GAFFNEY – The McDonalds Football Classic turned into a classic match up between two top teams in both North and South Carolina.
Kings Mountain and Catawba Ridge ended in a 7-7 tie after playing a half of football as Kings Mountain missed a 25-yard field goal that bounced off the crossbar as time expired to end the scrimmage in a tie with the Copperheads.
“We had the ball a lot,” said Catawba Ridge head coach Zac Lendyak. “We have got to get better down inside the 30 and put the ball in the endzone when we have the chance. But they answered a lot of questions about toughness.”
Catawba Ridge’s defense looked better than its offense giving up just one big play to Kings Mountain, who is coached by former South Pointe state champion head coach Strait Herron. The Copperheads allowed a 75-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the game from scrimmage to Kings Mountain as they scored 13 seconds into the game. From there, the Copperheads defense shutdown a strong Kings Mountain team keeping them out of the endzone.
Offensively, Catawba Ridge did better on the ground when they ran it rushing for 85 yards on 22 carries by three players – Ira Mister, DJ Latimer and Andrew Turner. Catawba Ridge picked up 11 first downs in the one half of play. Mister rushed the ball 13 times for 44 yards against a strong Kings Mountain defense.
Turner got the start at quarterback for Catawba Ridge and did better running the ball than passing it. He rushed for 45 yards on five carries, but connected on just 2-of-6 passing for 9 yards.
Latimer got his time at quarterback as well going 3-of-5 for 45 yards and a 30-yard touchdown to Sheldon Crawford in the second quarter. Running it, Latimer ended up with negative five yards on four carries.
Both quarterbacks for Catawba Ridge tossed interceptions.
“We like to say most of the mistakes were fixable,” Lendyak said. “Both guys got in there and battled.”
Catawba Ridge controlled time of possession despite struggling to score. Only once did they get within the redzone in the half of play as their lone touchdown came from 30-yards out.
Crawford led the Copperheads catching two passes for 38-yards and the touchdown. Brady Ambrose caught two passes for 17 years.
Catawba Ridge will officially open the 2023 football season at home in Week 0 (Aug. 18) against Fort Mill.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
