No North Carolina football team was more successful in the last decade than
Independence (Charlotte, N.C.), which won seven consecutive state titles from 2000-06.
In those past 10 years the Patriots reached the Western Regional championship each time and won at least 13 games and never lost more than three games in a season, according to the
Charlotte Observer. But those streaks might all come to end this year.
Independence fell to 0-4 Friday night when its 2-point conversion attempt was stopped with five seconds remaining against
Vance (Charlotte), giving the Cougars a 21-20 win.
The Patriots blew a 14-0 halftime lead, but had a chance for its first win after a 5-yard touchdown pass from Evan Guest to Dequan Barnes made it 21-20. David Ward had made both extra points in the game, but Independence decided to go for the win and Guest's pass fell incomplete.
The Patriots should finally get that elusive win this Friday — they play East Mecklenburg (0-4), who has been outscored 176-19 so far this season — but continuing that run of playoff success is much less certain.
Other top items from around North Carolina:
2. Firsts for Panther Creek: A more successful 2-point conversion took place in Cary, where host
Panther Creek (Cary) started 4-0 for the first time and earned its first-ever win over Fuquay Varina, 38-37 in overtime.
The Catamounts 2-point conversion pass from
Kameron Bryant to
Cj Liley gave Panther Creek the win over the previously-unbeaten Bengals. Just like in Charlotte, it wasn't a question of shaky kicking that led to the coach’s decision to go for it — Garrett Long's 37-yard field goal had just tied the game for the Catamounts with 19 seconds left in regulation.
3. Nation's longest winning streak: According to
calpreps.com,
Reidsville currently has the longest winning streak in the country. The Rams have won 53 straight games, including the past three Class 2-AA state titles, after a 25-14 win over Rockingham County (Wentworth). Plymouth (N.H.) had won 57 straight games before losing last weekend.
Reidsville is 5-0 this season, though two wins have been by seven points or less. It won't get much easier this month — the Rams play two 4-1 teams in the next three weeks, Jordan-Matthews (Siler City) and Cummings (Burlington).
4. Future ACC quarterbacks roundup: In a matchup of potential ACC quarterbacks, UNC-bound
Marquise Williams and
Mallard Creek (Charlotte) defeated
Chester (S.C.) and Clemson-bound
Tony McNeal 48-24. Williams ran for 137 yards and 16 carries and completed 11 of 19 passes for 113 yards. McNeal was 17 of 31 for 230 yards and three touchdowns. ... Not to be outdone, Georgia Tech-bound
Vad Lee also had a big night for
Hillside (Durham). Lee rushed for three touchdowns in the first quarter and five in the game as the Hornets defeated Dudley (Greensboro) 33-8 to improve to 5-0. Dudley (4-1) had come in ranked fourth in the AP Class 4-A poll, while Hillside was ninth. “I really wasn’t surprised. I know what my offense can do,” Lee told the
Greenboro News-Record. “We feel like nobody can match up with us this year. I’m not trying to be cocky, but after playing Dudley that just proves what we can do.”
5. Non-traditional 14 points: Clayton ended up with 14 points in a nine-point loss to Southeast Raleigh, but it wasn't from two touchdowns. The Comets got two safeties in the first quarter to go up 4-0, and then added a touchdown and an extra point to make it 11-0. Southeast Raleigh recovered to score 20 straight points. Clayton's ensuing field goal wasn't enough to regain the lead, though it did lead to a more conventional final score.
Harold Gutmann covers the state of North Carolina for MaxPreps.com. He lives in Durham and can be reached at haroldgutmann@gmail.com.
