KM vs. Hickory, 3AA first round

It's kickoff time at KM's John Gamble Stadium.
Mountaineers win toss and defer to second half. Opening kickoff goes out of bounds so Hickory starts at its own 35.

Hickory moves for two first downs before stalling. Hickory punts it down to the KM 16 where Mountaineers take over.
On the second play, KM QB Mike Roberts breaks free on a 48-yard gainer to get the Mountaineers rolling. Mounties get to the Hickory 10
before a penalty sets them back. KM lines up for a 34-yard field goal try but the snap is high. Roberts, the holder, is dropped for a nine-yard loss and Hickory takes over at the 25 with 4:04 left in the first period.

Hickory goes three and out and punts it away. KM starts from its own 41 with 1:36 to go in first period, still no score.
Mountaineers unable to move. KM's Jake Allen punts to the Hickory 28 as the quarter ends with a 0-0 score.
The punting duel continues. This time KM takes over at its 42 with 10:29 left in the half. Mounties can't move again and Allen comes on to roll a 46-yard punt dead at the Hickory 4 with 9:19 on the clock.

Hickory starts a drive. After a pair of first downs running, Hickory hits a 33-yard pass to the KM 37.
On fourth-and-four at the 31, Hickory throws deep for an apparent TD but a holding penalty brings it back. Red Tornadoes punt it away and KM is forced to start from its own 3 with 5:03 left in the half.
After another KM punt, Hickory gets possession at the Mountie 48 with 3:08 to go in the half.
Hickory runs a trick play letting the flanker throw downfield on a reverse and it goes for a score, but a penalty for an illegal block gives Hickory first down at the 21.
Hickory moves it down and has second and goal at the one. Hickory's TJ Wimbush is stacked up at the one and the football pops out. KM's Anthony Dalton picks up the fumble and carries it out to the 30 with 1:08 to go in the half.
KM goes to the air and gets to the Hickory 42 with 34 seconds left in half. KM though draws a five-yard penalty and then a 10-yard holding call and is unable to generate a threat. Clock runs out.
No score at the half.

Hickory kicks off to start third quarter and KM begins from its 35. Mounties forced to punt and Hickory takes over at its 24.
Hickory stays on the ground and moves across midfield, facing third-and-three at the KM 45. Rush of LB Zach Hopper disrupts a pass and causes Hickory to punt.
KM takes over at its 12 with 7:43 left in third period.
Mounties' running game gets untracked. Carlos Bell, Mike Roberts and Joe Chambers share the load for a first down at the 40.
Roberts breaks free for a first down to the 13 with 4:16 left in the third period.
Mountaineers stall at the 12. Edward Blackburn comes on to try a 29-yard field goal and puts it through. With 3:02 left in the third quarter, it's now ... KM 3, Hickory 0.

The teams exchange punts. Hickory takes over at its own 29 as the third quarter ends with the score still ... KM 3, Hickory 0.
Again KM defense holds and Hickory kicks it away. This time Terrance Young collects it at his own 34 and sets sail up the middle. He breaks to the right sideline and goes all the way to the Hickory 10.
QB Roberts keeps it twice in a row, going in from the one with 9:53 left in the game. Blackburn's kick is good, making it ... KM 10, Hickory 0.

Hickory comes right back with a 64-yard, 6-play scoring drive. T.J. Wimbush goes 13 yards off the right side for the score. Patrick Smith's kick is good. With exactly eight minutes to go it's ... KM 10, Hickory 7.

Mountaineers get moving again. Young returns the kickoff to midfield, then Carlos Bell break free for 28 yards to the Hickory 18.
KM though is stymied by a pair of illegal block penalties that wipe out gains, putting the Mounties in second-and-14 situation at the 22 with 5:08 to go. After a nine-yard gain by Robers, then an incompletion, KM goes for it. Throw for Chambers in the end zone draws a flag.
Mounties get first down and goal on the interference call at the seven with 4:09 to go.
Chambers punches it in from the three with 3:25 to go. Blackburn's kick is good. The score is now ... KM 17, Hickory 7.

