Shelby Football’s Tyler Morgan talks about Week 1 win over Kings Mountain
The Shelby football team celebrates a Week 1 win, plus second-year wide receiver Tyler Morgan discusses the Golden Lions’ keys to victory.
Here are previews of Week 2 high school football games in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties, with reporter Joe Hughes offering a prediction for each game.
“Pick 3”: The best games in the region
AC Reynolds at Shelby
Records: AC Reynolds is 0-1; Shelby is 1-0.
The word: AC Reynolds has won its last two meetings with Shelby, including a 28-21 victory last year in Asheville. It’s fair to say that both teams’ offenses played to their potential in Week 1. Shelby managed less than 100 yards of offense and seven points in an error-prone first half against Kings Mountain, while ACR managed just 184 yards and two field goals in a loss to West Forsyth. In a game with plenty of offensive talent on both sides, it may be up to the respective defenses to settle the score. Last week, ACR recorded three sacks while Shelby limited Kings Mountain to 188 yards and forced three turnovers.
Choose: Shelby
RANKINGS FOR THE GASTONIA AND SHELBY AREA: This is how the regional teams are doing before week 2
Honor list week 1: High school football in Gastonia and Shelby: The best players of the first week
AREA OVERVIEW: Final results from the first week of North Carolina high school football in the Gastonia and Shelby area
Comb burns
Records: Burns is 1-0; Crest is 0-0.
The word: Crest ended a two-game losing streak against Burns last fall with a 49-29 win at Lawndale. Both teams are very different from the ones that face each other in this game in 2023. Burns took a more ground-oriented approach in last week’s win over Forestview, rushing for more than 200 yards. Crest is expected to do similarly with Charger alumnus and former Kings Mountain coach Greg Lloyd at the helm, especially since it has senior running back Aiden Carson, who rushed for 1,097 yards and 16 touchdowns in a season.
Choose: Comb
North Gaston in Bessemer City
Website: NFHS Network ($)
Records: North Gaston is 1-0; Bessemer City is 0-1.
The word: North Gaston has a chance to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2013. The Wildcats held East Gaston scoreless over the final three quarters last week, recording nine sacks in a 24-7 win. Meanwhile, Bessemer City is trying to get its offense back on track after a 45-0 loss to East Rutherford. The Yellow Jackets finished the game with 140 total yards, only 32 of which came through the air.
Choose: North Gaston
The rest
Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy of Huntersville (0-1) at Highland Tech (0-0): Highland Tech wants to end a 34-game losing streak in its first home game against Bonnie Cone. | Tip: Highland Tech
Catawba Ridge from Fort Mill, South Carolina (0-1) at East Gaston (0-1): East Gaston allowed 18 unanswered points in its Week 1 loss to North Gaston. It will need more firepower this Friday, as Catawba Ridge scored 37 points in a loss to Chapin (South Carolina) last week. | Tip: Catawba Ridge
Charlotte Christian (1-0) at South Point (1-0): South Point delivered a solid performance in its 28-6 win over Lincolnton, rushing for 216 yards against a stifling defense and looking to avenge a 41-36 loss to Charlotte Christian last fall. | Pick: South Point
CHASE (0-1) at Stuart Cramer (0-1): Stuart Cramer gave East Lincoln problems for three quarters, while sophomore quarterback Cooper McMillan and Qualteau Hawkins had strong games. CHASE was crushed by Mountain Heritage last week. | Tip: Stuart Cramer
Cherryville (1-0) at West Lincoln (0-1): West Lincoln holds a 29-17 lead in its series against Cherryville, including wins in the last 12 meetings. Cherryville’s hopes depend on its ability to stop the Rebels’ running game, which produced 363 rushing yards against the Ironmen last fall. | Pick: West Lincoln
Covenant Day (1-0) at Mountain Island Charter (1-0): After Mountain Island Charter totaled 527 yards of offense in a win over the Cabarrus Stallions, the team now looks set to have similar success against an NCISAA opponent that is in top form after its Week 1 win. | Pick: Mountain Island Charter
Cox Mill (0-1) at Kings Mountain (0-1): After poor performances from their respective offenses, both will be hoping for better performances. Kings Mountain’s defense will be in the game all season and could give them the edge in this game. | Tip: Kings Mountain
Forestview (0-1) at East Lincoln (1-0): A week after Burns ripped open the team’s defense for more than 200 rushing yards, Forestview must come up with a plan for East Lincoln’s offense, which was in overdrive, scoring 47 points against Stuart Cramer last week. | Pick: East Lincoln
Hibriten (0-1) against Hunter Huss (1-0): Huss was without quarterback Javarion Brown in a 22-19 loss to Hibriten last fall. He is back for this game after throwing five touchdown passes in a win at Draughn. | Pick: Hunter Huss
Lincolnton (0-1) at North Lincoln (1-0): Any success Lincolnton wants to achieve must start with stopping the run. North Lincoln managed just under 300 yards in a win over West Lincoln last week. | Tip: North Lincoln
