10-24-21 roundup: Pro football and basketball, College football, High school football, boys soccer and volleyball, Middle school football
By Richard Walker
It may not be rock bottom but its close for the Carolina Panthers.
After Sunday’s disappointing 25-3 loss at the New York Giants, the Panthers are in a complete free fall that on a day in which one report indicated they could pursue trading for another quarterback.
Head coach Matt Rhule’s decision to replace Sam Darnold with P.J. Walker for the final three offensive series of Sunday’s would seem confirm the report that the Panthers may well rejoin the trade sweepstakes for embattled Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson even as Rhule said after the loss he didn’t think the team would pursue a quarterback before the Nov. 2 trade deadline.
Rhule also said Darnold was his starting quarterback and he would start next week’s game at Atlanta. It comes following an offseason in which the Panthers were linked to trade rumors involving Watson, current Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and, finally, Darnold; The Panthers acquired Darnold from the Jets on April 5.
But questions and criticisms of Darnold will continue following a 3-point, 173-yard offensive effort that was lowest of the 23-game tenure of Rhule and offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
Ironically, the Panthers scored on their first offensive drive before the offense couldn’t find its footing the rest of the game.
Darnold completed 16 of 25 passes for 111 yards with one interception before being replaced. He is now 73 of 107 for 888 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the Panthers’ three wins and 80 of 142 for 796 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions in the Panthers’ four losses.
Walker replaced Darnold for the game’s final three drives and directed the team to two three-and-outs and two first downs efore being stopped on downs.
It’s the biggest loss since a 33-7 home defeat to New Orleans to end the 2020 season.
Here is the Carolina Panthers’ 2021 schedule (with results):
Sept. 12 New York Jets (W 19-14)
Sept. 19 New Orleans (W 26-7)
Sept. 23 at Houston (W 24-9)
Oct. 3 at Dallas (L 28-36)
Oct. 10 Philadelphia (L 18-21)
Oct. 17 Minnesota (L 28-34, OT)
Oct. 24 at New York Giants (L 3-25)
Oct. 31 at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Nov. 7 New England, 1 p.m.
Nov. 14 at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Nov. 21 Washington, 1 p.m.
Nov. 28 at Miami, 1 p.m.
Dec. 5 BYE WEEK
Dec. 12 Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Dec. 18 or 19 at Buffalo, TBD
Dec. 26 Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Jan. 2 at New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Jan. 9 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m
Pro basketball
The Charlotte Hornets rode a strong second half to rally past the Brooklyn Nets 111-95 to give the franchise its first 3-0 start in history.
Charlotte, which hosts Boston on Monday night at 7 p.m., completed a Panthers/Hornets split in the New York City market on Sunday in the 49th day in the city’s history in which both teams played on the same day.
Miles Bridges (32 points), LaMelo Ball (18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists), Ish Smith (15 points, 4 assists) and Cody Martin (12 points) led the Hornets, with Smith and Martin sparking the Hornets to a 32-17 advantage in the fourth quarter. Smith was so effective that Hornets coach James Borrego didn’t bring Ball back into the game.
