Throughout the Observer's coverage area in North and South Carolina, there are players having very good seasons on teams that are not doing as well. We recognize a few here:
Walter Aikens, Harding, QB: In Friday's 56-49 loss to Olympic, Aikens rushed 15 times for 105 yards and one touchdown. He completed 20 of 38 passes for 343 yards and a school-record five touchdowns.
Aikens led Harding back from a 35-13 halftime deficit to tie the game at 49. For the season, he leads the team in rushing (60 carries for 362 and two TDs) and passing (66-for-130, 910 yards, seven TDs)
Matt Black, Indian Trail Porter Ridge, K: He's one of the top players on Porter Ridge's (11-3-3) soccer team, ranked No.14 in the N.C. 3A coaches poll. Black has 11 goals and 11 assists. The football team is 2-4, but Black has been consistent as a kicker and made a 54-yard field goal – one of the longest in state history – against Concord on Sept. 29.
Thomas Gooding, Garinger, WR/DB: Playing his first season, the 6-foot-5 Garinger senior has more than 150 yards receiving in the past three weeks, plus two touchdowns.
Four-year QB starter Marquez Stanley, (6-3, 195 pounds), who ran for two touchdowns and passed for one in Garinger's first win in six years Monday, and receiver Ndjo Shosola (6-3, 180) are also having good seasons. Stanley and Shosola carry 3.2 GPAs.
John Osborne, Victory Christian, WR: Over past three games, he has 13 catches, five touchdowns and 426 yards receiving. Osborne, a 6-1, 170-pound senior, runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and is the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 2A 100- and 200-meter track champ.
Against three-time state champ Charlotte Latin on Sept. 26, he had two catches for 138 yards and a score, seven kick returns for 156 yards, three tackles as a safety and a 55-yard interception return.
Austin Ray, North Gaston, LB: One of 12 returnees from a 2007 state finalist, Ray moved to linebacker this year, at 5-11 and 165 pounds, after playing quarterback or running back most of his career.
“I believe he is athletic enough to play somewhere at the next level,” said coach Josh Clendenin. “However, he has maybe sacrificed that opportunity for his team and his school by playing out of position.”
Kacey Robinson, Monroe Central, DB: Robinson, a 6-foot, 140-pound junior, has missed two games with injury, but has 27 tackles (21 solo) in four games, plus two interceptions and has a 39-yard kickoff return average. He returned the opening kick against North Stanly 81 yards for a touchdown Sept. 26, giving Central its first lead in school history.
Vinnie Sunseri, Marvin Ridge, LB: Son of Panthers assistant coach Sal Sunseri, he was first team all-conference as a freshman, leading the team with more than 100 tackles. On Sept. 29 against Kannapolis Brown, he injured his leg in the first half, but played the second, finishing with 17 tackles.
Sunseri didn't practice before last Friday's game with Unionville Piedmont, when he had 19 tackles. On Saturday, doctors diagnosed him with a broken fibula and sat him out for a month.
For the six-game season, Sunseri has 79 tackles (including 36 in one week), plus 12 for a loss, two sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Derryck Turner, Waddell, WR: He has 18 catches for 339 yards and two touchdowns for winless Waddell. He averages 32 yards per kickoff return and has a 90-yard return for touchdown. He averages 19 yards per punt return, with a 68-yard return for a score.
Langston Wertz Jr.
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