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Week one of high school football is in the books and things went halfway right for Rutherford County on the gridiron.
R-S Central (1-0) took the biggest win of the week, finally getting over the McDowell dry spell with a 26-15 road win. The Hilltoppers had an inauspicious start, but flipped the script by dominating the second half.
McDowell (0-1) was on offense for 28 plays, while Central had just 18 in the first half. In the second half, Central went 32 plays, while McDowell just 18 in the second half on offense.
My pick for player of the week goes to R-S Central’s Tyrese Tate. After falling 7-0 in the first quarter, Tate busted through the seam on the kickoff return and 87-yards later hit pay dirt to tie the game up.
Tate, who managed the game solidly at quarterback as a sophomore would later recover an onside kick as well in the win.
“The kickoff return for a touchdown by Tyrese (Tate) kept us focused,” R-S Central football coach Mike Cheek said. “I told Tyrese this summer that I was going to have to start treating him like a senior, you’re the man to quarterback this team. If you make a mistake, shake it off and we will go to the next play.”
Matt Atchley (75 yards rushing), Juwan Watkins (23 yards rushing) and Tyran McEntyre (33 yards rushing) each scored once to break out to a 26-7 lead with eight minutes remaining in the contest. Desmond Whitesides added 57 rushing in the win.
Defensively they played pretty well too with Eli Shipman and Trevon Carson both doing an excellent job at linebacker. R-S Central will face Cramer (0-1) this Friday on the road.
Thomas Jefferson did exactly what they needed to do. The Gryphons went to Gastonia and strolled past upstart Cramer Storm 28-7.
Mason Martin was responsible for three of the four touchdowns, running for two and tossing the other. Tyler Mitchell has now returned a kickoff two consecutive games for touchdowns dating back to last year‘s playoff loss.
Thomas Jefferson (1-0) will host Rosman (1-0) this Friday. The last two regular season games between the two schools were a one-point and eight-point difference which Thomas Jefferson won.
Physicality and defense will be the name of the game. Don’t expect a high scoring contest, but who can stop the run best and make the least mistakes will be the winner.
Players to watch this week: Trey McGhee (TJ), Coty Flynn (TJ), Rosman’s Tanner Green, who had 182 yards rushing and two scores last week.
East Rutherford showed well in the first half, but Erwin rattled off 27 consecutive points after the half as the Cavaliers lost 41-24 on the road last Friday. East Rutherford (0-1) led 17-14 at the half, scoring all of their points in the second quarter. Kameron Garrison landed in the end zone twice and Harrison Wilkerson hit a 28-yard field goal.
The Cavaliers will host option-oriented North Gaston this week and hope to avenge a stinging 43-42 loss from a year ago. Players to watch: Carlos Cureton (ER), Tray Greene (ER) North Gaston’s Prince Fox (109 yards rushing last week)
Chase (0-1) couldn’t find a way to score as they were shutout at home by Newton-Conover to start the season 29-0. The Trojans visit Winston Salem this Friday as they face R.J. Reynolds High (0-1).
Players to watch: Stephan Phillips (CH) Gus Owens (CH), R.J Reynolds’ Pat Harrison, who rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns last week.
And for the record, Chase hasn’t played a high school football team from Winston Salem since 1967 and that was a 28-0 win over Salem.
