8-27-22 roundup: Pro baseball, football and soccer, High school football and boys soccer, College football, Pro golf, Auto racing

By Richard Walker

The Golf Channel and ESPN reported on Saturday that Gastonia’s Harold Varner III is expected to among the next wave of PGA Tour players who will join the LIV Golf tour.

A 2008 Forestview High graduate, Varner has qualified for the FedEx Cup playoff all seven years he’s been a PGA touring member.

The 2008 Big South Conference golfer of the year his senior year of high school and 2007 and 2008 N.C. 3A state runner-up, Varner became the first African-American male to win the N.C. Amateur golf championship in 2011 and was East Carolina’s 1st-ever Conference USA golfer of the year in 2012 in a college career that include two tournament titles.

Upon turning pro, Varner spent one season on the eGolf tour and two seasons on the Web.com tour before earning his PGA tour card in 2015. He’s made the FedEx Cup all seven years on the PGA Tour and in 2022 was recently inducted as a 2022 inductee into the ECU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Current Open Championship winner Cameron Smith also is expected to be leaving the PGA for LIV. The No. 2 player in the world, Smith would become the highest-ranked player to leave for LIV Golf, which is being fronted by fellow Australian Greg Norman and financed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

Varner and Smith are expected to compete in LIV Golf’s next event, scheduled at the International in Boston from Sept. 2-4.

 

 

 

 

College football

The Charlotte 49ers scored first but they didn’t score enough in Saturday’s 43-13 loss in their 2022 season opener.

49ers quarterback Chris Reynolds hit Grant DuBose for two touchdown passes but the first one was followed by 33 unanswered points from Florida Atlantic as Charlotte dropped its final Conference USA opener; The 49ers will join the American Athletic Conference next year.

Reynolds also missed some time following a shoulder injury he suffered while trying to run a bootleg play for a first down late in the first half.

Charlotte, which had won six of its previous nine season-openers, plays again on Friday in its 2022 home opener at 7 p.m. against William & Mary.

Saturday’s NCAA Division I Carolinas results:
(Saturday)
Florida Atlantic 43, Charlotte 13
North Carolina 56, Florida A&M 24

Next week’s NCAA Division I Carolinas schedule:
(Thursday, Sept. 1)
The Citadel at Campbell, 6 p.m.
Limestone at Gardner-Webb, 7 p.m.
North Greenville at Furman, 7 p.m.
South Carolina State at Central Florida, 7 p.m.
VMI at Wake Forest, 7:30 p.m.

(Friday, Sept. 2)
William & Mary at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Temple at Duke, 7:30 p.m.

(Saturday, Sept. 3)
North Carolina at Appalachian State, noon
N.C. State at East Carolina, noon
Western Carolina at Charleston Southern, noon
Davidson at Jacksonville State, 2 p.m.
Wofford at Chattanooga, 6 p.m.
Elon at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m.
Georgia State at South Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
North Carolina A&T vs. N.C. Central at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.

(Monday, Sept. 5)
Clemson vs. Georgia Tech at Atlanta, 8 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school football

NOTE: Sunday’s www.CarolinasSportsHub.com roundup will feature first edition of what will be weekly Sunday high school football notes.

(Friday’s Cleveland/Gaston/Lincoln results:)

South Point 48, East Gaston 6
A.C. Reynolds 45, Shelby 21
Kings Mountain 24, Asheville 0
Burns 35, Crest 12
West Lincoln 48, Cherryville 0
Mountain Island Charter 30, Corvian Community 17
Cramer 48, Bessemer City 28
East Lincoln 53, Forestview 0
Huss 49, Hibriten 42
Hickory Grove Christian 55, Highland Tech 22
Lincolnton 20, North Lincoln 17
Alexander Central 17, North Gaston 8
Roberson 12, Ashbrook 0

(Other area scores:)

