BOILING SPRINGS — It was no secret; id, together with home-field benefit via the regional remaining spherical. With such stakes, the Chargers did their greatest to not play with their meals on Friday, Oct. 23.
Crest claimed not less than a share of the Huge South 5A/6A title, shutting out Ashbrook 38-0 at Sid Bryson Stadium in Boiling Springs.
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“(Crest’s loss to Ashbrook) final yr was a subject of dialog all week lengthy,” mentioned Crest soccer coach Mark Barnes. “There have been issues this program wished to do final yr, like win a convention championship and a state championship collectively, one thing which hasn’t been performed since 2015. So this was an vital one for our workforce and wanting to perform all of its objectives.”
Following a sluggish begin, a Crest offense buoyed by its senior contributors started to make an impression.
After kicker Carson Grier obtained the Chargers on the scoreboard with a 47-yard discipline objective, all-purpose man Brock Melton obtained in on the act with a catch-and-run for a landing from junior quarterback Okay.J. Bell. Melton additionally added a TD run within the second half. Senior again Malachi Gamble additionally proved formidable within the Week 10 matchup, dashing for 113 yards and a second quarter TD run. Fellow upperclassman Maurice Redmond added a TD run of his personal within the fourth.
Bell additionally linked with junior wideout James Battle on a 51-yard TD move earlier within the recreation.
It was Crest’s protection which stole the present, nonetheless, holding an Ashbrook offense averaging higher than 378 yards and 34.6 factors per recreation to 102 complete yards and no factors of their Week 10 matchup. Inexperienced Wave quarterback A.J. McClain was harassed all through, whereas his favourite goal Braylon Smith was held with out a catch.
“Our protection made a very good offense look common,” Barnes mentioned. “They’ve quite a lot of weapons and scored quite a lot of factors, however our protection is getting higher week by week.”
The Chargers (8-1, 5-0 Huge South 5A/6A) can now flip their sights towards its common season finale towards Kings Mountain, Crest searching for its first outright league championship since 2023 and a chance to complete a sweep towards Cleveland County foes.
“We’re excited in regards to the alternative, and I’m positive (Kings Mountain) is simply too,” Barnes mentioned. “This can be a nice soccer county, and in spite of everything is claimed and performed it’s the 2 of us who will resolve (how Huge South 5A/6A) shakes out. These are the video games you’re keen on this time of yr.”
Ashbrook is 4-5 (2-3 Huge South 5A/6A). The Inexperienced Wave host rival Hunter Huss Oct. 30 of their annual "Battle for the Victory Bell" recreation.
This text initially appeared on The Gaston Gazette: l
