With star player out, Myers Park will have to find a new way to win
With three games left in its regular-season, including what could be a league championship game with rival South Mecklenburg on Oct. 22, Myers Park High’s Mustangs are going to have to rely a lot more on their defense.
And so far, that formula is working out OK.
In its past three games, Myers Park has allowed 23 points, including Friday’s 13-7 come-from-behind win at Ardrey Kell. It was Myers Park’s first full game without star wide receiver Cam Thornton, who had 26 catches for 569 yards and six touchdowns in his first five games and one quarter.
Thornton, a 3-star recruit with offers from Arizona State, Charlotte and Coastal Carolina, among others, was his team’s most deadly offensive weapon. He broke his foot in the first quarter last week and is likely done for the year.
Myers Park was averaging 31 points per game with Thornton, but scored nine in the final three quarters and overtime last week against Cardinal Gibbons and managed 13 at Ardrey Kell Friday.
“(Ardrey Kell) is a good football team and they gave us all we wanted,” Myers Park coach Curtis Fuller said. “Losing Cam really doesn’t change the offense because we’ve got Amir Turner, Tavion Neal, Ayden Burkey. We still have guys to plug in. We did more (two tight end formations) than we have in the past, but we’re still going to throw the ball down the field, but we’ve got to find ways to get our people the ball.”
Fuller thinks his offense can recover its form, even without its top weapon.
“I’m not worried about it,” he said. “It’s very correctable. Today, we had some plays where we went the wrong way or the receiver ran the wrong route or we blew the protection. We are very inconsistent right now, and when we are consistent, we are a very good football team on offense. We’ve just got to fix that and I’m confident we’ll be fine.”
What helps, as he figures out new ways to score, is that the Mustangs defense has been so good. Holding the No. 1 team in the East, Gibbons, to 13 points last week was a statement, and was one of the Mustangs’ biggest wins in recent years.
And Friday’s win was important in that it kept Myers Park alive for a conference title, a No. 1 playoff seed and some postseason games at home, where the Mustangs are tough to beat.
“Our defense, man, those guys played lights out,” Fuller said. “That’s what we need them to do. What we’re doing in my opinion is we’re beginning to trust each other. I say it all the time: coaches have to trust players, and players have to trust players and players have to trust coaches. I think you’re seeing players trusting the scheme, trusting the defense and letting it work for them.”
Quick Links
Friday’s NC scores, how the Sweet 16 fared, next week’s schedule
Myers Park defense points the way to big win at Ardrey Kell
Crest, Mari Adams, rally past South Point for big conference win
Photos from Ardrey Kell-Myers Park
3 Quick Observations
▪ North Mecklenburg got a monster win over Mallard Creek, 17-14 at home Friday. Mallard Creek was ranked No. 13 in the Sweet 16. One of the highlights was a pretty catch in traffic from receiver Devin Cunningham.
▪ Concord beat Carson 27-7 and won third game. Spiders are 3-0 in the South Piedmont conference.
▪ Charlotte Latin is 6-0 after Friday’s 24-14 win over Christ School. The Hawks look like legitimate state title contenders.
Friday’s #BIG5 Top Performers
Mari Adams, Crest: 29 carries for 189 yards in a 27-26 come-from-behind win over South Point, plus a 40-yard pass reception. He scored twice.
Cameron Lackey, Andrew Bumgarner, Alexander Central: Combined for 400 yards rushing in a 42-36 win over Ashe County in overtime. Lackey had the game-winning 10-yard run that gave Alexander Central its 400th win in school history. Lackey ran 20 times for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Bumgarner ran 20 ties for 183 yards and one.
Jackson Moore, Marvin Ridge: 3-of-3 field goals -- from 45-, 42- and 32-yards, plus 4-of-5 kickoffs for touchbacks in a 16-14 win over previously unbeaten Porter Ridge, ranked No. 16 in the Observer’s Sweet 16 poll.
AJ Riley, South Point: just 5-7, 170, Riley had 34 carries against Crest for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
Ethan Young, Hickory Ridge: caught a touchdown pass, from offensive lineman Isaiah Bullderdick, and had a interception return for a touchdown in a 42-16 win over South Iredell.
Friday’s Scores
Queen City 3A-4A
Hough 53, West Mecklenburg 0
North Mecklenburg 17, Mallard Creek 14
West Charlotte 55, Hopewell 19
South Meck 4A
Berry Academy 24, Harding 14
Myers Park 13, Ardrey Kell 7
Southwestern 4A
Butler 57, East Mecklenburg 0
Garinger (0-6, 0-2) at Independence (1-3, 0-1), ppd.
Charlotte Catholic 30, Rocky River 13
Big South 4A (NCISAA)
Charlotte Latin 24, Christ School 14
Providence Day 55, Charlotte Country Day 7
Rabun Gap 23, Charlotte Christian 10
Greater Metro 4 4A
Cox Mill 16, AL Brown 3
Hickory Ridge 42, South Iredell 16
Lake Norman 17, West Cabarrus 3
Southern Carolina 4A
Weddington 49, Piedmont 0
Marvin Ridge 16, Porter Ridge 14
Cuthbertson 39, Sun Valley 21
Northwestern 3A-4A
Alexander Central 42, Ashe County 36
Hibriten 42, Freedom 14
Watauga 56, South Caldwell 22
Sandhills 3A-4A
Richmond Senior 47, Hoke County 14
Big South 3A
Ashbrook 18, North Gaston 0
Crest 27, South Point 26
Kings Mountain 28, Forestview 14
Stuart Cramer 33, Hunter Huss 2
South Piedmont 3A
Concord 27, Jesse Carson 7
Soth Rowan 32, Central Cabarrus 14
West Rowan 41, NW Cabarrus 6
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln 45, West Iredell 0
Hickory 43, St. Stephens 15
North Lincoln 50, North Iredell 0
Statesville 56, Fred T. Foard 0
Rocky River 2A-3A
Monroe at Anson County, ppd. to Oct. 12
Parkwood 39, Forest Hills 29
Catawba Valley 2A
Bunker Hill 15, West Lincoln 7
Lincolnton 27, Bandys 7
Newton-Conover (1-3, 1-1) at East Burke (1-2, 0-1)
Mountain Foothills 2A
Hendersonville 42, Chase 9
Polk County 21, R-S Central 14
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Carver (4-2, 2-0) at Community School of Davidson (3-2, 2-0), 7
Pine Lake Prep 41, Christ The King 16
Winston-Salem Prep (0-3, 0-1) at Mountain Island Charter (3-1, 0-1), 7
Central Carolina 1A-2A
North Rowan 33, East Davidson 32, 2 OT
Salisbury 64, South Davidson 0
South Piedmont 1A-2A
Burns 42, Bessemer City 0
East Gaston 42, Thomas Jefferson 27
Shelby 72, Highland Tech 0
Western Highlands 1A-2A
MItchell County 29, Draughn 0
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
Jay M Robinson 66, Albemarle 0
Mount Pleasant 44, South Stanly 0
Mecklenburg nonconference
Hickory Grove 18, SouthLake Christian 8
North Raleigh Christian 43, Covenant Day 12
Nonconference
Anson County 20, Union Pines 14
Carolina Bearcats (0-4) vs. North Wake Saints (1-3), at Weddington Optimist Park
Harrells Christian 21, Cabarrus Warriors 14
Hickory Hawks (1-3) at Roanoke (VA) Virginia Spartans (2-2)
High Point Christian (3-1) at Ravenscroft (3-1), 7
Metrolina Christian 42, Trinity Christiian 6
Patton 22, Cherryville 14
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