11-6-21 roundup: High school football, boys soccer, tennis and cross country, College football and basketball, Pro football and basketball, Middle school boys soccer, volleyball and wrestling

By Richard Walker

Stuart Cramer’s Zachary Willer set Gaston County history on a day in which local runners dominated the competition in the Class 3A N.C. High School Athletic Association cross country championships in Kernersville.

Zachary Willer became Gaston County’s first boys state champion in 43 years on a day in which North Lincoln’s boys won their fifth straight state title.

Zachary Willer bested his brother Nicholas Willer by 2 1-2 seconds on the 5K Ivey Redmon Course. Zachary finished the course in 15:42.61 with Nicholas at 15:45.32.

North Lincoln’s Stephen Fernetti finished fourth at 15:50.44 with Forestview’s Austin Brotemarkle in fifth at 15:52.93.

North Lincoln’s team title was its first as a 3A school as the Knights had won the previous four years as a 2A school. Connor Bagwell (22nd), Alex Bradley (32nd), Mack Viverette (35th) and Mirko Glavan (39th) were the other scorers for North Lincoln.

In the girls championship meet at the same course, North Lincoln won its second straight state title behind fifth-place finisher Bella Wood. Other Knights scorers were Lori Glavan (11th), Bella Green (12th), Kelbi Pierce (16th) and Cara Castro (22nd).

 

High school girls tennis

Forestview suffered a heartbreaking 5-3 loss to Fayetteville Cape Fear in the N.C. 3A dual team finals at the Burlington Tennis Center.

The Jaguars finished 15-1 and got wins out of No. 1 Rennie Liu and No. 4 Susan Christy in singles and Liu-Christy in No. 2 doubles.

 

 

 

 

High school football

Here are first round playoff results:

1A
(East)
#1 Tarboro (9-1), BYE
#16 Southeast Halifax (5-6) 34, #17 Weldon (3-5) 6
#8 Perquimans (7-2) 51, #25 Northwest Halifax (2-7) 8
#9 Riverside-Martin (6-3) 48, #24 Chatham Central (1-8) 0
#5 Rosewood (5-2), BYE
#12 North Edgecombe (6-5) 62, #21 East Columbus (3-6) 38
#20 Warren County (4-6) 32, #13 Pamlico County (3-7) 22
#4 Northampton County (8-2), BYE
#3 North Moore (9-1), BYE
#14 Gates County (4-4) 34, #19 North Duplin (3-7) 0
#6 Pender (6-3) def. #27 Lejeune (0-10); Cancelled – No Contest (COVID)
#11 West Columbus (5-5) 43, #22 Bertie (1-7) 0
#7 Southside (10-1) 48, #26 South Creek (0-11) 0
#10 KIPP Pride (6-3) 44, #23 Jones Senior (2-8) 22
#15 Hobbton (5-6) 56, #18 Lakewood (4-7) 21
#2 Northside-Pinetown (9-1), BYE
(West)
#1 Eastern Randolph (9-0), BYE
#16 Draughn (6-5) 56, #17 Elkin (3-7) 9
#8 Mountain Heritage (8-2) 51, #25 Albemarle (2-8) 0
#9 Murphy (7-4) 58, #24 Alleghany (2-8) 20
#5 Thomas Jefferson (7-3) 39, #28 Avery County (1-10) 7
#12 North Rowan (7-3) 62, #21 Bessemer City (2-9) 0
#13 Cherokee (6-4) 36, #20 Cherryville (3-8) 15
#4 Robbinsville (7-3) 66, #29 Winston-Salem Prep (1-9) 14
#3 Mitchell (9-2) 49, #30 South Davidson (1-9) 10
#14 Swain County (5-5) 40, #19 Hayesville (3-8) 13
#6 Thomasville (8-2) 62, #27 Highland Tech (0-10) 0
#11 South Stokes (6-4) 28, #22 Christ the King (3-8) 16
#7 Starmount (7-4) 65, #26 South Stanly (2-8) 8
#10 Andrews (7-3) 34, #23 Bishop McGuinness (2-8) 6
#15 East Wilkes (5-6) 24, #18 North Stokes (4-7) 0
#2 Mount Airy (11-0) 75, #31 Union Academy (0-11) 0

