High school football roundup: Incident at Forest Hills mars rivalry game with Monroe

For the second straight season, a fight broke out at the Monroe High-Forest Hills high school rivalry game.

At halftime of Friday’s game, which was played at Marshville, there was a fight involving several students and a community member near the concession stands at Forest Hills, Union County Schools spokesperson Tahira Stalberte told The Observer.

After the fight was stopped, school and game officials sent fans who were congregating near the area back into the stands.

The game continued, with Monroe ultimately winning 34-9.

“Law enforcement and school administrators responded immediately and the altercation was resolved,” Stalberte said. “The students involved will be disciplined according to the UCPS Code of Conduct. The game continued and all guests remained safe.”

A year ago, a series of fights stopped the game in the third quarter, which was played at Monroe High. Monroe was declared the winner.

Last year’s incident came one week after a similar fight broke out in the stands during a game between North Mecklenburg and Harding, as well as one between West Charlotte and West Mecklenburg. The fight at the Harding game happened during the game, which was completed. The incident at West Charlotte happened after the game had ended. Those incidents prompted Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Crystal Hill to write an op-ed in The Observer, pleading with the community to stop the violence at games.

And just two weeks ago, a fight at West Charlotte High School forced a game between the Lions and Mallard Creek to be completed with no fans present.

No. 5 Hough 44, West Mecklenburg 0: Trey Blakeney threw for 210 yards and a touchdown, as the Huskies (5-1, 3-0) scored a lopsided Queen City 3A-4A victory. Jycen Anciso scored touchdowns on a run and a pass, and Karmel Quick recovered a fumble for a Huskie touchdown.

No. 8 Mooresville 18, Providence 6: Mooresville (5-1) had to fight off a Providence team (1-4) hunting a big upset, just days after the Blue Devils cracked the top 10 of The Observer’s Sweet 16 poll.

Mooresville got a 9-0 lead after Ja’darius McCombs 1-yard first quarter score and a safety. Providence QB Jackson Debe threw a 30-yard scoring pass to Keland Shelton in the third quarter to trim the lead to 9-6, but Mooresville got a 3-yard score from QB Brody Norman and a 26-yard field goal from Andrew Cummings to put the road win away.

No. 9 Charlotte Catholic 28, Rocky River 6: Jake Anderson scored three touchdowns, and Charlie Smith threw for another, as the Cougars improved their Southwestern 4A record to 3-0 and remained in a first-place tie with Butler. Anderson scored on a 5-yard run in the first quarter, on a 2-yard run shortly before the half, and from 1 yard out in the third quarter. Smith fired a 26-yard scoring pass to Nick Bierman midway in the second period.

The Cougars are 4-2 overall. Rocky River fell to 2-4, 1-1.

No. 10 Independence 68, Garinger 7: The Patriots (5-1, 1-1) exploded for 49 points in the first quarter and rolled to a Southwestern 4A victory. Quarterback Justin Little completed all seven of his passes for 135 yards and four touchdowns. Jayden Jones, one of North Carolina’s leading rushers, gained 209 yards — on just five carries. He scored twice, and Independence piled up 367 rushing yards. Garinger fell to 0-7, 0-3.

No. 11 Charlotte Christian 48, Cleveland (TN) 27: The Knights got an impressive win over a top 25 team from Tennessee at home. The Knights (4-2) will play at arch rival Providence Day Thursday. Charlotte Christian was tied 14-14 with the Blue Raiders (5-1) early in the second quarter, when Owen Farrell ran for the go-ahead touchdown. The Knights made it 28-14 shortly before the half, when Farrell threw to Brandon Hettwer for a score.

Two touchdown runs by L.J. Porter, including one of 50 yards, and a scoring run by Farrell added to Charlotte Christian’s total in the second half.

West Cabarrus 23, No. 13 Lake Norman 16: West Cabarrus pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in the area Friday, snapping Lake Norman’s three-game win streak and capturing a Greater Metro 4 4A victory.

Lake Norman fell to 4-2. Since losing four straight games, West Cabarrus has bounced back with a two-game win streak to improve to 3-4.

Marvin Ridge 22, No. 15 Porter Ridge 21: The Mavericks (4-3, 1-0) rallied to win this Southern Carolina 4A opener for both teams. Trailing 21-10 after three quarters, Braydon Rediger threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Clegg with 11 minutes left, and then fired a game-winning score with 40 seconds remaining to Zach Lee. That last touchdown covered 13 yards. Porter Ridge (4-2, 0-1) got two touchdown runs from Rai-shawn Elmore.

A.L. Brown 21, Cox Mill 14: The Wonders (4-2, 2-1 Greater Metro 4 4A) held off an upset bid by winless Cox Mill (0-7, 0-3), as C.J. Gray fired a 50-yard touchdown pass to Maddox Langley with 15.7 seconds remaining for the winning points.

Ashbrook 41, North Gaston 13: A.J. McClain threw two touchdown passes, and J.J. Gordon scored twice as the Green Wave (5-1, 2-1) rolled to a Big South 3A victory. Emmett Henderson also scored for Ashbrook on a 95-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter. North Gaston is now 2-4, 0-2.