Here is the Charlotte Hornets’ full regular season schedule:
OCTOBER
Wed. 20 INDIANA (W 123-122)
Fri. 22 at Cleveland (W 123-112)
Sun. 24 at Brooklyn (W 111-95)
Mon. 25 BOSTON 7:00
Wed. 27 at Orlando 7:00
Fri. 29 at Miami 7:30
Sun. 31 PORTLAND 7:00
NOVEMBER
Mon. 1 CLEVELAND 7:00
Wed. 3 at Golden State 10:00
Fri. 5 at Sacramento 10:00
Sun. 7 at LA Clippers 9:00
Mon. 8 at L.A. Lakers 10:30
Wed. 10 at Memphis 8:00
Fri. 12 NEW YORK 7:00
Sun. 14 GOLDEN STATE 7:00
Wed. 17 WASHINGTON 7:00
Fri. 19 INDIANA 7:00
Sat. 20 at Atlanta 7:30
Mon. 22 at Washington 7:00
Wed. 24 at Orlando 7:00
Fri. 26 MINNESOTA 7:00
Sat. 27 at Houston 8:00
Mon. 29 at Chicago 8:00
DECEMBER
Wed. 1 at Milwaukee 8:00
Sun. 5 at Atlanta 6:00
Mon. 6 PHILADELPHIA 7:00
Wed. 8 PHILADELPHIA 7:00
Fri. 10 SACRAMENTO 7:00
Mon. 13 at Dallas 8:30
Wed. 15 at San Antonio 8:30
Fri. 17 at Portland 10:00
Sun. 19 at Phoenix 8:00
Mon. 20 at Utah 9:00
Thu. 23 at Denver 9:00
Mon. 27 HOUSTON 7:00
Wed. 29 at Indiana 7:00
JANUARY
Sun. 2 PHOENIX 7:00
Mon. 3 at Washington 7:00
Wed. 5 DETROIT 7:00
Sat. 8 MILWAUKEE 7:00
Mon. 10 MILWAUKEE 7:00
Wed. 12 at Philadelphia 7:00
Fri. 14 ORLANDO 7:00
Mon. 17 at New York 1:00
Wed. 19 at Boston 7:30
Fri. 21 OKLAHOMA CITY 7:00
Sun. 23 ATLANTA 7:00
Tue. 25 at Toronto 7:00
Wed. 26 at Indiana 7:00
Fri. 28 L.A. LAKERS 7:00
Sun. 30 LA CLIPPERS 1:00
FEBRUARY
Wed. 2 at Boston 7:30
Fri. 4 CLEVELAND 7:00
Sat. 5 MIAMI 7:00
Mon. 7 TORONTO 7:00
Wed. 9 CHICAGO 7:30
Fri. 11 at Detroit 7:00
Sat. 12 MEMPHIS 7:00
Tue. 15 at Minnesota 8:00
Thu. 17 MIAMI 7:00
Fri. 25 TORONTO 7:00
Sun. 27 DETROIT 7:00
Mon. 28 at Milwaukee 8:00
MARCH
Wed. 2 at Cleveland 7:00
Sat. 5 SAN ANTONIO 7:00
Tue. 8 BROOKLYN 7:00
Wed. 9 BOSTON 7:00
Fri. 11 at New Orleans 8:00
Mon. 14 at Oklahoma City 8:00
Wed. 16 ATLANTA 7:00
Sat. 19 DALLAS 7:00
Mon. 21 NEW ORLEANS 7:00
Wed. 23 NEW YORK 7:00
Fri. 25 UTAH 7:00
Sun. 27 at Brooklyn 7:30
Mon. 28 DENVER 7:00
Wed. 30 at New York 7:30
APRIL
Sat. 2 at Philadelphia 12:30
Tue. 5 at Miami 7:30
Thu. 7 ORLANDO 7:00
Fri. 8 at Chicago 8:00
Sun. 10 WASHINGTON TBD
High school football
Here are standings through Oct. 25 with conference record listed first followed by overall record:
BIG SOUTH 3A
Kings Mountain 6-0, 8-1
Crest 6-0, 6-2
South Point 4-2, 6-3
Cramer 3-3, 5-4
Forestview 3-3, 4-5
Ashbrook 1-5, 1-6
North Gaston 1-5, 1-8
Huss 0-6, 0-7
WESTERN FOOTHILLS 3A
Statesville 6-0, 8-0
North Lincoln 5-1, 7-2
Hickory 5-1, 6-3
East Lincoln 4-2, 7-2
North Iredell 2-4, 2-6
West Iredell 1-5, 1-6
St. Stephens 1-5, 1-7
Foard 0-6, 0-8
CATAWBA VALLEY 2A
Maiden 6-0, 9-0
Bunker Hill 5-1, 8-1
West Lincoln 4-2, 7-2
Lincolnton 4-2, 4-5
Newton-Conover 3-3, 3-5
Bandys 1-4, 3-4
East Burke 0-5, 1-6
West Caldwell 0-6, 0-8
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A/2A
Shelby 5-0, 8-1
Burns 5-0, 7-2
East Gaston 3-2, 5-4
Thomas Jefferson 2-3, 4-3
Bessemer City 1-4, 2-7
Cherryville 1-4, 2-7
Highland Tech 0-4, 1-7
QUEEN CITY 3A/4A
Hough 5-0, 9-0
Chambers 4-1, 8-1
West Charlotte 2-3, 6-3
North Meck 3-2, 5-3
Mallard Creek 3-2, 4-3
West Meck 1-5, 4-6
Hopewell 0-5, 1-8
SOUTH MECK 4A
South Meck 3-1, 7-2
Kell 3-1, 6-2
Myers Park 3-1, 6-3
Olympic 2-2, 5-3
Berry Academy 1-3, 2-5
Harding 0-4, 2-7
SOUTHWESTERN 4A
Butler 5-0, 6-2
Catholic 5-1, 7-2
Providence 3-2, 5-4
Independence 3-2, 4-4
Rocky River 1-4, 2-7
