted a last-gasp Chargers' drive. The Lions' Tavorris Jolley, only a sophomore, made the stop on fourth down when Crest was inside the five-yardline and allowed Shelby to hold on.
The shootout (2004): In a year in which both teams played all the way to their respective state championship games, the two put up the most combined points in the series. Shelby jumped to an early 21-3 lead but the Chargers came back to pull out a 38-35 triumph. There likely were more future college players on the field in this game than in any Crest-Shelby matchup ever played.
Chargers vs. Golden Lions
Year-by-year
2007 — Crest 14, Shelby 7
2006 — Shelby 21, Crest 7
2005 — Shelby 21, Crest 17
2004 — Crest 38, Shelby 35
2003 — Shelby 17, Crest 14
2002 — Crest 40, Shelby 0
2001 — Crest 28, Shelby 14
2000 — Crest 45, Shelby 13
1999 — Crest 21, Shelby 7
1998 — Crest 14, Shelby 7
1997 — Shelby 18, Crest 7
1996 — Crest 14, Shelby 7
1995 — Shelby 44, Crest 21
1994 — Crest 16, Shelby 3
1993 — Shelby 24, Crest 17
1992 — Shelby 35, Crest 14
1991 — Shelby 13, Crest 7
1990 — Shelby 20, Crest 3
1989 — Shelby 26, Crest 20
1988 — Crest 28, Shelby 21
1987 — Crest 27, Shelby 20
1986 — Shelby 13, Crest 7
1985 — Shelby 7, Crest 6
1984 — Shelby 12, Crest 7
1983 — Crest 13, Shelby 7
1982 — Crest 14, Shelby 0
1981 — Crest 12, Shelby 7
1980 — Crest 21, Shelby 0
1979 — Shelby 19, Crest 13
1978 — Shelby 26, Crest 7
1977 — Shelby 13, Crest 7
1976 — Shelby 20, Crest 0
1975 — Shelby 21, Crest 8
1974 — Shelby 14, Crest 6
1973 — Crest 14, Shelby 14
1972 — Shelby 31, Crest 8
1971 — Shelby 33, Crest 12
1970 — Shelby 41, Crest 7
1969 — Shelby 47, Crest 0
1968 — Shelby 45, Crest 7
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Crest vs. Freedom
The Crest Chargers go for their second straight non-conference win in the 2008 football season as they play host to the Freedom Patriots from Morganton at 7:30 p.m. at Sid Bryson Stadium.
The contest was moved up one night because of the threat of Hurricane Hanna.
10 minutes before kickoff and the sun's still shining brightly. Looks like the fact we're playing this on Thursday night is having a major impact at the gate with the home side not half full (though fans continue to come in) and even fewer folks over on the visiting side.
Crest co-captains tonight are Aldrich Watson, Levon Brooks, Reggie Wilkins and Justin Price.
After an exchange of punts, Crest drives inside the Freedom 10. A scoring run by Kendall Kee is erased by a holding penalty. Chargers wind up attempting a 25-yard field goal but Freedom's Chris Avery blocks Trever Austin's kick, leaving the contest scoreless with 3:01 left in the first quarter.
Quarter ends with no score.
Chargers go on another march with a pair of 14-yard gains by QB Reggie Wilkins leading the way. Justin Price caps the 64-yard scoring drive with a six-yard sweep to the end zone with 8:49 on the clock. Austin's kick is good.
Crest 7, Freedom 0
Other scores to report, also after one quarter: South Point 7, Kings Mountain 0, and Ashbrook 7, Shelby 6
Freedom goes three and out and Crest's Aldrich Watson runs the kick back 49 yards to the Patriots' 5. Neil Chambers scores from there on first down for Chargers. Austin's kick is good.
Crest leads, 14-0, with 6:14 left in the half.
Chargers' defense continues to shine. Three interceptions -- one by Levon Brooks and two by Justin Price stymie Freedom.
Score at the half: Crest 14, Freedom 0
Latest scores from Gaston County: South Point 14, Kings Mountain 14; and Ashbrook 14, Shelby 6.
Both teams unable to move on their opening possessions in the third quarter. Crest finally gets rolling late in the period. Reggie Wilkins caps a 73-yard march with a dazzling 23-yard TD run. Wilkins appeared to be upended around the 15 but somehow came up on his feet and continued on into the end zone. Austin's kick is blocked.
1:54 left in 3rd quarter: Crest 20, Freedom 0
It stays that way through the end of the period.
Other scores: Shelby 16, Ashbrook 14 with 7 minutes left in 3rd period; South Point takes 21-14 lead over KM with 8:28 left in game.
Crest and Freedom take turns punting the football away in the fourth quarter as the offenses sputter.
Freedom throws deep and it goes for a 61-yard touchdown from Marcus Kincaid to Ethan Kincaid. Kick is good.
With 4:13 left in game: Crest 20, Freedom 7
Freedom recovers onside kick but can't get anything else going.
Final score: Crest 20, Freedom 7
Other finals: South Point 21, KM 14; Ashbrook 34, Shelby 16
The contest was moved up one night because of the threat of Hurricane Hanna.
10 minutes before kickoff and the sun's still shining brightly. Looks like the fact we're playing this on Thursday night is having a major impact at the gate with the home side not half full (though fans continue to come in) and even fewer folks over on the visiting side.
Crest co-captains tonight are Aldrich Watson, Levon Brooks, Reggie Wilkins and Justin Price.
After an exchange of punts, Crest drives inside the Freedom 10. A scoring run by Kendall Kee is erased by a holding penalty. Chargers wind up attempting a 25-yard field goal but Freedom's Chris Avery blocks Trever Austin's kick, leaving the contest scoreless with 3:01 left in the first quarter.
Quarter ends with no score.
Chargers go on another march with a pair of 14-yard gains by QB Reggie Wilkins leading the way. Justin Price caps the 64-yard scoring drive with a six-yard sweep to the end zone with 8:49 on the clock. Austin's kick is good.
Crest 7, Freedom 0
Other scores to report, also after one quarter: South Point 7, Kings Mountain 0, and Ashbrook 7, Shelby 6
Freedom goes three and out and Crest's Aldrich Watson runs the kick back 49 yards to the Patriots' 5. Neil Chambers scores from there on first down for Chargers. Austin's kick is good.
Crest leads, 14-0, with 6:14 left in the half.
Chargers' defense continues to shine. Three interceptions -- one by Levon Brooks and two by Justin Price stymie Freedom.
Score at the half: Crest 14, Freedom 0
Latest scores from Gaston County: South Point 14, Kings Mountain 14; and Ashbrook 14, Shelby 6.
Both teams unable to move on their opening possessions in the third quarter. Crest finally gets rolling late in the period. Reggie Wilkins caps a 73-yard march with a dazzling 23-yard TD run. Wilkins appeared to be upended around the 15 but somehow came up on his feet and continued on into the end zone. Austin's kick is blocked.
1:54 left in 3rd quarter: Crest 20, Freedom 0
It stays that way through the end of the period.
Other scores: Shelby 16, Ashbrook 14 with 7 minutes left in 3rd period; South Point takes 21-14 lead over KM with 8:28 left in game.
Crest and Freedom take turns punting the football away in the fourth quarter as the offenses sputter.
Freedom throws deep and it goes for a 61-yard touchdown from Marcus Kincaid to Ethan Kincaid. Kick is good.
With 4:13 left in game: Crest 20, Freedom 7
Freedom recovers onside kick but can't get anything else going.
Final score: Crest 20, Freedom 7
Other finals: South Point 21, KM 14; Ashbrook 34, Shelby 16
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