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The high school football season is underway, but the first week led to a draw for Rutherford County.
At R-S Central, there certainly was another nail-biter in the series with McDowell, but the Hilltoppers lost 8-7 at home to open the season.
Matt Atchley led the way with 90 yards rushing, but this one definitely hurts. On a wet field, with sloppy play, everybody was on edge the entire game. On three separate occasions, R-S Central (0-1) gets the ball to the McDowell 39, 20 and 2 with five minutes left to play and unluckily can’t find a way get the winning score.
A Hilltoppers fumble set up the only McDowell score and they made a gusty call to go for the two-point conversion, which was successful and the difference maker on the scoreboard in the Titans win. Making matters worse, it was the only time McDowell had field position all night.
Central punted the ball away and missed a field goal (after a five-yard penalty) at the last second in two of those final three possessions. The controversial one came when Central quarterback Jaylen Hollis completed a third down pass close to the first down marker, but his knee was ruled down before the throw. From my angle, it looked like his knee was down, but I have heard another side to that story claiming that his knee had not hit yet.
Hopefully, the Hilltoppers can get past this and instead use it to fuel the fire of a turnaround. Last year, they did just that to at least upset Polk.
Chase (1-0) got the biggest win of the week as they came back from 14 down in the fourth quarter to take a 38-34 victory at Newton-Conover.
Chandler Casner produced the biggest turnover of the night with less than three minutes to go as he jarred the ball lose from the Red Devils quarterback and set up Chase for the game-winning score. Jordan O’Rourke started the comeback trail with a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown. Chase and R-S Central are off this week.
Thomas Jefferson (1-0) really had no problem dispatching of Lee Academy in a 51-16 opening season victory. Mason Martin scored two rushing touchdowns and Efrim Borders had three touchdown catches in the first half to go up 34-2. It won’t be the best team that they see all year, but the Gryphons do have a victory to start the season for the second year in a row.
This week is a much tougher contest as Thomas Jefferson hits the road for the second time in as many weeks to face Rosman on Friday. This game has definitely been circled on the calendar for the Gryphons, as Rosman took them out of the 1A playoffs last year.
The Gryphons will have to watch after two Rosman backs who are around 200 lbs. each. #42 Tanner Green had nearly 160 yards rushing last week and four touchdowns. Austin Anders (#31) scored once last week and put up nearly 80 yards. They also have to watch quarterback Josh Rice (#10) who had 70 yards rushing last week as well.
Linebacker, #20 Coty Flynn should play a big part this Friday on the Thomas Jefferson defense and &2 Michael Minder should be a good assist man in that department.
East Rutherford (0-1) played well, but left some room to improve. The Cavs energized the home crowd with Calvin Camp’s fumble return for a touchdown, which tied the game with a strong Erwin club at 21-all, but the Warriors tallied a 26-7 outburst in the final 21 minutes of play in a 47-28 loss for the Cavaliers.
East Rutherford will be the game of the week as they head to Dallas (not the one in Texas, it’s the one past Cherryville) to take on North Gaston.
The Cavaliers will have to keep an eye on Wildcats quarterback, Nick Haskin (#1) and running back, Josh Kahlig (#34)who will share the running duties.
East Rutherford has faith in quarterback Austin Hollifield (#10) for sure as he guided them to two scores last week and senior, Jordan Strickland (#65) is set up to have a great week among the lineman.