East Meck 1-4, 1-8
Garinger 0-5, 0-8
OTHERS
Chase 3-1, 8-1
Clover 2-1, 3-4
Mtn Island Charter 5-1, 8-1
R-S Central 2-2, 2-5
Lk Norman Charter 0-0, 5-3
This week’s schedule:
(Monday)
Highland Tech at Thomas Jefferson
(Tuesday)
East Burke at Bandys
(Friday)
Ashbrook at Huss
Crest at Kings Mountain
Forestview at Cramer
North Gaston at South Point
Burns at Shelby
Cherryville at Bessemer City
East Gaston at Highland Tech
East Lincoln at North Lincoln
Lincolnton at West Lincoln
Lake Norman Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Hickory at Statesville
St. Stephens at Foard
West Iredell at North Iredell
Bunker Hill at Bandys
East Burke at West Caldwell
Newton-Conover at Maiden
Hopewell at Hough
Mallard Creek at Chambers
North Meck at West Charlotte
Kell at Berry Academy
Olympic at Myers Park
South Meck at Harding
Butler at Independence
Garinger at Rocky River
Providence at East Meck
R-S Central at Chase
Clover, S.C. at Nation Ford
College football
Here’s the Carolinas Division I results for this week:
(Wednesday)
Appalachian State 30, Coastal Carolina 27
(Thursday)
Florida Atlantic 38, Charlotte 9
(Saturday)
Wake Forest 70, Army 56
Davidson 49, Butler 35
Elon 24, New Hampshire 10
N.C. Central 28, Morgan State 17
San Diego 69, Presbyterian 28
Gardner-Webb 28, Robert Morris 17
East Tennessee State 17, Furman 13
Hampton 30, N.C. A&T 9
S.C. State 13, Delaware State 7
Western Carolina 45, The Citadel 17
North Alabama 45, Charleston Southern 22
Pittsburgh 27, Clemson 17
Houston 31, East Carolina 24 (OT)
Kennesaw State 30, Campbell 7
Mercer 45, Wofford 14
Texas A&M 44, South Carolina 14
Miami 31, N.C. State 30
Here’s the Carolinas Division II results for this week:
(Saturday)
Wingate 48, Virginia Wise 21
Mars Hill 31, Catawba 14
Fayetteville State 40, St. Augustine’s 12
Shaw 20, J.C. Smith 14
Lenoir-Rhyne 45, Limestone 3
Winston-Salem State 21, Livingstone 0
Elizabeth City State 32, Chowan 28
Tusculum 41, Barton 17
UNC-Pembroke 21, Charleston, W.Va. 14
Newberry 34, Carson-Newman 3
West Georgia 34, North Greenville 12
Here’s the Carolinas Division I schedule this week:
(Thursday)
Troy at Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m.
South Florida at East Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
(Saturday)
Campbell at Charleston Southern, 1 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at Kennesaw State, 1 p.m.
Monmouth at North Carolina A&T, 1 p.m.
Stetson at Presbyterian, 1 p.m.
Furman at Chattanooga, 1:30 p.m.
Western Carolina at Wofford, 1:30 p.m.
Davidson at Morehead State, 2 p.m.
Elon at James Madison, 2 p.m.
Mercer at The Citadel, 2 p.m.
S.C. State at North Carolina Central, 2 p.m.
Florida State at Clemson, 3:30 p.m.
UL Monroe at Appalachian State, 3:30 p.m.
Charlotte at Western Kentucky, 4 p.m.
Duke at Wake Forest, 4 p.m.
Louisville at N.C. State, 7:30 p.m.
North Carolina at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
Here’s the Carolinas Division II schedule this week:
(Saturday)
UNC Pembroke at West Liberty, noon
West Alabama at North Greenville, noon
Newberry at Erskine, 1 p.m.
Saint Augustine’s at J.C. Smith, 1 p.m.
Tusculum at Catawba, 1 p.m.
Winston-Salem State at Shaw, 1 p.m.
Bluefield State at Barton, 2 p.m.
Chowan at Virginia State, 2 p.m.
Virginia Union at Elizabeth City State, 2 p.m.
Livingstone at Fayetteville State, 2 p.m.
Mars Hill at Carson-Newman, 3 p.m.
Virginia Wise at Limestone, 4 p.m.
Lenoir-Rhyne at Wingate, 6 p.m.