KM strikes again. This time Zach Hopper picks off a Hickory pass and returns it 40 yards for a score to give Mountaineers a commanding lead. Blackburn's kick was good with 2:33 left to go making it ... KM 24, Hickory 7.

Hickory moves across midfield but comes up inches short on first down at the 35. KM takes over, takes two snaps to kill the clock.
Final score: KM 24, Hickory 7.
KM will host Mooresville next Friday in the 3AA second round.

Shelby vs. Owen in playoffs

Shelby High (8-3) will be taking on the Owen Warhorses (4-6) in the State 2A football playoffs tonight at Pearley Allen Field. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

This may go down as the "Fog Bowl." There's quite a mist below the level of the lights at Blanton Memorial Stadium around 7:15 p.m.

Game gets under way with the Owen Warhorses starting at their own 24.
Owen rolls up four first downs in succession to the Shelby 16.
Warhorses stay on a roll behind the running of fullback Brennan Kirby and Andy Coleman. Coleman carries it in from one yard out with 6:49 left in the first period. Robert Barker's kick makes it ... Owen 7, Shelby 0

Shelby starts near midfield and quickly rushes for two first downs. Owen stops Shelby fullback Michael Copeland at the 32 on fourth-and-one with 4:11 left in the quarter. Owen though goes 3-and-out and punts to the Shelby 26 with 2:29 left in the quarter.

A 45-yard carry by Golden Lions' QB Quinton Hopper gets Shelby rolling.
Raper carries twice to put Shelby second-and-goal at the two. Owen stops Copeland cold on second down. Copeland plows ahead on third down to reach the end zone with 14 seconds left in the opening quarter.Shelby misses the point after, making the score ... Owen 7, Shelby 6.

Shelby forces Owen to punt early in the second quarter and Lions start from their 42. After a four-yard run by Copeland, Raper takes a pitch (backward pass) in the right flat. Raper turns it upfield and zooms 54 yards untouched for the score. Turner Almond's kick is good. Wih 10:08 left in the half the score ... Shelby 13, Owen 7.

Owen forced to punt again and Shelby resumes the attack. Lions have found something that works as Raper takes another throw out in the flats and speeds 24 yards to the Warhorses' 23. Two plays later, Shelby runs the same quick flip to the other side and Gerald Jennings takes it and goes 18 yards for the score. Shelby mishandles the snap on the kick but with 7:10 left in the half, it's ... Shelby 19, Owen 7.

Instant replay: Owen goes 3-and-out again.
Shelby takes over at its own 44. Lions line up in punt formation on fourth-and-two at Owen 48. Short snap goes to Raper who sails around the right side on the fake. Raper speeds all the way for the score. Almond's kick is good. with 3:47 left in half it's ... Shelby 26, Owen 7.

After the kickoff, Shelby linebacker Miles Lawrence breaks through to hit Owen QB Cody Craig as he tries to deliver a pass. Ball pops in air and is picked off by senior defensive end Quevalas Murray.
Shelby takes over at Owen 22. A holding penalty sets Shelby back but a 21-yard run by Raper and a 15-yard pass from Hopper to Reid Houser sets up a one-yard scoring plunge by Copeland on the last play of the half. Daniel Pennington kicks the extra point through making it ...Shelby 33, Owen 7.
At the half: Raper has rushed for 182 yards but limps off on his last carry and leaves the field.

Shelby gets the ball to start the second half but after one first down, has to punt it away. Owen takes over a its 18 and picks up a pair of first downs to the Shelby 38. After a one-yard gain on first down, three straight incompletions give the Lions possession at their own 37 with 6:35 left in the third period.