Butler 46, East Mecklenburg 0: Damorian Thomas-Wright returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, and teammate Dequadre Currence returned a punt for a score just three minutes later, as the Bulldogs (3-4, 3-0) cruised to a Southwestern 4A victory. Jayden Williams ran for two scores, and Tyler Druzbik passed for a touchdown and ran for another.

Cannon School 41, North Wake Saints 8: Freshman quarterback Lucas Lopez completed 14-of-19 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns, lifting the Cougars (3-4). Sophomore Grant Springdate caught two touchdown passes.

Christ the King 25, Pine Lake Prep 20: J.P. Zimmerman rushed for 125 yards on 25 carries and scored a touchdown, leading the Crusaders (2-4, 2-1) to a Catawba Shores 1A-2A victory. Teammate Cowen Harris made 13 tackles. For Pine Lake Prep (2-4, 2-1), Cameron Gandy threw for 270 yards, but the Pride was held to 40 rushing yards in 21 carries.

Community School of Davidson 14, Carver 6: The visiting Spartans rallied from a 6-0 halftime deficit to win this Catawba Shores 1A-2A game. The Spartans tied the game midway in the third quarter on a 58-yard pass from Jake Johnson to Oliver Monds, and Liam Carneiro added the point-after for a 7-6 lead. Brandon Albert added a touchdown with four minutes to play. Carver dropped to 2-4, 0-3.

Corvian Community 42, Bishop McGuinness 0: Cam Johnson scored on runs of 85, 45 and 6 yards, as the visiting Cardinals (6-0, 3-0) rolled to an easy Catawba Shores 1A-2A victory. Noah Best added touchdown runs of 90 and 2 yards, and A.J. Jackson returned an interception 32 yards for another Corvian score. The host Villains fell to 4-2, 1-2.

Kings Mountain 41, Forestview 23: The Jaguars led 7-0 and 14-7 early in this game, but Kings Mountain (4-1, 2-0) surged to a Big South 3A triumph. Jayden Gash scored on a 98-yard kickoff return, after Forestview (1-5, 1-2) had taken its 14-7 lead. Josiah Hill ran for three Mountaineer touchdowns.

Lake Norman Charter 50, SouthLake Christian 0: The Knights, playing an independent schedule, improved to 5-0 in this rout. David Wignot passed for three touchdowns, and ran for another, and Major Leak caught two touchdown passes and returned an interception 70 yards for another score. Dorian Morgan opened the second half by returning a kickoff 75 yards for another Lake Norman Charter score.

Northwest Cabarrus 30, West Rowan 21: The Trojans emerged as chief challengers to Jay M. Robinson in the South Piedmont 3A, rallying to win this key game. West Rowan (3-3, 2-1) led 21-7 early in the third quarter, but Northwest Cabarrus (5-1, 3-0) closed the gap on an interception return midway in the period. The Trojans then scored 16 points in the game’s final two minutes, on a 14-yard pass from Hudson Irwin to Jackson Forest, a safety, and a 39-yard run by Jarlon Drye.

South Iredell 32, Hickory Ridge 27: Tyler Johnson completed a 42-yard touchdown pass to Brody Hunt with five minutes remaining, lifting South Iredell (4-2, 2-0) to a come-from-behind Greater Metro 4 4A victory. Hickory Ridge (0-7, 0-3) had taken a 27-26 lead late in the third quarter on a touchdown pass and conversion kick.

South Point 27, Crest 26: Patrick Blee dashed 72 yards for a touchdown with 1:52 left, then scored on a two-point conversion to give the Raiders a key Big South 3A victory in a battle of unbeatens.

Crest (4-1, 3-1) had taken a 26-12 lead late in the third quarter on Tank Ruff’s 22-yard run, but South Point got within 26-19 on a 16-yard pass from Blee to Garrett Tidd with 8:52 to play. The Raiders got the ball back with 3:05 left and scored on Blee’s long run.

Sun Valley 14, Cuthbertson 13: The Spartans held Cuthbertson running back Mason Iovino to 56 yards rushing on 18 carries and scored a narrow Southern Carolina 4A victory. Sun Valley improves to 6-1, 1-0, while Cuthbertson falls to 4-2, 0-1.

SATURDAY

Lincolnton 22, Bandys 14: Lincolnton scored two touchdowns in the final minute of the first half and went on to hand host Bandys (4-1, 1-1) its first loss of the season. The Wolves (2-4, 2-1 Catawba Valley 2A) trailed 14-0 with less than a minute to play in the half, when Karson Cloninger threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Houser. Less than 30 seconds later, Bandys fumbled, and Lincolnton’s J.J. Mayfield scooped up the ball and dashed 40 yards for a touchdown. The Wolves missed the conversion and trailed 14-13 at the half.

Lincolnton took the lead for good early in the third quarter, on a 14-yard pass from Cloninger to Houser. The Wolves added some security with a Dominic Sanchez 39-yard field goal with two minutes left.