Saturday, September 4, 2010 16:50

Clemson up on North Texas

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Two big plays made the difference as the Clemson Tigers managed a 21-7 halftime lead against North Texas today in the season opener for both teams at Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers scored on their second play from scrimmage, getting a 60-yard touchdown run from Andre Ellington, who, along with Jamie Harper, is expected to fill the role vacated by C.J. Spiller.

After an otherwise lethargic offensive performance in the first half, the Tigers struck again late in the second quarter when quarterback Kyle Parker found Brandon Clear open behind the Mean Green defense for a 70-yard touchdown pass.

The Tigers added another touchdown with 34 seconds remaining in the half when Parker found Harper for an 8-yard score.

Saturday, September 4, 2010 16:32

Campbell disqualified for not registering

Chad Campbell's playoff hopes have ended at the Deutsche Bank Championship. He was disqualified for a simple task that slipped his mind - he forgot to register for the tournament.

Much like the formality of signing a scorecard, PGA Tour players must register at a tournament before it begins. Campbell arrived Tuesday evening and practiced all week. He just never signed up.

Campbell opened with a 1-over 72 and would have needed a strong round Saturday to make the cut. At No. 83 in the FedEx Cup standings, he has no chance of making the top 70 to qualify for next week.

This is Campbell's second administrative blunder. A year ago, he was on the plane to Hawaii for the Sony Open when he realized he never entered the tournament.

Saturday, September 4, 2010 16:32

Snedeker is leading in Boston; Woods shoots 65

Brandt Snedeker is the leader at the Deutsche Bank Championship, a spot he didn't imagine when he saw that his tee times coincided with the expected arrival of rain and wind from Hurricane Earl.

Turns out Snedeker, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and others might have wound up on the good side of the draw.

Snedeker picked up four birdies on the easy stretch of holes at the TPC Boston for a 7-under 64, giving him a two-shot lead over Luke Donald among the early starters Saturday.

Woods was three shots below the projected cut going into the second round, but he eliminated those concerns early with a 32 on the front nine. He made one final birdie on the par-5 18th for a 6-under 65, leaving him seven shots behind Snedeker and with renewed hopes of being able to contend on Labor Day.

Snedeker, who was at 12-under 130, expected to face vicious wind on Friday afternoon and a course under water Saturday morning. Instead, there was little wind and only moderate rain for his opening round, and a strong wind picked up halfway through the second round.

"I wasn't liking my odds in the draw when I teed off yesterday," he said. "That being said, I think it's going to end up working out exactly the same. I think these guys in the afternoon are going to have the tough conditions we had yesterday afternoon."

Donald, picked for Europe's Ryder Cup team, shot a 67 and was at 10-under 132.

Phil Mickelson shot 65 and was in a large group at 134 that included Stewart Cink, under serious consideration as a captain's pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

It was an important day for Woods, who is No. 65 in the FedEx Cup standings and needs to be among the top 70 after this week to advance to the third round of the playoffs at the BMW Championship, where he is the defending champion.

That started with making the cut, and Woods was at 5-under 137, in the middle of the pack.

"I had to shoot a good one if I was going to move on, and I was able to do that today," Woods said. "I just felt better today. I just felt more energetic and ready to go."

Mickelson started hitting fairways and making putts, and suddenly the debate for No. 1 has come back to life. Mickelson could go to the top of the world ranking for the first time if he finishes at least fourth and Woods is out of the top 10.

This is the 10th tournament in which Mickelson has had a mathematical chance to replace Woods at No. 1, and he hasn't taken advantage too often. The only other time he was in contention was at Firestone, when he went into the weekend one shot behind and closed with a 78.

Lefty has not finished in the top 10 since the U.S. Open, and he missed the cut last week. But he went home to San Diego to hone his game with swing coach Butch Harmon, worked on a new driver and likes what he sees.

"I got my game dialed in, and so I was pretty excited about this week," Mickelson said. "But again, you don't know until you get out here, and you've got to shoot the numbers. Yesterday I didn't quite post the number I wanted to, but today I was able to do that."

Woods knew he would have to find his form quickly starting on No. 1, which is the easier portion of the TPC Boston. He had a two-putt birdie on the par-5 second, drove over the green on the par-4 fourth and got up-and-down for birdie, then added birdies on the sixth and seventh holes to take the drama out of his round.

