Sportmanship becomes a factor in North Carolina football

Sportsmanship was in the headlines last week around the state of North Carolina, determining the outcome of a big rivalry game and forcing schools to be barred from the postseason for only the second time in 10 years.

Ironically enough, last week started when 12 schools were recognized by the NCHSAA for not having an ejection in any sport for five consecutive academic years: Ocracoke and Southside (Chocowinity) in Region 1; North Duplin (Calypso), Pamlico County (Bayboro) and South Lenoir (Deep Run) in Region 2; South Columbus (Tabor City) in Region 4; Glenn (Kernersville) in Region 5; Ashbrook (Gastonia) in Region 6; North Carolina School for the Deaf (Morganton), Watauga (Boone) and West Wilkes (Millers Creek) in Region 7; and Nantahala (Topton) in Region 8.

The guidelines record ejections for unsportsmanlike acts such as fighting, taunting, profanity, obscene gestures or disrespectfully addressing or contacting officials.

In a separate announcement, the NCHSAA determined that Pinecrest (Southern Pines) and Union Pines (Cameron) won't be eligible for the postseason after three players were ejected for fighting in the second quarter of Pinecrest's 69-14 win on Aug. 27.

According to the Raleigh News & Observer, the NCHSAA adopted a rule 10 years ago that any team that has three or more players ejected for fighting during a season cannot participate in the playoffs. Only one other team, and no football team, had been barred from the playoffs since then.

And then there's the story of Charlotte Country Day, which would have won its game against Charlotte Catholic if not for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Up 21-14, Country Day stopped Catholic on downs with less than two minutes left to seemingly seal the win, but one of the players was penalized for foul language when the Bucs were running out the clock on offense, which stopped the clock. Catholic got the ball back with less than a minute left and David Herlocker made a diving catch as time expired to send the game to overtime.

"I knew that the chances for us were slim to even get the ball back," Cougars quarterback C.J. Brodowicz told the Charlotte Observer. "We needed a miracle and we got one."

Catholic ended up winning 35-28 in double overtime, earning the John Cook Cup for the first time in five years.

Williams stays with UNC for now: Talk of suspensions wasn't limited to high school football. The state has been wrapped up by the allegations of misconduct at the University of North Carolina, which forced 13 players to miss the season opener.

Mallard Creek (Charlotte) senior Marquise Williams, a top-15 national recruit at quarterback, says he is still firm in his commitment to North Carolina — for now. "I'm still trying to see what's going to happen," Williams told the Charlotte Observer. "My family is trying to see what's best for us. If they go on probation, I'd have to decommit, but if they don't go, I'm going to be a Tar Heel."

Bailey wins 100th: Richard Bailey, the only coach Jack Britt (Fayetteville) has ever had, needed only 10 seasons to win his 100th game. He accomplished the feat Friday night by beating Hoggard (Wilmington) 27-17. To celebrate the potential milestone, Jack Britt ditched its customary purple pants and wore a black pants for the first time to go along with its black jerseys. Bailey, who has led the Buccaneers to three state finals in six years, joked to the Fayetteville Observer that the black pants won't be reappearing soon after Jack Britt's sub-par effort in the game: "I can tell you this. We won't be wearing them for a long, long time."

Carson gets 59-point turnaround: The Carson (China Grove) Cougars, who lost to Salisbury 50-6 last season, defeated the Hornets 42-27 on Friday night. Shaun Warren ran 38 times for 300 yards and three touchdowns.

Big runners: Three players ran for more than 200 yards in a 54-49 Terry Sanford (Fayetteville) win over Grays Creek (Hope Mills). Anthony Hobbs had 303 yards and five TDs in the win, while John Chiles had 233 yards and Devon Cooley had 231 yards and five TDs in the loss.

Big scorer: Lawson Furr of Mount Tabor (Winston-Salem) had 224 yards receiving and three touchdowns, plus kicked a 49-yard field goal and six extra points in a 52-21 win over East Forsyth (Kernersville).

Tough start: Independence (Charlotte) has won seven of the last 10 North Carolina large-class state championships, but the program is 0-2 this year after blowing a two-touchdown lead and losing to South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) 34-27. And it doesn't get any easier — next up is undefeated West Charlotte.

Harold Gutmann has been covering high school sports since 2002. You can reach him at haroldgutmann@gmail.com.