2A
(East)
#1 Princeton (10-0) 56, #32 Bunn (3-8) 20
#17 Kinston (8-3) 27, #16 Eastern Wayne (8-3) 21
#8 Nash Central (6-5) 29, #25 Southwest Onslow (2-8) 28
#9 South Granville (5-6) 44, #24 Midway (6-5) 21
#5 St. Pauls (9-0) 56, #28 Goldsboro (4-7) 0
#12 Roanoke Rapids (7-4) 34, #21 Bartlett Yancey (6-4) 14
#13 James Kenan (6-3) 41, #20 East Bladen (4-7) 34
#4 Whiteville (10-0) 56, #29 Camden County (4-7) 0
#3 Northeastern (10-0) 52, #30 East Carteret (4-6) 8
#14 John A. Holmes (8-2) 28, #19 North Pitt (7-4) 22
#6 Cummings (9-1-1) 36, #27 Greene Central (4-7) 28
#11 Washington (10-0) 63, #22 South Columbus (3-5) 36
#7 West Craven (6-3) 54, #26 North Lenoir (4-6) 6
#10 Wallace-Rose Hill (9-2) 71, #23 SouthWest Edgecombe (3-7) 36
#15 Clinton (8-2) 48, #18 Hertford County (7-4) 44
#2 East Duplin (10-1) 63, #31 West Bladen (3-6) 0
(West)
#1 Shelby (10-1) 55, #32 Owen (4-7) 3
#17 Polk County (7-3) 29, #16 Southwestern Randolph (8-3) 14
#25 Forest Hills (7-4) 27, #8 Providence Grove (8-3) 26
#24 East Gaston (7-4) 57, #9 Community School of Davidson (8-3) 39
#5 Hendersonville (9-1) 42, #28 West Stanly (3-6) 0
#12 Burns (8-3) 56, #21 McMichael (7-4) 14
#13 Chase (10-1) 47, #20 Pine Lake Prep (6-4) 8
#4 Reidsville (10-0) 49, #29 Randleman (4-7) 7
#3 Maiden (11-0) 37, #30 Mount Pleasant (6-5) 7
#14 West Lincoln (9-2) 41, #19 Surry Central (6-5) 7
#6 Salisbury (10-0) 49, #27 North Forsyth (5-6) 6
#11 Bunker Hill (10-1) 21, #22 East Davidson (6-5) 7
#7 Monroe (7-1) 57, #26 Lincolnton (4-7) 13
#10 J.M. Robinson (10-1) 33, #23 West Stokes (5-5) 14
#15 Forbush (8-3) 55, #18 North Surry (5-5) 8
#2 East Surry (10-0) 30, #31 Newton-Conover (3-7) 6

3A
(East)
#1 Eastern Alamance (8-1) 56, #32 East Wake (3-8) 12
#16 Havelock (7-3) 33, #17 Rocky Mount (5-6) 28
#8 Westover (9-1) 46, #25 Vance County (7-3) 8
#9 North Brunswick (7-4) 47, #24 South Brunswick (6-5) 30
#5 Lee County (8-3) 59, #28 West Johnston (5-6) 15
#12 Southern Nash (9-1) 49, #21 White Oak (8-3) 9
#13 Jacksonville (8-2) 22, #20 Western Alamance (4-6-1) 8
#4 Hunt (9-2) 28, #29 Franklinton (4-7) 14
#3 Seventy-First (11-0) 28, #30 West Brunswick (3-7) 6
#19 Williams (7-4) 48, #14 Fike (7-3) 24
#6 J.H. Rose (7-4) 45, #27 Croatan (4-7) 24
#22 Terry Sanford (7-3) 64, #11 Currituck County (5-6) 40
#7 West Carteret (8-2) 24, #26 Cape Fear (6-4) 7
#23 Scotland County (6-4) 35, #10 Southern Durham (6-5) 13
#15 Smithfield-Selma (8-3) 54, #18 South Johnston (8-3) 14
#2 Northern Nash (10-1) 24, #31 Northwood (4-6) 17
(West)
#1 Pisgah (10-1) 29, #32 Southern Guilford (4-7) 20
#16 South Point (8-3) 41, #17 Eastern Guilford (7-3) 31
#25 Forestview (6-5) 36, #8 Erwin (6-5) 19
#9 Parkwood (6-2) 42, #24 Rockingham County (5-5) 19
#5 North Davidson (7-3) 59, #28 West Henderson (3-8) 14
#21 Hickory (7-4) 37, #12 Smoky Mountain (7-3) 34
#20 West Rowan (7-3) 34, #13 North Lincoln (8-3) 28
#4 Crest (8-2) 28, #29 Jesse Carson (4-6) 7
#3 Dudley (10-1) 60, #30 North Henderson (4-7) 0
#14 Ledford (8-3) 28, #19 Central Davidson (7-3) 21
#6 West Charlotte (7-3) 34, #27 Stuart Cramer (5-6) 10
#11 Kings Mountain (9-2) 21, #22 Franklin (6-5) 17
#7 Hibriten (7-3) 14, #26 Freedom (5-5) 13
#10 Concord (7-3) 34, #23 Tuscola (6-5) 14
#18 East Lincoln (8-3) 22, #15 Oak Grove (7-3) 14
#2 Statesville (10-0) 49, #31 Enka (4-7) 0