"Considering I didn't miss a shot for the first six holes ... it was a good start," he said.

That's where Snedeker thrived, too. He made four birdies in a five-hole stretch, ending the run with a 7-iron to 15 feet on the sixth hole, and finishing his round with a 4-iron to 10 feet.

Snedeker is No. 53 in the standings and appears to be on his way to Chicago. The idea is to take the drama out of it, and Snedeker has had enough of that. A year ago, he needed only a bogey on the last hole to get into the final round of the playoffs at the Tour Championship, and wound up four-putting from 12 feet.

"That's what makes the FedEx Cup great," he said. "It has those kind of stories. You put a little bit more extra pressure on yourself than you normally should, and I learned from that last year."

Saturday, September 4, 2010 10:48

Carolina Panthers keep Tony Pike, waive QB Hunter Cantwell

The Carolina Panthers have made their quarterback decision.

According to multiple league sources, the Panthers have decided to keep sixth-round pick Tony Pike as their third quarterback and waive Hunter Cantwell.

Neither passer lit it up in the preseason, with Pike finishing with a team-high 58.4 passer rating to Cantwell’s 57.2.

Starter Matt Moore finished with a 56.1 rating and rookie backup Jimmy Clausen had a 46.8 rating. Rookie wide receiver Armanti was actually third on the team with a 56.2 rating in the preseason, based on his play in the wildcat-style “Mountaineer package,” Thursday night.

Cantwell opened training camp as Moore’s backup based on his experience, and had the strongest arm on the team by far. But the Panthers went with Pike based in part on the intangibles they saw as similar to former quarterback Jake Delhomme.

The 6-foot-6 Pike’s mechanics aren’t necessarily much to look at, but he’s won at every level. He was 16-3 in two years as the starting quarterback at Cincinnati, but questions about his arm strength and ability to translate from a spread offense caused him to slip to the sixth-round.

He was actually the last of the Panthers’ sixth-rounders this year (after defensive end Greg Hardy wide receiver David Gettis and safety Jordan Pugh), chosen 204th overall.

Cantwell’s also the last Panthers quarterback to throw a touchdown in the preseason, with his 2009 toss to wideout Jason Chery the last success for the passing game the Panthers had in the exhibition season.

Cantwell spent most of last year on the practice squad, but was promoted to the 53-man roster for the final two games. While he’s practice-squad eligible, sources said he was unlikely to stay with the Panthers. The presence of Edwards as a passing option may make keeping a practice squad quarterback unnecessary.

Pike also benefited from a clause in the collective bargaining agreement that tips the scales toward draft picks. Any who are cut have 85 percent of their $320,000 salaries distributed to other picks who make the team. In short, that means you’re paying them whether they make the team or not, and while they like Pike’s potential, that $272,000 difference could be at least a small factor.

The Panthers will announce their full list of 22 cuts later today, though some names are trickling out. They’ve also released offensive tackle Rob Petitti and linebacker Mortty Ivy, based on twitter reports emanating from their agents.

Saturday, September 4, 2010 9:42

No. 2 Northwestern pull off another big win

There was no letdown Friday following No.2-ranked Northwestern's impressive come-from-behind win over South Pointe before a nationally televised audience last week.

The Trojans again pulled away thanks to senior quarterback Justin Worley and his favorite target, fellow senior Robert Joseph.

The duo connected for a pair of touchdowns as Northwestern sailed past York, 41-0, at District Three Stadium.

"We had some opportunities we didn't cash in, but our defense kept playing well," said Northwestern coach Jimmy "Moose" Wallace. "The defense got the shutout. We scored 41 points. And we're 2-0 and we'll take it."

The young Cougars continue to adjust under head coach Mike Propst, who is in his first year at York after leading R.J. Reynolds of Winston-Salem, N.C. a year ago. York started five sophomores on defense and moved Spencer Carroll, son of South Pointe coach Bobby Carroll, to quarterback. He replaced Corey Dover, who looks to settle into a key role on the Cougars' defense.

In his first career start, Carroll, a sophomore, played well against the Trojans stout defensive line, though his statistics may not reflect it.

York (0-2) held Northwestern in check for much of the first half, keeping the Trojans scoreless until Worley connected with Joseph on a 10-yard pass with 10:36 left in the second quarter. York's defensive line pressured Worley early and often. Jamil Harris, a 5-foot-4, 197-pound lineman, had two sacks in the second quarter.