Pine Lake Prep 21, Thomas Jefferson 0
Bandys 24, Foard 15
Hickory 53, South Caldwell 27
Lake Norman 42, North Iredell 0
Bunker Hill 33, St. Stephens 12
South Iredell 29, Statesville 13
Newton-Conover 44, West Iredell 8
Freedom 33, East Burke 20
Watauga 23, Maiden 19
R-S Central 36, West Caldwell 7
Highland Springs, Va. 26, Chambers 20
Hopewell 34, East Meck 0
Hough 34, Mooresville 6
Buford, Ga. 56, Mallard Creek 7
North Meck 42, Garinger 0
West Charlotte 40, Harding 6
West Meck 34, Berry Academy 13
Kell 40, Cuthbertson 3
Catawba Ridge, S.C. 16, Myers Park 0
Olympic 29, Rocky River 12
Palisades 52, Calhoun Falls Christian, S.C. 0
Providence 42, South Meck 13
Butler 40, Richmond County 7
Charlotte Catholic 35, Hickory Ridge 34, OT
Independence 28, Marvin Ridge 14
Chase 57, Owen 15
Lake Norman Charter 34, Winston-Salem Prep 14
Tuscola 56, East Rutherford 14

(Next week’s Cleveland/Gaston/Lincoln games:)

Ashbrook at West Meck
Bessemer City at Pine Lake Prep
Burns at Kings Mountain
Chase at North Gaston
Cherryville at Blacksburg, S.C.
Cramer at East Gaston
East Lincoln at Lincolnton
Foard at West Lincoln
Freedom at Forestview
Highland Tech at W-S Carver
Huss at Central Cabarrus
North Lincoln at Northwest Cabarrus
R-S Central at South Point
Shelby at Crest

(Next week’s other area games:)

Newton-Conover at Hickory
Bunker Hill at North Iredell
St. Stephens at Maiden
Statesville at Lake Norman
South Iredell at West Iredell
Draughn at East Burke
West Caldwell at Hibriten
Chambers at Glenn
Hopewell at Olympic
Mallard Creek at South Pointe, S.C.
Harding at North Meck
West Charlotte at Independence
Marvin Ridge at Kell
Berry Academy at Garinger
Myers Park at Reagan
Indian Land, S.C. at Palisades
East Meck at South Meck
New Hanover at Butler
Providence Day at Charlotte Catholic
Parkwood at Providence
Rocky River at Kannapolis A.L. Brown
Lake Norman Charter at Christ the King
McDowell at East Rutherford
Thomas Jefferson at Community School of Davidson

 

 

 

High school boys soccer

Forestview claimed its record 13th title in the Gaston Cup soccer tournament on Saturday with at 3-0 victory over South Point.

The tournament, which began as the Gazette Cup in 1993, has been held 28 times.

Full pairings and results of 2022 Gaston Cup Soccer tournament:

(Monday’s quarterfinals at Cramer)
Highland Tech 2, North Gaston 1
Forestview 4, Cramer 2

(Tuesday’s quarterfinals at Ashbrook)
East Gaston 2, Huss 1
South Point 3, Ashbrook 0

(Wednesday’s semifinals at Cramer)
Consolation – Cramer 2, North Gaston 1
Semifinal – Forestview 4, Highland Tech 0

(Thursday’s semifinals at Ashbrook)
Consolation – Huss 1, Ashbrook 0
Semifinal – South Point 1, East Gaston 1 (SP wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)

(Saturday’s games at Cramer)
7th place – North Gaston 1, Ashbrook 0
5th place – Cramer 2, Huss 0
3rd place – Highland Tech 1, East Gaston 1 (tie)
Championship – Forestview 3, South Point 0

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro baseball

The Gastonia Honey Hunters won 6-5 at the High Point Rockers on Saturday night.