4A
(East)
#1 Richmond County (10-1) 52, #32 Jack Britt (4-6) 14
#16 Leesville Road (8-2) 27, #17 Holly Springs (7-4) 13
#25 Knightdale (5-5) 27, #8 Middle Creek (8-3) 14
#9 Pine Forest (10-1) 28, #24 Jordan (4-5) 21
#5 Hillside (8-2) 45, #28 D.H. Conley (4-7) 38
#12 Millbrook (10-1) 49, #21 Garner (4-5) 14
#20 Rolesville (6-5) 56, #13 Pinecrest (8-3) 32
#4 New Bern (10-1) 56, #29 Wakefield (4-7) 49
#3 Cleveland (10-0) 56, #30 Chapel Hill (7-4) 14
#19 Laney (9-2) 17, #14 Fuquay-Varina (7-4) 7
#6 Cardinal Gibbons (9-2) 49, #27 New Hanover (5-6) 10
#11 Heritage (10-1) 34, #22 Clayton (5-6) 12
#7 Hoggard (10-1) 35, #26 Corinth Holders (4-6) 0
#10 South View (9-2) 31, #23 Sanderson (5-4) 24
#18 Panther Creek (8-3) 49, #15 Southern Alamance (8-3) 36
#2 Wake Forest (8-3) 47, #31 Hoke County (4-7) 0
(West)
#1 Hough (11-0) 52, #32 Page (4-7) 3
#16 South Mecklenburg (9-2) 27, #17 West Forsyth (5-5) 21
#25 Mallard Creek (5-4) 29, #8 Butler (7-3) 8
#9 Asheville (9-2) 61, #24 Davie (6-5) 28
#5 Glenn (8-2) 7, #28 Providence (6-5) 3
#12 Myers Park (8-3) 44, #21 Mooresville (6-5) 26
#13 East Forsyth (9-1) 49, #21 Southeast Guilford (7-4) 0
#4 Ardrey Kell (8-2) 62, #29 Northwest Guilford (5-6) 7
#3 Weddington (10-1) 35, #30 North Mecklenburg (5-5) 6
#14 Marvin Ridge (8-2) 20, #19 Charlotte Catholic (7-3) 19
#27 Cuthbertson (5-6) 42, #6 Watauga (8-3) 31
#22 Lake Norman (8-3) 28, #11 Northern Guilford (9-2) 21
#7 Hickory Ridge (9-2) 31, #26 A.C. Reynolds (7-4) 7
#10 Julius Chambers (10-1) 73, #23 South Caldwell (7-3) 20
#18 Porter Ridge (7-2) 27, #15 Reagan (7-4) 21
#2 Grimsley (11-0) 44, #31 Cox Mill (5-6) 8

 

 

 

High school boys soccer

Nov. 1 opening round schedule for Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties:

(3A)
Cramer 2, Freedom 0
Forestview 1, High Point Central 0
St. Stephens 3, South Point 2
North Iredell 3, Ashbrook 2 (2OT)
East Lincoln 5, Smoky Mountain 1
North Lincoln 2, Asheboro 1

(2A)
Shelby 2, Burns 0
Hendersonville 9, East Gaston 0
Lincolnton 2, Wilkes Central 0
Lincoln Charter 4, Robinson 3

(1A)
Highland Tech 10, Sugar Creek 1
N.C. Leadership Academy 2, Cherryville 1 (OT)
Mount Airy 9, Bessemer City 0
W-S Carver 4, Mountain Island Charter 2
Piedmont Community Charter 3, Bishop McGuinness 2

Nov. 3 second round schedule:
(3A)
North Lincoln 3, North Iredell 2 (OT)

Nov. 4 second round schedule:
(3A)
East Lincoln 2, Hibriten 1
North Henderson 5, Forestview 1
Cramer 4, Foard 2

(2A)
Shelby 5, Newton-Conover 1
Lincoln Charter 6, Owen 4
Lincolnton 6, Forest Hills 0

(1A)
Mount Airy 7, Piedmont Community Charter 1
Highland Tech 2, Cornerstone Charter 1

 

Nov. 8 third round schedule:
(3A)
No. 24 Enka at No. 16 East Lincoln
No. 29 North Lincoln at No. 5 Concord
No. 7 Central Academy at No. 2 Cramer

(2A)
No. 5 North Forsyth at No. 4 Shelby
No. 23 Lincoln Charter at No. 2 Lincolnton

(1A)
No. 5 Highland Tech at No. 4 Gray Stone Day

 

 

 

 

 

College basketball

Another strong defensive effort sparked Gaston College’s new basketball team to a 92-56 victory Saturday afternoon at Gastonia’s Piedmont Community Charter – and a 2-0 start to its season.

