Andrew Goodman led Mallard Creek to the win over Butler.
Photo by Randy Rimland
31-game winning streak is over, and so too is its unquestioned dominance in the Charlotte area.
Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.), which was 13-0 last season before being upset in the 4AA playoffs by Vance, used a balanced offensive attack with a powerful run game and big plays through the air to knock off the defending state champion Bulldogs 28-20.
The Mavericks raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first half thanks to a dominant offensive line, led by
D.J. Humphries who
recently committed to Florida. Humphries opened up holes for running back
Jela Duncan and created time and space for quarterback Andrew Goodman, who takes over this season for All-American Marquise Williams now at North Carolina.
The powerful Butler offense, led by Top 100 watch list quarterback
Riley Ferguson, first struck shortly before halftime. The Bulldogs intercepted a Mallard Creek pass with less than a minute to play in the half, and Ferguson connected with brother
Zach Ferguson for a 9-yard touchdown and cut the deficit to seven points.
The Bulldogs struck again early in the third quarter with Ferguson connecting this time with
Uriah Lemay for his second touchdown pass of the night, knotting the score at 14-14.
The teams then traded touchdowns, but a missed extra point left Butler trailing 21-20 with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Following a successful fake punt, Mallard Creek utilized a wide receiver pass from Marquez North to Jamel Harbison to push ahead 28-20 with seven minutes remaining.
A stalled Butler drive gave Mallard Creek the ball with five minutes remaining. The Mavericks managed to run out the clock and hold on for the victory, likely the biggest in program history.
Butler's Riley Ferguson evaded the rush here but his team couldn't avoid defeat on Friday night.
Photo by Randy Rimland
The nation's longest winning streak ended on Friday night when
West Rowan (Mt. Ulla, N.C.) lost to
Mooresville (N.C.) 21-14.
West Rowan had won 46 consecutive games and, with a loaded defense returning, was expected to challenge again for an undefeated season.
After jumping out to a 14-0 lead, West Rowan struggled offensively as Mooresville battled back. With the score at 14-7 in the fourth quarter, Mooresville took advantage of a West Rowan turnover and scored twice in a span of less than three minutes, taking a 21-14 lead with 3:44 remaining.
West Rowan had a final chance, driving to Mooresville's 33-yard line before an interception sealed it.
With West Rowan's loss, Virginia powerhouse
Phoebus (Hampton, Va.) now has the country's longest winning streak at 45 games.
No. 20 Trinity rolls in openerBehind an explosive offense and a stout defense,
Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) pounded
Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.) 45-7.
The Shamrocks opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run by
Dalyn Dawkins to take an early 7-0 lead.
After Brentwood responded with a score to tie the game at 7-7, Trinity turned it up a notch as linebacker
Matt Brewer returned an interception 46 yards for a score. A touchdown pass from
Travis Wright to
Marquis Smith pushed the lead to 21-7.
The score was 28-7 at the start of the third quarter when Trinity resumed its offensive onslaught. Touchdown receptions by Andrew Wall and
James Quick, along with a 24-yard field goal by
Bayley Shoptaw extended the lead to 45-7 with 7:37 to play.
The win was an important one for Trinity. The Shamrocks' next four opponents are
Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.),
Elder (Cincinnati, Ohio),
St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio), and
Indianapolis Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.), all of which will pale in comparison to its sixth game, Trinity's annual showdown with crosstown rival
St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.).
Travis Elliott goes for 330 yardsDespite sitting out the first quarter, senior running back
Travis Elliot accounted for 330 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns Friday
night as
Ryle (Union, Ky.) launched its football season with a 41-17
rout of Cooper (Burlington, Ky.).
The Auburn recruit ran 12 times for
173 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored on an 85-yard kickoff
return and a 48-yard reception.
The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Elliott,
who ran for 2,215 yards last year, is in his fourth year as a starter
and has a shot at Shaun Alexander's Northern Kentucky career rushing
record (6.657 yards), which he set at Florence Boone County.
More Kentucky resultsFairview (Ashland) rushed past West Carter (Olive Hill), 58-21, as
three players ran for over 100 yards and a running clock was used at the
6:27 mark in the third quarter. Chris Brewer ran for 111 yards, Devon
Turner 110 and Chris Littlejohn 109.
* Sophomore
Jalen Beal, scored
four touchdowns in the first quarter – two on runs, one on a reception
and one on a blocked punt recovery – as
Holy Cross (Covington)
crushed Dayton, 65-13.
* Highly-rated senior quarterback
Zeke Pike had to sit out the season opener as his team,
Dixie Heights (Edgewood), suffered a 42-13 loss to
Newport Central Catholic (Newport).
The suspension was automatic because he had been ejected from the final
playoff game last year.
Check for updates from more important national football games throughout the night.