The full Gastonia Honey Hunters’ 2022 schedule (Games times 6:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 4:15 on Sunday):

First half record: 45-21 (South Division winner)
Second half record: 32-15

April (8-1)
21 Lancaster, Pa. (L 2-5)
22 Lancaster, Pa. (W 4-3)
23 Lancaster, Pa. (W 8-1)
24 Lancaster, Pa. (W 13-4)
26 Wild Health, Ky. (W 12-1)
27 Wild Health, Ky. (W 17-4)
28 Wild Health, Ky. (W 6-4)
29 Staten Island (W 5-4)
30 Staten Island (W 6-5)

May (16-10)
1 Staten Island (W 10-5)
3 at York, Pa. (W 3-1)
4 at York, Pa. (L 4-5 in 10)
5 at York, Pa. (W 12-7)
6 at Staten Island (ppd.)
7 at Staten Island (ppd.)
8 at Staten Island (W 4-1)
8 at Staten Island (W 7-2)
10 at So. Maryland (W 2-0)
11 at So. Maryland (L 0-4)
12 at So. Maryland (L 2-4)
13 at Staten Island (ppd.)
14 at Staten Island (ppd.)
15 at Staten Island (L 1-2)
15 at Staten Island (W 1-0)
16 at Staten Island (W 8-3)
17 So. Maryland (L 4-5)
18 So. Maryland (L 6-8)
19 So. Maryland (W 13-1)
20 Charleston, W.Va.(W 12-10)
21 Charleston, W.Va.(W 6-4)
22 Charleston, W.Va.(L 1-8)
24 at Lancaster, Pa.(W 2-1)
25 at Lancaster, Pa.(L 3-13)
26 at Lancaster, Pa.(L 1-4)
27 at Long Island (W 5-3)
28 at Long Island (W 10-3)
29 at Long Island (W 3-2)
30 at Long Island (W 5-2)
31 Long Island (L 7-8)

June (17-9)
1 Long Island (L 9-10 in 11)
2 Long Island (L 0-5)
3 at High Point (W 5-4)
4 at High Point (W 8-3)
5 at High Point (W 8-3)
7 at Charleston,W.Va.(L 5-7)
8 at Charleston,W.Va.(W 6-0)
9 at Charleston,W.Va.(W 3-2)
10 High Point (W 7-6)
11 High Point (W 6-4)
12 High Point (W 9-5)
14 Charleston, W.Va. (L 4-6)
15 Charleston, W.Va. (W 14-7)
16 Charleston, W.Va. (W 2-0)
17 at Lexington, Ky. (W 6-1)
18 at Lexington, Ky. (L 2-3 in 10)
19 at Lexington, Ky. (W 4-0 in 11)
21 Charleston, W.Va. (W 8-7)
22 Charleston, W.Va. (L 1-4)
23 Charleston, W.Va. (W 5-4)
24 at So. Maryland (ppd.)
25 at So. Maryland (W 6-3)
25 at So. Maryland (W 3-0)
26 at So. Maryland (L 7-9)
28 Wild Health, Ky. (W 4-0)
29 Wild Health, Ky. (L 2-10)
30 Wild Health, Ky. (L 6-7)

July (21-5)
1 at Lexington, Ky. (W 12-11)
2 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-6)
3 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-5)
4 High Point (L 1-8)
–end of 1st half of season
5 High Point (W 8-5 in 5/weather)
6 at High Point (W 7-6)
7 at High Point (W 6-4)
8 High Point (ppd.)
9 High Point (W 4-0)
10 High Point (W 5-2)
10 High Point (ppd., Aug. 5)
12 at Wild Health, Ky. (W 8-6)
13 at Wild Health, Ky. (W 6-2)
14 at Wild Health, Ky. (W 4-1)
15 Lexington, Ky (ppd.)
16 Lexington, Ky. (W 4-1)
16 Lexington, Ky. (W 5-3)
17 Lexington, Ky. (W 12-5)
19 at York, Pa. (W 19-5)
20 at York, Pa. (W 10-0)
21 at York, Pa. (L 2-6)
22 at High Point (L 1-2)
23 at High Point (W 5-3)
24 at High Point (L 6-7)
26 Lexington, Ky. (L 4-10)
27 Lexington, Ky. (W 11-0)
28 Lexington, Ky. (W 8-6)
29 York, Pa. (W 3-2)
30 York, Pa. (ppd.)
31 York, Pa. (W 8-7)
31 York, Pa. (W 5-1)

