by Cliff Mehrtens

North Mecklenburg rally falls short against Lake Norman

North Meckenburg fell behind 14-0 and didn’t recover in a 21-14 loss to Lake Norman on Sept. 16.
The Vikings rallied on two Terrence Clyburn touchdowns – an 8-yard run and a 24-yard catch from Kelly Hall. Clyburn also ran for a two-point conversion. But the Vikings’ final two possessions were doomed by a 15-yard loss on a sack and an interception in the final minute.
“Tremendous effort,” North Mecklenburg coach Michael Bradley said. “Our kids don’t quit. That touchdown before the half was a key play. But you have to give Lake Norman credit. They ­dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball for most of the game, and that makes it tough.”
Lake Norman grinded out 230 rushing yards and improved its record to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in I-MECK 4A conference. North Mecklenburg is 1-4 overall and 0-1 in I-MECK 4A.
“We had eight or nine (defenders) in the box,” Bradley said. “They were just very physical up front. We knew that coming into the game.
“We’ve just got to get a little better this week. West Charlotte’s not going to be a pounding team. They’re going to be a team that tries to beat you with speed. It’s going to be a totally different game. I think there were some good things offensively we did in the second half. We can build on that success. We’ll get better.”

Davidson Day kicker itching for contact
Davidson Day’s Austin McCarty, goalkeeper for the school soccer team, has performed well as the football squad’s kicker. But he wants more, Patriots football coach Chad Grier said.
McCarty has consistently driven kickoffs into the end zone for the Patriots (5-0). He’s been persistent in asking coaches to play on defense.
“We’re hesitant because we don’t want him to possibly get injured, and I hadn’t talked to the soccer coach,” Grier said. “So I told Austin he hadn’t gone through (defensive) practice yet. So he did. Then in the last game, he got on the field for a play at defensive end, and we yanked him out of there. I told him we hadn’t cleared it with his parents or the soccer coach yet.”
So, during a break in the game, McCarty obtained permission from his mother in the stands.
“He made an open-field tackle on a kickoff early this season,” Grier said. “Since then, he’s just been dying to get in there.”

Hough defense creates eight turnovers
Hough defensive backs Jared Sobo, Brandon Mobley, Ben Craig and Tylan Murrell had interceptions in the 21-7 victory against Vance on Sept. 16.
The Huskies’ defense also had four sacks (two by Blake Dueitt and one apiece by Michael Ramirez and Brandon Cassarino), while Nick Lavella (two), Connor Millikin and Isaac Aiken had fumble recoveries.
It was the first I-MECK 4A victory for Hough, which was 0-7 in conference play last season.