The Trojans first strike, a pass-and-catch between Worley and Joseph, took seven plays.

On the ensuing possession, Carroll fumbled on third down as he was sacked. Northwestern regained possession on the 31 and only needed 30 seconds for Worley to find Stewart Hunt on an over-the-shoulder pass in the left corner of the end zone for the score and a 14-0 lead.

York continued to press, but found few opportunities to move the ball. A blocked punt and a pair of sacks late in the second quarter prematurely ended promising Cougars drives.

For the second consecutive week, the Northwestern (2-0) exploded in the third quarter. Last week Worley threw five touchdown passes in the third quarter to propel the Trojans to a 42-20 victory. Friday it was the Trojans' defense and special teams which set up quick scores in the third quarter.

The Trojans opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 70-yard, scoring drive that was littered by penalties. Worley's would-be 51-yard touchdown pass to Stewart Hunt was negated after a holding penalty on the fourth play of the drive. Two plays later, Northwestern was flagged for another holding penalty. LaThomas Long eventually broke through on a 10-yard run up the middle to punctuate the drive.

"We received the kickoff and made a play and out offense took it down there and put it in," said Wallace. "So I think that got us over the hurdle and gave us confidence. And a little confidence is great for football team. I think we all put it together in the second half."

About the third-quarter explosion, Worley said his team can't "seem to get off the bus and start playing right away."

"I guess we have a couple warm-up quarters and then start dialing in," he said.

After a quick three-and-out series by York, Northwestern went to work again. Nick Cousar returned the punt 48 yards to setup a short field for Worley and company. Worley's 3-yard pass to Joseph with 5:22 left in the third quarter put the Trojans ahead 28-0. The completion was Worley's 100th career touchdown pass in just over two seasons.

Northwestern's defense again forced a three-and-out series for York. This time, York punter Matt Bostic had his kick blocked by a host of Trojans that blew up the middle of the line. The ball bounced around and Northwestern's Gerald Dixon recovered it in the end zone for the touchdown.

While the Trojans posted the expected offensive numbers, it was the carelessness that infuriated Wallace throughout the night. Northwestern was flagged eight times for 100 yards, and the coach summed up his feelings succinctly.

"Penalties concern me. I can't stand it," he said.

Northwestern is back in action Thursday after another shortened week when it hosts Ridge View at District Three Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

NORTHWESTERN 41, YORK 0

SCORING SUMMARY

NW - Robert Joseph 10 pass from Justin Worley (James Smith kick)

NW - Stewart Hunt 17 pass from Worley (Smith kick)

NW - LaThomas Long 12 run (Smith kick)

NW - Joseph 3 pass from Worley (Smith kick)

NW - Gerald Dixon recovered fumbled in end zone (kick failed)

NW - Long pass 10 from Worley (Sully Foy kick)

NORTHWESTERN;YORK

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Northwestern: LaThomas Long 6-34, Justin Worley 6-13, Robert Joseph 1-22, AJ McCoy 4-14, Marcus Marshall 2-3, Diamond Miller 2-14. York: Omario Biggers 5-17, Spencer Carroll 15-29, Cor'tavious Heath 3-1, Lamin Yanseneh 8-9.

PASSING -- Northwestern: Worley 26-37-2-264, Matt Turney 3-5-0-11. York: Carroll 7-24-1-58.

RECEIVING -- Northwestern: Stewart Hunt 3-30, Joseph 10-74, Brandon Lewis 2-15, BJ Boyd 6-96, Delvieon McLeod 2-22, L. Long 4-31, Jeff Long 2-7. York: Tony Thomasson 1-13, Garet Smith 2-9, Biggers 1-16, Reggie McClain 2-13, Azievelle Smith 1-7.

Records: Northwestern 2-0, York 0-2

Saturday, September 4, 2010 8:56

13 UNC players ruled out for opener while probe expands

The investigations into possible misconduct by University of North Carolina football players transformed Friday into a full-fledged crisis for the school.

Thirteen players - including seven starters on UNC's star-studded defense - remained in Chapel Hill on Friday night as the 18th-ranked Tar Heels prepared for their season opener in Atlanta.

