Independence High coach Tom Knotts sounds a little frustrated

To most people watching, the Patriots, who beat Ardrey Kell 42-14 Friday at home, look pretty sharp. But Knotts, ever the perfectionist, is thinking about tough games in November and December, when one bad play can cost you a shot at a state title.

So maybe when your starting quarterback throws for 389 yards, and your backup throws a 49-yard touchdown pass, and your No.4 receiver catches four passes for 100 yards, maybe that's how you can say this:

“We just weren't ready to play,” Knotts said. “I have to take the blame. We were undisciplined. We jumped off-sides. We missed tackles. We missed assignments. We took sacks.”

Like Independence, Ardrey Kell (3-4, 0-3 Southwestern 4A) played its third game in eight days. The Knights played three of the state's top seven 4A teams during that span, losing to East Mecklenburg 27-21 on Oct.3, Butler 38-8 Monday and now these Patriots (6-0, 3-0). Playing teams that good that quickly wore on Ardrey Kell, which was 9-4 a year ago.

“They have six starters out and they're basically a JV team,” Knotts said. “We should've done a whole lot better than that.”

Anthony Carrothers (24-38-1, 389 yards, four touchdowns; and 1 touchdown rushing) threw an interception on the third play. Ardrey Kell's Justus Pickett (18 carries, 104 yards) scored on a 45-yard run – nearly untouched up the middle – three plays later.

Independence scored on four of its next five possessions, looking pretty sharp.

Mixed in with all that offensive brilliance – Independence ran up 512 total yards – were some of the things that drove Knotts batty.

Independence gave up first downs by jumping offside, dropped six passes – and just generally didn't look as sharp as Knotts would've wanted.

“We just never did stop them,” Knotts said.