The local teams split in the Battle of the Border as South Carolina beat North Carolina 41-32.
The Jamboree had three South Carolina teams against three North Carolina teams, each playing a half of football at The Pit on the campus of Catawba Ridge High School.
Nation Ford would pick up a convincing win, while Catawba Ridge fell in the closing seconds.
Gray Collegiate Academy and Ambassador Christian Lions out of Huntersville, NC kicked off the Jamboree in the first match-up of the event. The Lions beat Gray 15-9 to put North Carolina up early.
Nation Ford 25, Cuthbertson 7
The Falcons shook off a slow start for a 25-7 win over the Cuthbertson Cavaliers in the Battle of the Border Jamboree.
Quarterback Asher Beck got the start for the Falcons. Nation Ford on their opening drive was able to make some progress with the help of two 15-yard penalties from Cuthbertson.
The Falcons capped off its drive with a 3-yard touchdown run by James Thames at 6:42 left in the first quarter. The extra point was blown dead.
Cuthbertson was able to move the ball well and marched down the field to score on a four-yard pass with 3:29 left in the quarter.
A catch and fumble gave the ball back to the Cavs in the first play of the Falcons’ second series as they took over at their own 39-yard line.
Nation Ford started the second quarter with the ball and put together a quick drive as Beck hit Graham Lee for a 75-yard touchdown pass down the right side to put the Falcons ahead.
The Falcons’ Marquel McCloud picked off a Cuthbertson pass to bring it back to the Cavs 29-yard line. That put Nation Ford in ideal field position as they scored three plays later with Beck hitting Jah Carter for a 29-yard touchdown pass.
Ben Falkner took over under center for the Falcons in the second quarter. He would put together a 10-play, 83-yard drive capped off by an 11-yard touchdown run to extend the Nation Ford lead.
Nation Ford picked up 11 first downs in the one half of play and outscored Cuthbertson 19-0 in the second quarter. Beck finished the game 4-of-8 for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Falkner went 4-of 5 for 43 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Lee led the Nation Ford receiving corps with two catches for 110-yards, while Banks Demby rushed for 27 yards on four carries to lead the Falcons’ ground attack.
Nation Ford opens the regular season next week at home against Gilbert High School on Aug. 21.
Marvin Ridge 10, Catawba Ridge 7
In the battle of the Ridges to cap off the Jamboree, as the Copperheads took on Marvin Ridge Mavericks, who is coached by former Nation Ford athletic director Dave Johnson.
The Copperheads’ first series ended in a punt for Catawba Ridge. Neither team was able to get their offense moving early on as they traded punts the first couple of series.
In the second quarter opening series, the Mavericks completed a long pass getting down to the 10-yard line. Two plays later, Marvin Ridge scored with 9:02 left to play to go up 7-0.
The Catawba Ridge offense finally started to move as quarterback Will Gambrill hit his receivers for some big gains to get to midfield and pick up several first downs.
The Copperheads kept the drive going as Gambrill completed seven consecutive passes in a row before an incompletion getting them to the 14. He then connected with Nate Odell for a 14-yard touchdown pass as Catawba Ridge tied the game at seven with 4:14 left.
Marvin Ridge would regain the lead with 20.6 seconds left off a 30-yard field goal as they would finish the scoring.
Gambrill after a slow start would finish 11-for-16 for 105 yards with one touchdown and one interception to close the game. Lucas McCauley caught three passes for 37 yards and Boston Halpin rushed for 27 yards on five carries.
Catawba Ridge opens the season at home next week against Blythewood High School on Aug. 21.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