UNC said in a statement that six are ineligible for Saturday night's game against No. 21 Louisiana State for breaking school and/or NCAA rules. Seven more are being withheld as investigations into possible inappropriate contact with agents, and possible academic misconduct, continue.

Two other stars - starting linebackers Bruce Carter and Quan Sturdivant - had to wait until Friday night to have their eligibility established. They were scheduled to catch a plane before 9 p.m. in order to join their teammates.

This is believed to be the largest number of suspensions or withholdings on one team in the athletic department's history. And the situation calls into question the reputation of a program that hasn't dealt with this much official questioning since the basketball team's involvement in a point-shaving scandal in the early 1960s.

"It's humiliating by any measure," said Brent Barringer, a UNC graduate and member of the UNC System Board of Governors. "It's not what we're about.

"Just six years ago I was at a seminar in Chapel Hill and heard (the late) Myles Brand, then the president of the NCAA, hold up UNC Chapel Hill as a paragon of the student-athlete model. Here we are, less than seven years later, having to disqualify 20 percent of the team not just because of NCAA agent allegations but more importantly academic allegations....

"It's very, very disappointing - and frankly embarrassing to the point of being humiliating."

The Tar Heels are mired in two investigations. In June, the NCAA started a probe into whether football players took inappropriate benefits from agents. The (Raleigh) News & Observer learned that defensive tackle Marvin Austin and wide receiver Greg Little - two of six players who had considered turning pro early after last season - were among the players interviewed.

Austin has been subpoenaed in Secretary of State Elaine Marshall's investigation of possible violations of N.C. state law involving sports agents, two sources with knowledge of the subpoenas told The Charlotte Observer and The N&O Friday on condition of anonymity. The Associated Press also reported that Austin has been subpoenaed.

On Aug. 26, the school announced an additional investigation, into whether a former tutor - who had been employed by the school and Tar Heels football coach Butch Davis - committed academic misconduct while working with football players. A source told The N&O that the issue involved whether the tutor gave inappropriate help on papers the players were writing for classes.

Athletic director Dick Baddour explained Friday that when an institution finds a violation related to a student athlete, it has to declare him or her ineligible. Then it must petition to the NCAA to restore eligibility. He would not distinguish which of the players in question wouldn't travel because of the agent issue, the academic issue, or both. But for now, they fall into two groups:

Declared ineligible, out for the LSU game: Austin (who was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday for breaking team rules), cornerbacks Charles Brown and Kendric Burney, Little and defensive ends Michael McAdoo and Robert Quinn were all declared ineligible by the school. UNC is coming up with a proposed "remedy," or punishment, that the NCAA would accept to restore eligibility.

"Withheld" from Saturday's game: UNC has not declared that tailbacks Ryan Houston and Shaun Draughn; defensive end Linwan Euwell; or safeties Deunta Williams, Brian Gupton, Da'Norris Searcy and Jonathan Smith have committed any violations. But the school needs to gather more facts. "So if you're at that stage, you would be running a significant risk to play those students," Baddour said.

Earlier, it looked as if Williams, a starter, might also be cleared in time to join Carter and Sturdivant on their flight to Atlanta. But a school spokesman said the senior would not be ruled eligible in time for Saturday's 8 p.m. kickoff.

The number of games the 13 players might miss hasn't been determined, and the investigation continues to include both agent-related and academic issues.

That means more penalties could still be forthcoming from the school, the NCAA, or both.

"My hope would be that we would move along enough in the next week or 10 days or two weeks, to have a better sense of what's involved with each case,'' Baddour said.

UNC plays its next game against Georgia Tech on Sept. 18.

Shock and disbelief

Friday morning, roughly a dozen media members staked out the Kenan Football Center, scribbling notes and tweeting updates as to who was, and was not, boarding the buses to the airport.

Many observers expressed shock and dismay about the number of Tar Heels who had to be left behind.

Bob Winston, chair of UNC's board of trustees, said he was "extremely saddened and disappointed."

"For all people who care about the university, this is a great moment of great sadness," said William Friday, UNC President Emeritus. "We've gone 50 years without even the remotest allegation of wrongdoing at Chapel Hill."

Friday was referring to a point-shaving scandal that by 1962 had implicated 50 players from 25 schools around the country who fixed the outcomes of 54 games. One UNC player and four others at N.C. State faced bribery charges and testified against the conspirators in exchange for immunity.

