Mistakes spoil Village’s shot at NCISAA crown, 20-16
Thomas Pope
Sports editor
SouthLake Christian Academy's football team doesn't run the ball well, nor had it been very successful throwing it during the season, either.
But it won enough games to earn a shot at the NCISAA Division III title, and it did just enough against Village Christian to take the trophy home to Huntersville with a 20-16 triumph Friday night.
The fact that the Eagles finished the season with a .500 record will only make the larger accomplishment sweeter in the coming years.
'Even a few weeks back, I remember thinking there's no way we're going to win a state championship,' said Braeden McCarthy, whose interception with under a minute to go clinched the title for the Eagles. 'But we grinded all season to prepare for this moment. A great team effort.
'I don't think we were favored in a single game this season. We don't always have the best team, but we always have the most heart.'
Village, which finished 8-5, made too many mistakes to overcome. It fumbled at SouthLake's 20, saw an interception returned for a touchdown, had another pass picked off in the red zone, then finally saw its hopes end when McCarthy intercepted Asa Barnes on fourth down.
The Knights finished as an NCISAA state runner-up for the second consecutive season.
“We just made mistakes,” said first-year coach Emerson Martin. “We threw a bad interception that cost us. The pick-6, you take that away ...” That interception return for a touchdown came from middle linebacker Donovan Lewis, and it put the Eagles up 13-0.
Village countered on the next play from scrimmage, with Celik Curtis racing 54 yards for a touchdown and tacking on the two-point conversion.
But the euphoria didn’t last long. Bailey Jones had three completions totalling 82 yards in the next drive, ending in a late score with a throw to Hayden Humphrey for a 20-8 halftime lead.
The big momentum swing came late in the third period. A long Village drive ended with Asa Barnes scrambling for a touchdown on a fourth-and-8 play from the 19. The conversion try failed, but the Knights got those two points less than a minute later when Jones was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone.
That’s where everything ground to a halt for Village offensively, with its final three drives ending interception, fumble, interception.
“We didn’t execute on offense,” said Village tight end Kyle Kettles, a junior. “We had so many turnovers. That’s just about it.”
Thomas Pope can be reached at 486-3518 or tpope@fayobserver.com.
Thomas Pope
Sports editor
SouthLake Christian Academy's football team doesn't run the ball well, nor had it been very successful throwing it during the season, either.
But it won enough games to earn a shot at the NCISAA Division III title, and it did just enough against Village Christian to take the trophy home to Huntersville with a 20-16 triumph Friday night.
The fact that the Eagles finished the season with a .500 record will only make the larger accomplishment sweeter in the coming years.
'Even a few weeks back, I remember thinking there's no way we're going to win a state championship,' said Braeden McCarthy, whose interception with under a minute to go clinched the title for the Eagles. 'But we grinded all season to prepare for this moment. A great team effort.
'I don't think we were favored in a single game this season. We don't always have the best team, but we always have the most heart.'
Village, which finished 8-5, made too many mistakes to overcome. It fumbled at SouthLake's 20, saw an interception returned for a touchdown, had another pass picked off in the red zone, then finally saw its hopes end when McCarthy intercepted Asa Barnes on fourth down.
The Knights finished as an NCISAA state runner-up for the second consecutive season.
“We just made mistakes,” said first-year coach Emerson Martin. “We threw a bad interception that cost us. The pick-6, you take that away ...” That interception return for a touchdown came from middle linebacker Donovan Lewis, and it put the Eagles up 13-0.
Village countered on the next play from scrimmage, with Celik Curtis racing 54 yards for a touchdown and tacking on the two-point conversion.
But the euphoria didn’t last long. Bailey Jones had three completions totalling 82 yards in the next drive, ending in a late score with a throw to Hayden Humphrey for a 20-8 halftime lead.
The big momentum swing came late in the third period. A long Village drive ended with Asa Barnes scrambling for a touchdown on a fourth-and-8 play from the 19. The conversion try failed, but the Knights got those two points less than a minute later when Jones was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone.
That’s where everything ground to a halt for Village offensively, with its final three drives ending interception, fumble, interception.
“We didn’t execute on offense,” said Village tight end Kyle Kettles, a junior. “We had so many turnovers. That’s just about it.”
Thomas Pope can be reached at 486-3518 or tpope@fayobserver.com.
