Yearick, Metrolina Christian spoil Statesville Christian's inaugural game
By DOUG POWELL dpowell@statesville.com
CONCORD — Statesville Christian's first game in school history didn't exactly go according to plan.
The Lions surrendered 20 unanswered third-quarter points and never found a consistent rhythm on offense. Statesville Christian fell to Metrolina Christian 38-3 on Friday at Cannon School, where the game, originally scheduled to be a home game for the Lions, was played.
The Lions (0-1) turned the ball over three times in the third quarter – two fumbles and an interception – and ran only seven offensive plays.
The Warriors (1-0) took advantage.
Entering the quarter leading 6-3, Metrolina Christian quarterback Rudiger Yearick scored on consecutive touchdown runs of one, 12, and 13 yards out. Yearick, a big, 6-3, 195-pound Warrior, added another touchdown in the fourth to give him the best stat line of the night with 15 carries for 86 yards and four scores. He also passed for 121 yards with an interception (a pick by the Lions' Hazien Campbell). His favorite target Jacob Titherington, caught six of Yearick's 10 completions for 80 yards.
The start of the game showed that the Lions are a first-year team. Statesville Christian punted on its first three possessions after going three-and-out on each of them. Both teams showed very undisciplined play, combining for 22 penalties (Lions had nine of them) and nearly 180 yards.
Brennan Settle, a 6-1, 170-pound sophomore, got the start at quarterback for the Lions and struggled. Playing behind an offensive line that kept Settle uncomfortable for most of the night, the right-handed signal caller, that played at South Iredell a year ago, started the game 0-for-6. He finished 4 for 20 for just 22 yards and two interceptions.
Metrolina Christian scored the game's only touchdown of the first half when Titherington scored on a run from 26 yards out. That carry capped off a quick, three-play drive for the Warriors.
The Warriors took a 6-3 lead to the half and had 10 penalties at the break – eight coming in the first quarter.
On Statesville Christian's fourth drive of the first half, it found the most success it would have all game. After a fumble recovery, the Lions used a 17-play drive, that dated back to the first quarter, and ended with a Simon Wilding 28-yard field goal with 7:41 remaining in the second quarter.
The first points in Lions history was aided by four Metrolina Christian penalties, one of which kept the Lions' drive alive on fourth down.
Statesville Christian finished with just 123 yards of total offense. Its longest offensive play came from a 16-yard scamper by running back Canaan Cox in the fourth quarter.
SCORING SUMMARY
Metrolina Christian 6 0 20 12 — 38
Statesville Christian 0 3 0 0 — 3
First Quarter
MC — Jacob Titherington 26 run (PAT no good) 4:05
Second Quarter
SC — Simon Wilding 28 field goal 7:41
Third Quarter
MC — Rudiger Yearick 1 run (2-point conversion no good) 10:48
MC — Yearick 12 run (Greyson Smith kick) 2:43
MC — Yearick 13 run (Smith kick) 0:14
Fourth Quarter
MC — Yearick 1 run (Smith kick failed) 6:24
MC — James Thomas 2 run (Smith kick failed) 1:03
By DOUG POWELL dpowell@statesville.com
CONCORD — Statesville Christian's first game in school history didn't exactly go according to plan.
The Lions surrendered 20 unanswered third-quarter points and never found a consistent rhythm on offense. Statesville Christian fell to Metrolina Christian 38-3 on Friday at Cannon School, where the game, originally scheduled to be a home game for the Lions, was played.
The Lions (0-1) turned the ball over three times in the third quarter – two fumbles and an interception – and ran only seven offensive plays.
The Warriors (1-0) took advantage.
Entering the quarter leading 6-3, Metrolina Christian quarterback Rudiger Yearick scored on consecutive touchdown runs of one, 12, and 13 yards out. Yearick, a big, 6-3, 195-pound Warrior, added another touchdown in the fourth to give him the best stat line of the night with 15 carries for 86 yards and four scores. He also passed for 121 yards with an interception (a pick by the Lions' Hazien Campbell). His favorite target Jacob Titherington, caught six of Yearick's 10 completions for 80 yards.
The start of the game showed that the Lions are a first-year team. Statesville Christian punted on its first three possessions after going three-and-out on each of them. Both teams showed very undisciplined play, combining for 22 penalties (Lions had nine of them) and nearly 180 yards.
Brennan Settle, a 6-1, 170-pound sophomore, got the start at quarterback for the Lions and struggled. Playing behind an offensive line that kept Settle uncomfortable for most of the night, the right-handed signal caller, that played at South Iredell a year ago, started the game 0-for-6. He finished 4 for 20 for just 22 yards and two interceptions.
Metrolina Christian scored the game's only touchdown of the first half when Titherington scored on a run from 26 yards out. That carry capped off a quick, three-play drive for the Warriors.
The Warriors took a 6-3 lead to the half and had 10 penalties at the break – eight coming in the first quarter.
On Statesville Christian's fourth drive of the first half, it found the most success it would have all game. After a fumble recovery, the Lions used a 17-play drive, that dated back to the first quarter, and ended with a Simon Wilding 28-yard field goal with 7:41 remaining in the second quarter.
The first points in Lions history was aided by four Metrolina Christian penalties, one of which kept the Lions' drive alive on fourth down.
Statesville Christian finished with just 123 yards of total offense. Its longest offensive play came from a 16-yard scamper by running back Canaan Cox in the fourth quarter.
SCORING SUMMARY
Metrolina Christian 6 0 20 12 — 38
Statesville Christian 0 3 0 0 — 3
First Quarter
MC — Jacob Titherington 26 run (PAT no good) 4:05
Second Quarter
SC — Simon Wilding 28 field goal 7:41
Third Quarter
MC — Rudiger Yearick 1 run (2-point conversion no good) 10:48
MC — Yearick 12 run (Greyson Smith kick) 2:43
MC — Yearick 13 run (Smith kick) 0:14
Fourth Quarter
MC — Yearick 1 run (Smith kick failed) 6:24
MC — James Thomas 2 run (Smith kick failed) 1:03