UNC's athletic department has had to suspend players since then, but not so many at one time.

"What we're seeing is a manifestation of what's going on all over college athletics," said Friday, who co-chaired the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, which has recommended reforms to college sports. "It's perfectly clear the time has come for the people who care about intercollegiate athletics to put a stop to this."

Baddour and UNC chancellor Holden Thorp - who both traveled with the team to Atlanta - expressed confidence in Davis.

Asked if the fourth-year head coach's job is in jeopardy, Baddour firmly said, "No," citing Davis' strong leadership and "tremendous job" he's done with the program.

But Thorp added that some things need to be tweaked off the football field.

"I think that what is clear about this situation is that academics and character have not been emphasized as much as they need to be in the football program,' Thorp said.

"I think the big question here is whether people are being reminded frequently enough of the values of the university - and of the importance of academics relative to everything else. And it's clear that we need to improve that."

Thorp said he has stressed that need for improvement with both Baddour and Davis. That re-emphasis is occurring, he said, and he remains determined to get to the bottom of what went wrong. And make it right.

"This happened on Butch's watch, but it happened on Dickie's watch and on my watch, too," Thorp said. "And the three of us are committed to making this football program one that is consistent with what Carolina has always been about."Chip Alexander, J.P. Giglio and Ken Tysiac contributed.

Saturday, September 4, 2010 0:42

Mallard Creek off to the races

Marquise Williams has had some great quarters in his four years as Mallard Creek's starting quarterback. But Friday night was one of his best performances in a 12-minute span as Williams threw for 157 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score in the first quarter alone as the senior led the Mavericks to a 74-0 win over East Mecklenburg.

"I just have to come out and do what I do no matter who we are playing or what the score is," Williams said, who has committed to play football at North Carolina next year. "Coach (Aaron) Brand (offensive coordinator) has helped me a lot. I feel really good about the way I played tonight."

Williams threw a touchdown on the first offensive play from scrimmage, hitting Jamel Harbison perfectly in stride less than 30 seconds into the game, and the Mavericks never looked back.

After Mallard Creek's Brandon Wilkerson intercepted the Eagles' Tennant Gardner, Williams and company struck quickly again, finding Harbison on third play of the drive for a 10-yard pass and catch, and a 14-0 lead two minutes into the game.

East Meck fumbled on the next play from scrimmage, and Williams took advantage in a flash, this time calling his own number for a 19-yard touchdown run.

Williams, who finished with 171 yards passing and four touchdowns passes for the game, tossed two more scoring tosses in the quarter finding Harbison again for his third touchdown catch of the game, then hitting Corey Miller for a 27-yard score.

Mallard Creek (3-0), No. 3 in the Observer Sweet 16, scored on its first seven possessions, and eight of its nine times it had the ball in the first half, taking a 42-0 lead after one quarter and a 54-0 lead at the half. The Mavericks scored 60 or more points for the second week in a row, after beating Harding 61-0 last week, and have now outscored their last two opponents 135-0.

"We definitely played our best game of the year," Mallard Creek football coach Mike Palmieri said. "We prepare each week the same, but I think our offense is playing at (another) level right now."

Mallard Creek has a bye week before hosting Chester in two weeks, while the Eagles host West Mecklenburg next Friday.

Saturday, September 4, 2010 0:30

Late heave saves West Charlotte

"Drop 59" made a hero of Joseph Jones.

The West Charlotte receiver caught Ahmad Brown's 48-yard heave for the game-winning score on the final play of the Lions' 28-22 victory against rival Harding. Jones' catch - his first of the season - rescued West Charlotte (3-0) from the Rams' determined upset bid.

"It was a rollout," Jones said. "It was supposed to be just a step-back, but the pressure came in from the inside and (Brown) rolled out. It was a scramble drill, so I had to get into the open field and he threw the ball right to me."

West Charlotte was forced to rally after Harding's Vadarrian King (13-of-25, 149 yards, 2 TDs) hooked up with Eddie Graves on a 34-yard pass for a 22-16 advantage with 7:34 left. Xavier Wilkes' punt block and 10-yard return tied the score at 22-all with 3:54 left, but Harding's defense stuffed the two-point try, forcing the Lions to play through the final second.