August (13-11)
2 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-8)
3 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-3)
4 at Lexington, Ky. (W 10-5)
5 High Point (W 6-3)
5 High Point (L 2-3)
6 High Point (L 4-8)
7 High Point (L 5-11)
9 Staten Island (W 10-5)
9 Staten Island (W 7-2)
10 Staten Island (L 2-6)
11 Staten Island (L 7-9)
12 at High Point (W 9-4)
13 at High Point (L 3-5)
14 at High Point (L 3-6)
16 So. Maryland (L 2-3 in 10)
17 So. Maryland (W 5-3)
18 So. Maryland (W 12-7)
19 High Point (W 15-0)
20 High Point (W 11-5)
21 High Point (L 4-13)
23 at Charleston,W.Va.(L 4-7)
24 at Charleston,W.Va.(W 11-2)
25 at Charleston,W.Va.(W 9-1)
26 at High Point (L 3-8)
27 at High Point (W 6-5)
28 at High Point
30 High Point
31 High Point

September
1 High Point
2 Wild Health, Ky.
3 Wild Health, Ky.
4 Wild Health, Ky.
6 at Wild Health, Ky.
7 at Wild Health, Ky.
8 at Wild Health, Ky.
9 Lexington, Ky.
10 Lexington, Ky.
11 Lexington, Ky.
13 at High Point
14 at High Point
15 at High Point
16 at Charleston,W.Va.
17 at Charleston,W.Va.
18 at Charleston,W.Va.

—ALPB playoffs
(Southern Division championship: Best-of-5)
20 home at 6:15 p.m.
21 home at 6:15 p.m.
23 away TBA
24 (if necessary) away TBA
25 (if necessary) away TBA

 

 

 

Pro football

The Carolina Panthers announced some injury news on Saturday – and neither of it was good.

Head coach Matt Rhule told reporters on conference call that backup quarterback Sam Darnold and kicker Zane Gonzalez suffered “significant” injuries during Friday’s 21-0 preseason-ending victory over the visiting Buffalo Bills.

Darnold has a high ankle sprain, which is generally means he’ll be out 4 to 6 weeks. Ruhle earlier this week announced Baker Mayfield will be the starter after spending training camp in competition with Darnold. Veteran P.J. Walker will be Mayfield’s backup – and rookie Matt Corral was placed on season-ending injured reserve earlier this week after suffering a foot injury in the second preseason game.

Gonzalez’s injury may be worse and could be season-ending. Gonzalez injured his right groin while practicing kicks into the net on the sideline and Ruhle didn’t clarify the severity of the injury but said the Panthers are looking to sign a kicker before the Sept. 11 opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Here’s the full Carolina Panthers schedule for the 2022 season:

(Preseason)
Aug. 13 at Washington (W 23-21)
Aug. 19 at New England (L 10-20)
Aug. 26 Buffalo (W 21-0)

(Regular season)
Week 1, Sept. 11, Cleveland, 1 p.m.
Week 2, Sept. 18, at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m.
Week 3, Sept. 25, New Orleans, 1 p.m.
Week 4, Oct. 2, Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Week 5, Oct. 9, San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
Week 6, Oct. 16, at L.A. Rams, 4:05 p.m.
Week 7, Oct. 23, Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Week 8, Oct. 30, at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Week 9, Nov. 6, at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Week 10, Nov. 9, Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Week 11, Nov. 20, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.
Week 12, Nov. 27, Denver, 1 p.m.
Week 13, Dec. 4, BYE
Week 14, Dec. 11, at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.
Week 15, Dec. 18, Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Week 16, Dec. 24, Detroit, 1 p.m.
Week 17, Jan. 1, at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Week 18, Jan. 7 or 8, at New Orleans, TBD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro soccer

Charlotte suffered its fourth losses in its last five matches on Saturday when it lost 2-0 at home against Toronto.