Shelby kicks it away moments later. Owen begins a drive from its 19. Warhorses get moving behind running of Coleman and Kirby. Owen gets all the way to the Shelby eight. Facing second-and-seven, refs stop the game because of lightning. Starting at 9:03, we have a 30-minute delay before play can be started again. Both teams leave the field for the locker rooms.

After a 30-minute wait ... and with lightning continuing in the area, the head official walks to the middle of the field and holds up the football and points to the Shelby bench, indicating the game was officially over and Shelby would advance to next week to play either Bandys or Ashe County.
Word from Crest is that the second half had not begun due to the weather conditions. Chargers were leading 21-7 at the break before the delay.

Crest vs. South Point

It's a lot warmer than most of us expected but that only makes it a good night for football here at Sid Bryson Stadium. Stay tuned for Crest vs. South Point with the Big South Conference crown at stake.

Crest gets the football first. Reggie Wilkins passes 49 yards to Charger receiver Kendall Kee to get Crest moving. Chargers drive inside the 10 but have to settle for a field goal. Trever Austin's kick is good, but a roughing the kicker penalty gives Chargers first-and-goal at the three.

Chargers stymied by Red Raider defense and have to go for a field goal again. This time Austin's kick is wide and Red Raiders get the ball at the 20 with 6:26 on the clock.

South Point picks up a first down to the 34. On first down, Lowery coughs up a fumble, Crest's Martavis Burris picks up the fumble and rambles 30 yards to the end zone with 5:32 left in the quarter. Austin's kick is good, making it ... Crest 7, South Point 0.

Red Raiders start their drive from their own 35. South Point puts on an option football clinic in a 65-yard, 11-play drive, all on the ground. Fullback Aaron Crumbly and QB Desmond Lowery share most of the ball-carrying duties. Crumbley punches in from the 2 with :52 left in the quarter. James Justice's kick is good, tying the game at ... 7-7.

Crest goes 3 and out and punts it away. SP starts from its 36 and gets a 35-yard pass from Lowery to Josh Justice. Red Raider drive stalls though. James Justice attempts 48 yard field goal but it falls short.

On Crest's first play from the 20, Neil Chambers breaks free down the right sideline for a 50-yard gain to the South Point 30. Chargers' threat is nullified however due to a penalty for an illegal block. Crest has to punt and it goes into end zone with 6:32 left in the half.
South Point takes over at its 20.
Raiders forced to punt and Crest gets the football at its 39. Chargers' Wilkins back to pass by South Point's Tyler Coolidge intercepts and returns to Crest 33. On first down, Lowery keeps straight ahead and gains
10 yards but fumbles the football. It rolls forward but Crest's Aldrich Watson falls on it at the 16 with 2:23 left in the half.
On third and 11 at the 15, Chambers zooms through a hole on the right side and sails 85 yards to the end zone. Austin's kick is good with 1:20 left in the half, making it ... Crest 14, SP 7.

South Point goes to the air and gets two first downs to reach the Crest 44. Four straight passes fall incomplete and Chargers take over there with 22.1 seconds left in half. Chargers take a knee and go to the half ahead ... 14-7.

Other scores from Cleveland County: Shelby leads East Rutherford 20-14 at halftime; Burns and Kings Mountain were tied 14-all late in the first half.
Update from Lawndale: Burns 21, KM 20 (don't know the time). Shelby now leads 27-14.

South Point gets the ball first in second half. On the second play, Josh Justice has the football stripped by Crest's Austin Hunt and Rhaheim Ledbetter recovers for Chargers at the 41. Crest moves in for an insurance score. Reggie Wikins his Aldrich Watson on a 23-yard pass for the big play in the march.
Freshman Cortez Wright goes 10 yards off the right side to score with 8:39 left in the third period. Austin's kick is good, making it ... Crest 21, SP 7.