"Sixty-two minutes, it felt like," West Charlotte coach Marcus Surratt said. "Our kids are a resilient bunch and just fought to the end."

Both defenses were stellar in the first half, with Harding bottling West Charlotte's rushing attack to a mere 46 yards while the Lions forced a pair of interceptions deep in Rams territory. Harding's offense showed balance, however, rolling up 104 yards, including 57 passing from King, who completed 5-of-11 attempts including a 5-yard scoring pass to Reggie McNeil late in the second quarter.

West Charlotte responded by marching downfield on the final possession of the half, capped by Scoot Simmons' 4-yard run and two-point conversion for an 8-6 Lions lead at the break. Simmons had 38 yards on 11 first-half carries, including 31 on five ties during go-ahead drive.

West Charlotte stormed out the gate to open the second half, marching 70 yards to Simmons' 3-yard run with 8:48 left for a 14-6 advantage. Brown (5-of-12, 92 yards, 1 TD) had an immediate impact after going 1-for-5 for minus-5 yards in the first half, connecting with Qaivs Moore on a 31-yard strike as the key play and running in the two-point try.

Harding's defense cut the deficit to 16-14 when Kevin Green picked off a pass and returned it 28 yards for a score. Suddenly, the Rams were riding the momentum that King would build upon with the scoring pass to Graves.

Friday, September 3, 2010 23:51

Titans' mighty start is enough

Hopewell's first possession ended with a 29-yard touchdown run by Denzel Heath, and the Titans just kept running while flattening the Myers Park Mustangs 27-12 Friday night.

The Titans scored twice more in the first quarter, on a 10-yard run by Dondre Lewis-Freeman and on a 42-yard interception return by Michael Russell on the next Myers Park possession.

Lewis-Freeman scored again in the second quarter on a 28-yard touchdown run after quarterback Cole Blythe mishandled the snap. The senior running back had 157 yards in the first half on 14 carries. He finished with 210 yards despite not playing much in the fourth quarter.

"Our (offensive line) stepped it up big-time from last week and everything just went well in the first half," said Lewis-Freeman. "I feel real good right now."

Hopewell coach Chris Rust said he has been looking to Lewis-Freeman to break big runs to open up the passing game.

"I think he came out tonight and ran like he did last year," he said. "He had a purpose tonight running."

Things started going downhill for the Mustangs on their first drive. Starting junior quarterback Blaine Anderson went down with a knee injury and missed the rest of the game. Sophomore Ross Jeffries looked shaky, throwing the interception to Russell on the next drive.

"We have a lot of confidence in Ross Jeffries...so we can't really use that as an excuse," said Myers Park coach Greg Taylor.

Jeffries eventually settled down and led an 87-yard drive in the final two minutes of the half, culminated by the Mustangs' first touchdown on a 22-yard pass to Napoleon Belk. But the Mustangs went into the half trailing 27-6.

"We didn't tackle very well," Taylor said. "We were prepared."

Even though Hopewell never found the end zone in the second half, Myers Park couldn't get back in the game. The running game was almost nonexistent for the Mustangs; their only second-half score came with less than two minutes left on a 10-yard pass from Jeffries to Belk.

Jeffries completed 17 of his 31 passes for 227 yards in the losing effort.

Friday, September 3, 2010 23:45

Sluggish Bulldogs get win

The Butler Bulldogs finally shook off the rust from a week's layoff and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to wrap up a 35-14 victory over Vance on Friday in a battle of two mistake-prone football teams.

Running back Deion Walker rushed for four touchdowns and Jahwan Edwards carried 22 times for 121 yards and another score as the visiting Bulldogs (2-0) finally put away a Vance team energized by two third-quarter scores.

The Cougars (1-1), down 21-0 at the half, closed to within 21-14 in a two-minute span on a 12-yard run by Larenz Bryant, followed quickly by a 15-yard run by Terrale Mobley with a recovered fumble on a punt.

"I think we felt pretty good at the half, but got too relaxed," Butler coach Mike Newsome said. "We're not a team like the one we had last year, and we can't just blow people out. We've got to play better if we're going to be a really good football team."

The Bulldogs showed flashes of that in the final quarter-and-a-half, clamping down defensively and turning to its running game to roll to its last two scores.