Here’s the full Charlotte FC MLS schedule for the 2022 season (with results):

(10-16-2 record)
Feb. 26 at D.C. (L 0-3)
March 5, L.A. (L 0-1)
March 13, at Atlanta (L 1-2)
March 19, New England (W 3-1)
March 26, Cincinnati (W 2-0)
April 2, at Philadelphia (L 0-2)
April 10, Atlanta (W 1-0)
April 16, at New England (L 1-2)
April 23, at Colorado (T 0-0)
April 30, at Orlando (L 1-2)
May 7, Miami (W 1-0)
May 14, Montreal (L 0-2)
May 22, Vancouver (W 2-1)
May 29, at Seattle (L 1-2)
June 11, New York (W 2-0)
June 18, at Columbus (T 1-1)
June 25, at Montreal (L 1-2)
June 30, Austin (L 0-1)
July 3, at Houston (W 2-1)
July 9, Nashville (W 4-1)
July 16, at Miami (L 2-3)
July 23, at Toronto (L 0-4)
July 30, Columbus (suspended at 0-0 in 16th minute to Oct. 5)
August 3, D.C. (W 3-0)
August 6, Chicago (L 2-3)
August 13, at LAFC (L 0-5)
August 17, at New York City (W 3-1)
August 21, Orlando (L 1-2)
August 27, Toronto (L 0-2)
September 3, at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
September 10, New York City, 7 p.m.
September 17, at Chicago, 8 p.m.
October 1, Philadelphia, 5:30 p.m.
October 5, Columbus, 7 p.m.
October 9, at New York, 1 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto racing

The 2022 NASCAR cup schedule (with winners):

Feb. 6 Busch Light Clash (Joey Logano)
Feb. 17 Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 (Brad Keselowski)
Feb. 17 Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 (Chris Buescher)
Feb. 20 Daytona 500 (Austin Cindric)
Feb. 27 Wise Power 400 (Kyle Larson)
Mar. 6 Pennzoil 400 (Alex Bowman)
Mar. 13 Ruoff Mortgage (Chase Briscoe)
Mar. 20 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (William Byron)
Mar. 27 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (Ross Chastain)
Apr. 3 Toyota Owners (Denny Hamlin)
Apr. 9 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 400 (William Byron-2)
Apr. 17 Food City Dirt Race (Kyle Busch)
Apr. 24 Geico 500 (Ross Chastain-2)
May 2 DuraMAX Drydene 400 (Chase Elliott)
May 8 Goodyear 400 (Joey Logano)
May 15 AdventHealth 400 (Kurt Busch)
May 22 NASCAR All-Star Open (Daniel Suarez)
May 22 NASCAR All-Star (Ryan Blaney)
May 29 Coca-Cola 600 (Denny Hamlin-2)
June 5 Enjoy Illinois 300 (Joey Logano-2)
June 12 Toyota/Save Mart 350 (Daniel Suarez)
June 26 Ally 400 (Chase Elliott-2)
July 3 Kwik Trip 250 (Tyler Reddick)
July 10 Quaker State 400 (Chase Elliott-3)
July 17 Ambetter 301 (Christopher Bell)
July 24 NASCAR Cup Series at Pocono (Chase Elliott-4)
July 31 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard (Tyler Reddick-2)
Aug. 7 FireKeepers Casino 400 (Kevin Harvick)
Aug. 14 Federated Auto Parts 400 (Kevin Harvick-2)
Aug. 21 Go Bowling at The Glen (Kyle Larson-2)
Aug. 27 Coke Zero Sugar 400 (postponed to Aug. 28 at 10 a.m.)
Sept. 4 Cook Out Southern 500
Sept. 11 Hollywood Casino 400
Sept. 17 Bass Pro Shops Night Race
Sept. 24 AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500
Oct. 2 YellaWood 500
Oct. 9 Bank of America ROVAL 400
Oct. 16 South Point 400
Oct. 23 Dixie Vodka 400
Oct. 30 Xfinity 500
Nov. 6 NASCAR Cup Series Championship