The Rhinos, who defeated Charlotte’s Johnson and Wales University 79-72 on Friday night in their season opener, are the fourth team in school history to start a season with a 2-0 record. The school, which restarted athletics this season for the first time in 50 years, also started 2-0 three times in its previous history that lasted eight years from the 1964-65 to 1971-72 seasons.

Gaston College, which last started 2-0 in the 1970-71 season, used suffocating defense to break open the game in the first half.

Damon Davis (16 point, five rebounds, four assists), Da’marco Watson (12 points, four rebounds, five assists), Jaylen Bates (12 points, six rebounds) and Jared Funderburk (10 points) led a balanced Gaston College attack.

Gaston College plays again on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Wednesday against Lincolnton’s Combine Academy at Gaston Christian School in Lowell.

 

 

 

 

College football

Charlotte 31, Rice 24 (OT): Charlotte improved to 5-1 in Will Healy’s three years as head coach in one score with a remarkable late comeback win over Conference USA rival Rice in front of a sellout crowd of 16,050 for 49ers’ homecoming.

Trailing 24-14 late in the fourth quarter, Jonathan Cruz hit a 32-yard field goal and Chris Reynolds threw a tying touchdown pass and a game-winning overtime TD pass for the school’s eight fourth-quarter rally for victory in its nine-year history – and fourth of Reynolds’ career.

Former Shelby High standout Calvin Camp rushed for 22 yards and caught two passes for 56 yards and one touchdown for Charlotte (5-4, 3-2), who visits Louisiana Tech next Saturday.

Hampton 27, Gardner-Webb 21 (OT): Gardner-Webb lost for the fourth time in five games in another heartbreaking road loss.

The Bulldogs (3-6, 1-4) failed to score in the opening drive of overtime in the Big South Conference game before Hampton won it on its first play.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs finished with 298 yards of total offense on a wet and gloomy day in the Tidewater area, with a normally effective passing game held in check. Bailey Fisher finished 20-of-35 for 161 yards and two touchdowns and Narii Gaither rushed for 147 yards on 27 carries and caught six passes for 57 yards and a 32-yard score.

Gardner-Webb plays its home finale on next Saturday when it hosts Charleston Southern at 1:30 p.m.

 

Here’s the Carolinas Division I schedule for this week:

(Saturday)
North Carolina 58, Wake Forest 55
Pittsburgh 54, Duke 29
N.C. A&T 21, Charleston Southern 18
Hampton 27, Gardner-Webb 21 (OT)
Davidson 42, St. Thomas (Minn.) 15
S.C. State 15, Howard 12
Chattanooga 35, Wofford 10
Appalachian State 48, Arkansas State 14
Villanova 35, Elon 0
N.C Central 38, Norfolk State 36
Valparaiso 65, Presbyterian 55
Western Carolina 43, Furman 42
East Carolina 45, Temple 3
Samford 35, The Citadel 14
Charlotte 31, Rice 24 (OT)
James Madison 51, Campbell 14
N.C. State 28, Florida State 14
Coastal Carolina 28, Georgia Southern 8
South Carolina 40, Florida 17
Clemson 30, Louisville 24

 

Here’s the Carolinas Division II schedule for this week:

(Saturday)
Notre Dame, Ohio 45, UNC Pembroke 7
Livingstone 17, J.C. Smith 3
Saint Augustine’s 21, Shaw 17
Chowan 28, Lincoln, Pa. 12
Bowie State 79, Elizabeth City State 6
Virginia Wise 30, Catawba 7
Newberry 41, Wingate 35 (OT)
Mars Hill 20, Tusculum 7
Carson-Newman 27, Limestone 21
Shorter 38, Erskine 7
Fayetteville State 10, Winston-Salem State 3
Valdosta State 31, North Greenville 21
Lenoir-Rhyne 56, Barton 20

 

 

 

Pro football

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 (W 19-13)
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

Here is the Charlotte Hornets’ full regular season schedule (with results):

OCTOBER
Wed. 20 INDIANA (W 123-122)
Fri. 22 at Cleveland (W 123-112)
Sun. 24 at Brooklyn (W 111-95)
Mon. 25 BOSTON (L 129-140, OT)
Wed. 27 at Orlando (W 120-111)
Fri. 29 at Miami (L 99-114)
Sun. 31 PORTLAND (W 125-113)
NOVEMBER
Mon. 1 CLEVELAND (L 110-113)
Wed. 3 at Golden State (L 92-114)
Fri. 5 at Sacramento (L 110-140)
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