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West Charlotte High's football team jumped on North Mecklenburg early in a 34-10 N.C. 4AA first-round playoff win Friday.
The Lions had 289 yards rushing and 345 yards total offense in the first half when they grabbed a 27-3 lead. On a rainy night, West Charlotte was determined to make rookie coach Aaron Brand's playoff debut successful.
“North Meck's a good team, a well-coached team,” Brand said, rain pelting his maroon-and-gold Lions visor. “We were a little fearful of what (North's coaches) would do this time around, but we still had enough to get it done.”
The Lions (9-3), No. 14 in the Sweet 16, have won five of their last six playoff games and will play either Richmond Senior or Northwest Guilford in next week's second round. Richmond and Northwest play tonight at 7 in Rockingham.
Brand told his team after the game that no matter who they play, he thought they would be ready to play.
“I like my team,” Brand said.
The Lions also seem to like their coach.
After the game, before his postgame speech, the players clapped their hands together three times.
“1-2-3. We love you, coach!” they said together.
“That happened after the first North Meck game,” Brand said. “And they've been doing it every since. They say it every day, even in practice, but it's just another sign of how much they love each other and how together they are.”
Brand's team began the season passing more than it ran with sophomore quarterback Ahmad Brown. Now late in the season, Brand is calling more run plays for sophomore Scoot Simmons, who is running behind a determined offensive line led by senior C.J. Montgomery.
Simmons rushed 18 times for 191 yards and scored two touchdowns. He had three carries for 21 yards in the second half, when Brand gave the ball to his other backs like sophomore Josh Covington (5 carries, 119 yards) and junior Javaris Massey, a big bruising fullback who seems to love to run up the middle.
“It was wet and good running weather,” said Simmons, who appears to be fully recovered from a high ankle sprain that slowed him early this season. He has more than 600 yards and nine touchdowns in the past three weeks.
While Simmons and the offense put on a dominant performance, the Lions defense played well, too. North Meck (6-6) had 33 yards rushing and 152 yards total offense. Linebacker Brandon Grier had 12 tackles and two sacks.
“We're playing well right now,” Brand said. “We like our chances from week to week. We're preparing well. I'm a little hard on the coaches, but I tell them it's not the time for buddy-buddy stuff. We'll be buddies after the season. Right now, let's get it done.”