A 38-yard interception return to the Vance 4 by defensive back Jarret Camp, one of three picks by the Butler defense, set up a 2-yard scoring run by Walker, who made the most of his 71 yards on 19 carries.

"Our passing game probably didn't have its best day, but we've got a couple of good running backs who can help us," Newsome said.

"This was a lot like a first game, and I think the week off after playing our first game (a victory over Winston-Salem Mount Tabor) didn't help us."

The Bulldogs took advantage of a shanked punt to get their last score on Walker's 10-yard run with about 3 minutes to play.

The Cougars had been competitive early, but had also been their own worst enemy. Two of Butler's first half touchdowns were set up by Vance turnovers and the Cougars' best drive of the game, a 71-yard march to the Bulldog 10, ended when Mark Bridges intercepted a pass by Vance quarterback Jalen Latter.

Latter, a sophomore, completed 12-of-23 passes for 113 yards.

Walker scored on runs of 2 and 10 yards in the first quarter, the first after Clinton Bobray recovered a fumble by Vance's Jermaine Walls.

Friday, September 3, 2010 23:42

Knights win after Hawks misfire

Early season games are usually sloppy, and Friday night's football game between Ardrey Kell and West Mecklenburg was no different.

In the end, the visiting Knights took advantage of the Hawks' mistakes and cruised to a 21-6 victory at West Mecklenburg Stadium.

"This is the second week in a row that we have struggled in the red zone," said Ardrey Kell coach Adam Hastings. "We did a little better tonight, but we definitely have room for improvement."

The Knights got on the board first in the first period, after West Meck fumbled a snap on a punt. After Justus Pickett took the ball down to the goal line, quarterback Drew Davies plunged in from 1 yard for a 7-0 lead that held through the first half.

It looked as though Ardrey Kell would take advantage of another mistake by West Meck, as West Meck quarterback Jonathan Taylor fumbled the snap and Ardrey Kell recovered. But Shawn Brown picked off a Davies pass two plays later to set up the Hawks' only score .

Corey Nesmith took the ball 54 yards to the 9, then three plays later, Taylor kept the ball and scored to cut the lead to 7-6.

Ardrey Kell responded with an impressive, two-play drive, with Pickett catching a 23-yard pass, then running for 19 yards and a touchdown.

After another fumbled snap on a punt by West Meck, the Knights put the game away with a 1-yard touchdown run by Davies.

Friday, September 3, 2010 23:41

Spartans surge in third quarter

Indian Trail Sun Valley dominated the second half in a 40-14 win over Olympic to give Spartan coach Scott Stein two consecutive wins in as many years over one of his former schools.

The decisive third quarter belonged to Sun Valley and running back Jadarrius Williams. After a 14-all tie at halftime, the Spartans (2-0) scored quickly on ensuing possessions that ended with Williams touchdowns.

The first Williams score - a 93-yard run down the right sideline - was on the possession's only play that gave Sun Valley a 20-14 lead with 3:12 remaining in the frame. Williams followed up with his second touchdown with 16 seconds left in the third, and Ryan Smith's two-point pass to Will Holmes gave the Spartans a 28-14 lead.

The Spartans scored twice more in the fourth quarter on a 67-yard Jody Fuller catch and run from Ryan Smith and Williams' last score - a 58-yard run down the left sideline. Williams finished with 16 carries for 208 yards.

The teams traded 14-point streaks in the first half. Sun Valley took the early lead on Ryan Smith touchdown passes of 14 yards to Chris Duffy with 8:38 remaining in the first quarter and 19 yards to Bryson Bouldin with 10:46 left in the second.

Bouldin finished with four catches for 80 yards, including a 45-yard catch on a wide receiver pass from Kevin Saxton, who doubles as a back-up quarterback for the Spartans.

After the Spartans second score, Olympic fired back 42 seconds later to cut the lead to 14-7 on Jarrett Moore's four-yard run on a misdirection run up the middle. The touchdown was setup by a 77-yard run by Rahiem Jennings (14 carries, 154 yards).

The Trojans (1-2) tied the score on their ensuing possession when Jennings added a four-yard run with 3:20 remaining in the half. The 93-yard scoring drive was aided by three Spartan penalties totaling 35 yards.

Sophomore quarterback Chase Shuford, Olympic coach Barry Shuford's son, completed nine of 22 passes for 135 yards starting in place of the injured Cason Beatty.