High school boys soccer
Here are the standings for teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties through Oct. 21 with conference record listed first followed by overall record:
BIG SOUTH 3A
Cramer 11-0-1, 17-2-1
Forestview 10-2, 13-5-1
South Point 9-3, 13-6
Ashbrook 6-5-1, 8-6-1
North Gaston 6-6, 8-8-1
Huss 2-9-1, 5-9-1
Kings Mountain 2-9-1, 3-13-1
Crest 0-12, 0-16
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A/2A
Shelby 11-0, 16-1-2
Highland Tech 9-2, 11-4
Thomas Jefferson 7-4, 7-6
Burns 6-6, 9-6-1
East Gaston 5-6, 6-13
Bessemer City 1-10, 2-13
Cherryville 0-11, 1-14-1
OTHERS
Gaston Christian 3-2, 6-9
Gaston Day 5-0, 15-2
East Lincoln 8-3-1, 10-6-2
North Lincoln 3-9, 7-12
Lincolnton 11-0-1, 14-0-3
West Lincoln 0-12, 2-17
Lincoln Charter 3-6, 7-10-1
Mtn Island Charter 0-10, 3-13
Piedmont CC 9-1-1, 11-2-1
This week’s schedule
(Monday)
Ashbrook at Kings Mountain
Forestview at South Point
Huss at Crest
North Gaston at Cramer
St. Stephens at East Lincoln
North Lincoln at Foard
Lincolnton at Maiden
West Lincoln at East Burke
Queen’s Grant at Piedmont CC
(Tuesday)
Highland Tech at Shelby
Thomas Jefferson at East Gaston
Christ the King at Lincoln Charter
Bradford Prep at Piedmont CC
NCISAA 2A playoffs- Fayetteville Academy at Gaston Day
(Wednesday)
Cramer at Forestview
Huss at Ashbrook
Kings Mountain at Crest
South Point at North Gaston
North Iredell at East Lincoln
West Iredell at North Lincoln
West Lincoln at Lincolnton
Piedmont CC at Carolina International
(Thursday)
Cherryville at Bessemer City
High school volleyball
Here are conference-by-conference playoff results:
BIG SOUTH 3A
(Saturday’s first round)
No. 12 Crest d. No. 21 Forestview 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-11)
No. 20 South Point lost to No. 13 East Lincoln 0-3
No. 4 Kings Mountain d. No. 29 North Davidson 3-0 (25-5, 25-5, 25-8)
(Tuesday’s second round)
No. 12 Crest at No. 5 Central Davidson
No. 13 East Lincoln at No. 4 Kings Mountain
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A/2A
2A state playoffs
(Saturday’s first round)
No. 23 Polk County d. No. 10 East Gaston 3-0
1A state playoffs
(Saturday’s first round)
No. 24 Cherryville at No. 9 Elkin, ppd., Monday
No. 8 Highland Tech d. No. 25 Corvian Community 3-0
(Tuesday’s second round)
Cherryville-Elkin winner at No. 8 Highland Tech
WESTERN FOOTHILLS 3A
3A state playoffs
(Saturday’s first round)
No. 1 North Iredell d. No. 32 West Charlotte 3-0
No. 5 Central Davidson d. No. 28 St. Stephens 3-2
No. 10 Foard d. No. 23 Ledford 3-0
No. 13 East Lincoln d. No. 20 South Point 3-0
No. 14 Hickory d. No. 19 North Buncombe 3-0
(Tuesday’s second round)
No. 17 Pisgah at No. 1 North Iredell
No. 13 East Lincoln at No. 4 Kings Mountain
No. 14 Hickory at No. 3 West Rowan
CATAWBA VALLEY 2A
2A state playoffs
(Saturday’s first round)
No. 1 East Surry d. No. 32 West Lincoln 3-0
No. 17 Bandys d. No. 16 R-S Central 3-1
No. 9 Maiden d. No. 24 Providence Grove 3-0
(Tuesday’s second round)
No. 17 Bandys at No. 1 East Surry
No. 25 Whitmore at No. 9 Maiden
Other NCHSAA playoff pairings
(Saturday’s first round)
1A- No. 13 Mount Airy d. No. 20 Mountain Island Charter 3-0
2A- No. 4 Lincoln Charter d. No. 29 Lexington 3-0
(Tuesday’s second round)
2A- No. 13 Randleman at No. 4 Lincoln Charter
NCISAA playoffs
(Saturday’s third round)
Gaston Day d. Fayetteville Freedom Christian Academy 3-0 (25-9, 25-7, 25-5)
(Thursday’s semifinals)
Caldwell Academy at Gaston Day
Middle school football
Tri-County Conference standings through Oct. 20 with division record listed first followed by overall record:
(East)
East Lincoln 5-0, 6-1
Kings Mountain 4-1, 4-3
Burns 3-2, 3-2
North Lincoln 2-3, 3-3
Lincolnton 0-5, 1-5
West Lincoln 1-4, 1-5
(West)
Crest 5-0, 6-1
Shelby 4-1, 7-1
R-S Central 3-2, 4-2
East Rutherford 2-3, 2-4
Thomas Jefferson 1-4, 1-5
Chase 0-5, 0-6
(Playoffs)
Oct. 21 semifinal: Crest 38, Kings Mountain 12
Oct. 22 semifinal: Shelby 16, East Lincoln 12
Oct. 28 championship: Shelby at Crest, 6 p.m.