Monday’s HS Football Observations: Myers Park is 3-0 for first time since 1997, but it’s hunting for much more

Myers Park High’s football team got an important win Monday night at Providence, though coach Scott Chadwick said he didn’t think his team was particularly impressive putting it together.

The Mustangs beat Providence 14-7, improving to 3-0. It’s their best start since 1997.

But Myers Park had to really work to beat the Panthers (0-3).

“For this program to be 3-0 at this point, that’s certainly an accomplishment,” Chadwick said. “I think the kids probably learned a lesson tonight: We’re not nearly as good as we thought we were and we still have a lot of work to do, and we can’t take things for granted.

“We play Charlotte 4A football and that’s as tough as there is in this state. There are no off nights. But it’s nice to learn those lessons and still win. It’s really, really painful to learn those lessons and lose.”

Neither team scored in the first half, and the game was tied in the third quarter -- after a 72-yard run from Myers Park’s Amari Jordan and 15-yard touchdown catch by Providence’s Blake Proehl, son of former Carolina Panthers receiver Ricky Proehl.

Myers Park won the game in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Jack Davidson (12-for-21, 81 yards) threw a 6-yard scoring pass to sophomore Elijah Bowick to give the Mustangs their second lead of the game. Myers Park’s defense made that lead stand up by stopping Providence on fourth-and-short near midfield with about 5 minutes to play. After that, Chadwick said, Myers Park was able to run out the clock.

Now, the Mustangs, No. 14 in the Observer’s Sweet 16 poll, will prepare for rival South Mecklenburg at home Friday. South Meck (2-1) is ranked No. 6. The Sabres lost 38-25 to No. 5 Rock Hill Northwestern Friday and will be rested. Myers Park will play its second game in five days.

When Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hermine was bearing down on the Carolinas last week, many local teams moved games to Thursday or Saturday to avoid Friday, when the storm ultimately affected weather here. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools wouldn’t allow most teams, including Myers Park and Providence, to move games to any day other than Monday. South Meck was a visiting team and had to follow the lead of Northwestern, which decided to play Friday.

So Myers Park will be working with a short week -- and dealing with injuries.

Chadwick lost his top cornerback, Kevin Alford, in practice (ankle) last week. He lost two more during Monday’s game.

“We had safeties playing corner,” Chadwick said.

Myers Park also lost two of its top three receivers by the end of the first quarter Monday.

“It really turned more into surviva,l to be honest,” Chadwick said. “And I don’t know what we’ll do about Friday. We were already put in a difficult situation, playing two games in five days, and with the injuries we sustained tonight, it’ll make it extremely difficult. ...It’s going to be tough to come and do this again in three days.”

But if they can do it, and beat South Meck, the Mustangs would be on to something.

The last time Myers Park started 4-0? That was in 1983.

Observations

▪ Harding beat arch-rival West Charlotte 26-0 Monday to improve to 2-1 under coach Sam Greiner. In three of the past four seasons, Harding won one game.

Monday’s win was the Rams’ first against any team other than Garinger since Harding beat East Mecklenburg 42-28 in September 2013.

▪ Robbinsville High’s Logan Johnson suffered a serious kidney injury after he was hit while playing against Charlotte Country Day last month. The school has started a GoFundMe to help offset Johnson’s medical costs.

▪ Ardrey Kell sophomore safety Jeremiah Gray has two interceptions in his first three varsity games. In last week’s win against Marvin Ridge, Gray had two passes broken up and an interception. One of his defended passes led to an interception by a teammate.

Monday’s Roundup

Mooresville 44, Hopewell 0: First-year coach Marty Paxton got his first win at Mooresville. The Blue Devils improved to 1-2. Hopewell (1-2) was shut out for the second straight week. Mooresville was led by running back Donsel Jetton, who ran for three touchdowns.

Mount Pleasant 48, Cox Mill 14: Mount Pleasant quarterback Chance Daquila hit Adams Johns for a 75-yard score early in the second quarter to push his team to a 14-0 lead. On his team’s next offensive play, Daquila hit Jacorey Alston on a 63-yard pass and another score and spark the rout for Mount Pleasant (1-2). Cox Mill (0-2), which lost 27-0 at North Meck to start the season, scored its first points of season on Jessie Malit’s 38-yard interception return in the second quarter.

Parkwood 27, Piedmont 17: Piedmont took a 17-14 lead on a field goal with 7:24 to play, but Parkwood got the winning points about five minutes later. When Piedmont got the ball, Parkwood intercepted it, scored and improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2008.

Monday’s Top Performers

Quavaris Crouch, Harding: Sophomore running back had 141 yards total offense in the Rams 26-0 win over West Charlotte. He ran 19 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns. He had one catch for 27 yards and a touchdown.

Khamal Howard, East Mecklenburg: 38 carries, 240 yards rushing, two touchdowns in a 28-18 win at North Mecklenburg. Teammate Tyreik Morrison had two interceptions.

Jacquez Robinson, Aaron Jordan, Amari Jordan, Myers Park: Myers Park had 240 yards rushing in a 14-7 win over Providence Monday. Robinson ran 14 times for 61; Aaron Jordan 14 for 57; and Amari Jordan two for 75.

Emanuel Wilson, North Mecklenburg: 23 carries, 174 yards rushing, two scores in a loss to East Meck. He had one catch for 56 yards.

This story was originally published September 5, 2016 at 11:45 PM with the headline "Monday’s HS Football Observations: Myers Park is 3-0 for first time since 1997, but it’s hunting for much more."