by Cliff Mehrtens

Hough scores early to win at North Mecklenburg

Best way to forget about a last-second loss? Jump ahead early in the next game.
It worked for Hough in its 28-16 I-MECK 4A conference victory at North Mecklenburg on Sept. 30, when the Huskies scored touchdowns on the first three possessions.
“Got some great advice from my athletic director (Masonori Taguchi),” Hough coach Bobby Collins said. “He told me, ‘Coach, let’s take the ball, put our starting quarterback on the field. Let’s get in the end zone and get going.’
“And that’s what we did.”
Huskies quarterback Josh Stilley, who’d missed three games with a broken wrist, returned to direct the opening drive. Jackson Campbell capped it with a 1-yard scoring run.
Hough recovered a fumble on North Meck’s 10-yard line, which set up Dre Long’s 10-yard touchdown. Tylan Murrell’s 53-yard kickoff return created good field position, and the Huskies scored on Stilley’s 4-yard pass to Nick Burrow.
“Defense created a turnover, and we got back into the end zone,” Collins said. “We knew creating momentum was going to be key for this game.”
Davidson Day back after bye week
Unbeaten Davidson Day (6-0) returns after being idle last week, and is slated travel to Chatham, Va., to play Hargrave Military Academy on Friday, Oct. 7.
Davidson Day, playing its first varsity season, won 42-30 at Asheville School on Sept. 23. Patriots quarterback Will Grier was 26-of-37 passing for 353 yards and five touchdowns, and ran for 137 yards on 10 carries.
“I love how our kids compete,” Davidson Day coach Chad Grier said. “They have a passion for success both on and off the field, and that comes out as a poised sense of confidence. We have been down at halftime twice and came out both times and dominated the second half.
“But the boys never flinch, and we just kept scoring. When we needed a stop, our defense came up with it. Most of all, I love the way our boys hit. We don’t have a lot of (players), but the ones we have flat get after it.”
Davidson Day began its off week with weight training and minor adjustments, Grier said, followed by three days of class trips out of town.

CMS alters football schedule
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools moved football games up one day to Thursday, Oct. 6, because of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, which begins at sundown Friday, Oct. 7, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, Oct. 8. Kickoffs will remain at 7 p.m.

East Lincoln forfeits a victory
East Lincoln forfeited its 56-13 victory against Bessemer City on Sept. 16 because it used an ineligible player.
The loss dropped the Mustangs’ record to 3-3, 1-1 in the Southern 1A/2A conference. The announcement was made a few hours before the Mustangs were to play rival Lincolnton on Sept. 30 – a game that ultimately resulted in their second loss of the day, 55-39.

Foley has a historic kick
Mooresville’s Hannah Foley, a senior kicker, booted an extra point in the 48-28 victory against West Charlotte on Sept. 30 to become the first girl to score a point in Blue Devils history.
Foley’s kick gave Mooresville a 41-21 lead in the fourth quarter. It was her second attempt of the season.