Red Raiders start moving from their own 20. Lowery carries on five of six plays as South Point moves to Crest 35. JesseMcGaha is thrown for a six-yard loss, bringing up third and 11 at the 41. Lowery passes to Josh Justice for eight yards, then on fourth-and-three, Crumbley barrels for 16 yards to the Crest 17.
On first dow

n, it's a repeat as Crumbley breaks free to go to the end zone.
Aldrich Watson for Crest breaks through to block James Justice's conversion kick. With 4:11 left in the third quarter it's now ... Crest 21, SP 13.

Crest gets football and runs out the quarter. On 2nd play of fourth quarter, Chargers punt the football dead at the Red Raider 25.
It takes South Point 7 plays, all on the ground, to go the distance.
Crumbley and Lowery -- both of whom are now over 100 yards rushing on the night for South Point -- get most of the work but McGaha takes an option pitch to go the final 16 yards with 8:13 to play.
South Point goes for two points -- Lowery keeps over the left side and goes in. Score now tied .... 21-21.

Crest unable to move and punts. South Point takes over at its own 49 with 6:40 left in game.
Red Raiders continue their momentum. Lowery and Crumbley do most of the damage as South Point moves in to take the lead. Crumbley punches in for South Point -- which now has 24 first downs in the game -- from the three with 3:53 to go. Justice's kick puts South Point ahead ... 28-21.
Justice's kickoff sails into end zone. Crest has to start from the 20.
Crest now facing fourth and six from its own 24 with 2:54 to go. Chargers take a timeout.

Crest pass falls incomplete. South Point takes over at 24 with 2:49 to go.
Raiders take it in again against the tired Crest defenders. Lowery punches in from the three with 1:21 to go. Justice's kick makes it ... SP 35, Crest 21.

Chargers aren't done yet. Kendall Kee gets behind the secondary and hauls in a 70-yard TD pass from Reggie Wilkins. Austin kicks the point after. With 1:03 to go, it's ... South Point 35, Crest 28.
Crest tries an onside kick but Red Raiders' James Justice covers it at Charger 46 to keep the football for South Point.
Lowery takes a knee of first down and Crest calls timeout with 57 seconds to go.
South Point and Crest do the final minute timeout/take-a-knee opera and Raiders punt it away. Crest gets ball on nine with less than 10 seconds to go. Two incompletions end it.
Final.... South Point 35, Crest 28.

Crest-South Point series

The Crest-South Point football series pits two traditional high school powerhouses. They’ll meet for the 26th time this Friday night at Sid Bryson Stadium with the winner claiming the Big South 3A/4A Conference championship.

South Point owns a 15-10 edge in the series with the Red Raiders winning the first eight (1967-74). The teams were members of the old Southwestern 3A Conference until Crest moved up to 4A status for the first time in 1984. The two teams did not meet from 1985 through 2000.
The series was revived in 2001 and the Chargers have a 4-3 edge since that point, though one of South Point's victories was a forfeit in 2005.

The year-by-year series:
1967 — South Point 41, Crest 0
1968 — South Point 19, Crest 0
1969 — South Point 34, Crest 2
1970 — South Point 13, Crest 8
1971 — South Point 29, Crest 22
1972 — South Point 15, Crest 13
1973 — South Point 33, Crest 13
1974 — South Point 48, Crest 7
1975 — Crest 13, South Point 8
1976 — South Point 23, Crest 7
1977 — South Point 35, Crest 0
1978 — Crest 12, South Point 0
1979 — South Point 18, Crest 0
1980 — Crest 14, South Point 0
1981 — Crest 17, South Point 14 (OT)
1982 — Crest 41, South Point 14
1983 — Crest 21, South Point 6
1984 — South Point 33, Crest 0
2001 — Crest 42, South Point 12
2002 — Crest 28, South Point 7
2003 — South Point 35, Crest 7
2004 — Crest 35, South Point 21
2005 — South Point wins by forfeit
2006 — Crest 54, South Point 20
2007 — South Point 21, Crest 14