North Gaston nips Lincolnton, sends Wolves to 0-3 start
Editor’s note: Game stories on Bandys, Maiden and North Lincoln will be posted separately on the website.
HobbsDailyReport.com
West Lincoln High — returning to the “IP” address it established last year — sent a clear signal on Friday night it can move the football.
With Brendon Ikard and Nakathan Phansook combining for nearly 320 rushing yards, the Rebels cruised to a 48-7 victory over host Cherryville to start the season 2-0.
IKARD
Ikard, who last season unofficially gained 1,385 yards, had 11 carries for 167 yards and two touchdowns as West Lincoln gained more than 400 rushing yards and had more than 500 yards in total offense.
In reporting by The Gaston Gazette, Phansook added 18 carries for 146 yards and rushed for three scores. Last season, he unofficially rushed for 1,421 yards.
The Rebels handed the Ironmen (2-1) their first loss and ran their win streak in the series to seven.
Only two other rushers in the Greater Hickory area conferences who gained more yards on a per game basis in 2017 than Phansook (118.4) returned this season – Bryce Satterfield of Watauga (131.5) and McKinley Witherspoon of Hibriten (128.3).
West Lincoln, coming off a bye week, led Cherryville 21-0 at the half and was ahead 34-0 before Cherryville scored its only TD.
The Rebels go for a 3-0 start at home at on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. when they face winless Fred T. Foard (0-3).
Foard beat West Lincoln 22-20 last season when Ikard ran for 102 yards and Phansook was limited to his second-lowest total of the year (43).
North Gaston 8, Lincolnton 7
The Wildcats scored in the final five minutes and delivered on a two-point conversion run to nip the visiting Wolves, who are off to a 0-3 start.
With two players rushing for more than 100 yards for North Gaston (2-1), the game still came down to the closing minutes.
The Gaston Gazette reported Isaiah McNeil scored on an 8-yard run with 4:40 to play to make it 7-6, and the Wildcats went for two and the lead.
McNeil carried and appeared to be stopped on the run but got a pitch out to Donqavius Chambers, who got into the end zone for the lead, The Gazette story said.
Kareem Kennedy ran 20 times for 163 yards and Neil had nine carries for 101 yards for North Gaston in the victory, according to The Gazette story.
Lincolnton took a made field goal off the scoreboard after a Wildcats penalty and then quarterback E.J. Majerras threw 9 yards to Zaevian Davis for a TD, The Gazette reported.
Lincolnton fell to 31-16 under head coach Ledford Gibson, now in his fourth season.
The Wolves play their final non-league game of the season on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at East Gaston. They’ll then have an open week before starting South Fork 2A play at home against Newton-Conover on Sept. 21.
Ashbrook 30, East Lincoln 17
Two long scoring runs by Tyreese Nicholas highlighted a high-scoring final quarter as the Green Wave (2-0) won on the road, leaving the Mustangs 0-2.
Ashbrook led 9-7 heading to the fourth quarter and gained the lead when Nicholas broke a run 61 yards for a score about two minutes into the final quarter.
Sidney Dollar of the Mustangs caught his second TD pass of the game next, putting East Lincoln within 16-14.
With about 3 ½ minutes to play, Nicholas went 62 yards on a run for a 23-14 lead, and the final score for Ashbrook was on a 2-yard run.
The Gaston Gazette reported Nicholas finished with 20 carries for 240 yards, and Ashbrook had 400 of its 420 yards of offense on the ground.
Chase Jones, East Lincoln’s quarterback, was credited with 14 completions in 30 attempts for 164 yards and Dollar had eight catches for 99 yards.
East Lincoln plays Friday at 7:30 p.m. at home against North Gaston, is at home on Sept. 14 against East Gaston and opens its South Fork 2A schedule on Sept. 21 at Lake Norman Charter.
Lake Norman Charter 30, Community School of Davidson 10
Sophomore quarterback Reid Mitchell threw for 186 yards and two scores, leading the Knights (2-1) to a home victory and head coach Mark Steele’s 17th career win.
Mitchell completed nine of 22 passes, throwing three times to Jaden Goodman for 113 yards and two TDs as Lake Norman Charter gained 412 yards.
Sophomore Amias Williams had seven tackles and an interception to spark the Knights’ defense. Jamair Chavis, a junior, had six tackles and an interception and Owen Thomas, Shirish Yasa, Nick Patterson and Zack Tubbs each had a sack for Lake Norman Charter.
The Knights are at home on Friday at 7:30 p.m. to play Highland Tech. They will be open on Sept. 14 and will open their South Fork 2A schedule on Sept. 21 at home against East Lincoln.