How Ardrey Kell used gambling and aggression to get a big road win at South Mecklenburg
Give Ardrey Kell football coach Greg Jachym a lot of credit for his game plan in Friday’s 21-17 win at South Mecklenburg.
He gambled early and often — and won — and that’s the big reason why the Knights upset the Sabres, who had won five straight games and are No. 10 in the Charlotte Observer’s Sweet 16.
Jachym opened the game by having his team try an onside kick that didn’t work.
But after his team got an early 7-0 lead, he tried it again, and this time, it did. That play led to another score. Stunned a little, South Meck tried a fourth and short, down 14 points on its own end of the field.
That didn’t work.
Ardrey Kell took advantage of a short field, scored and was up 21-0. Sitting in his office, dreaming of a perfect start, Jachym probably never could’ve imagined this.
“We talked about being aggressive,” Jachym said, “and we trust (our players) to make plays. (South Meck) is a really good team and we jumped on them quick and we knew they’d fight back, which they did, but our kids held on and got this win.”
The Knights didn’t score in the final three quarters and had some promising drives stuffed with big South Meck defensive efforts on fourth down. But Ardrey Kell’s defense also played well, handling one of the biggest offensive lines in the state that blocks for one of the best running backs in the state, South Meck senior Jacob Newman.
Newman got more than 100 yards rushing and a touchdown, but didn’t get the type of game-busting runs he’s been putting up every Friday.
And Ardrey Kell got a win that allows it to remain in the league championship picture.
“We’re going for a state championship this year,” Knights QB Jack Curtis said after throwing for two touchdowns and running for one Friday night, “and I’m excited for it.”
Curtis said paying attention to detail -- and Jachym’s aggressive game plan -- made all the difference.
“We’re one big family,” he said, “and we get in the film room twice a week and we’re working on stuff. It’s best-on-best in practice. I trust them and my defense had a huge stop (when we needed it). Offense, in the first quarter, we lit it up. We had a couple plays not go our way, but no matter what happened, we kept going back to those same players and they made plays for us.”
Quick Links
Wertz: Ardrey Kell’s bold playing points way to upset win
Ardrey Kell uses ‘shock and awe’ to upset No. 10 South Meck
Hough’s defense points way to win over hot West Charlotte
In the battle for Cleveland County, Shelby held off rival Crest. Here’s how
Friday’s night’s NC scores, how the Sweet 16 fared, next week’s schedule
Photos from Ardrey Kell-South Meck
Friday’s Videos
Observations
▪ Due to scheduling changes, Richmond Senior will play three games in 11 days. The Raiders beat Union PInes 69-6 Wednesday. They’ll host Southern Lee Tuesday and host Lee County next Saturday in a 11 a.m. matinee.
▪ Heading into Friday’s games the leading passer in North Carolina was Mountain Island Charter’s Dylan Bisson. He was averaging 352 yards per game and had 2,112 yards and 16 touchdowns in six games. The next four guys behind him had all played seven games.
Mountain Island Charter beat Pine Lake Prep 41-12 Tuesday. Friday, Bisson played his seventh game of the season and his team beat Christ The King 60-6. He was 12-of-19 for 391 yards and six touchdowns. Running back Ben Patton had six carries for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Cole Hart had three catches for 110 yards and three touchdowns. And receiver Trevin Moyer had two catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns, plus three tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on defense.
▪ Concord beat South Rowan 43-0 to win its fourth straight game. The Spiders opened the season with a 20-0 loss to Robinson and a 49-21 loss to the Cabarrus Warriors. Since then, the defense has allowed 27 points. Concord (4-2, 4-0) has a big game against Northwest Cabarrus (4-4, 3-1) next week.
Friday night, Antonio Jackson ran 11 times for 132 yards and two scores for Concord. Kevius Phillips had 11 for 106 and two scores.
▪ Hasn’t been a typical season for NC private schools state champion Charlotte Christian, but the Knights showed Friday they’ll still be a player this season with a 28-7 win over previously unbeaten Harrell’s Christian (6-1) which had been averaging 44 points a game. Christian outscored Harrell’s 21-0 in the second half and set up a monster game with CISAA conference rival Providence Day Friday.
▪ North Mecklenburg beat West Mecklenburg 21-16 Friday for its second straight win and fourth in five weeks. The Vikings upset regional power Mallard Creek Oct. 1. North has a big test next week at home against reigning N.C. 4AA state champion Chambers.
Friday’s #BIG5 Top Performers
▪ Chambers junior running back Daylan Smothers, the reigning Mr. Football in North Carolina, ran for four touchdowns in Friday’s 67-0 win over Hopewell. He now has the school-record with 34 in his career.
▪ Noah Murphy, Pine Lake Prep: eight carries, 159 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-0 win over Bishop McGuinness.
▪ PJ Hopper, Shelby: had two interceptions in the Golden Lions 38-28 win over rival Crest, including one near the end of the game that clinched the win.
▪ Sebastian Brown, Mooresville: 13-of-15 passing for 236 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-7 win over South Iredell.
▪ Mason Avery, West Lincoln: scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime in a 13-7 win over Newton-Conover. It was his second game-winning overtime touchdown this season.
Friday’s Results
Wednesday
Sandhills 3A-4A
Richmond Senior 69, Union Pines 6
Thursday
Greater Metro 4 4A
Hickory Ridge 27, Lake Norman 0
Big South 3A
Stuart Cramer 31, Ashbrook 20
South Piedmont 1A-2A
East Gaston 42, Bessemer City 28
Friday
Queen City 3A-4A
Chambers 67, Hopewell 0
Hough 37, West Charlotte 17
North Mecklenburg 21, West Mecklenburg 16
South Meck 4A
Ardrey Kell 21, South Mecklenburg 17
Myers Park 37, Harding 0
Olympic 26, Berry 14
Southwestern 4A
Butler 39, Rocky River 8
Charlotte Catholic at Garinger, canceled (Catholic wins by forfeit)
Providence 44, Independence 12
Greater Metro 4 4A
Mooresville 42, South Iredell 7
West Cabarrus 19, A.L. Brown 18
Southern Carolina 4A
Marvin Ridge 28, Cuthbertson 14
Sun Valley 42, Piedmont 14
Weddington 27, Porter Ridge 7
Northwestern 3A-4A
Hibriten 38, Ashe County 7
South Caldwell 20, Freedom 14
Watauga 28, Alexander Central 21
Big South 3A
Kings Mountain 17, South Point 7
South Piedmont 3A
Central Cabarrus 13, East Rowan 7
Concord 43, South Rowan 0
Northwest Cabarrus 36, Carson 30
Western Foothills 3A
East Lincoln 57, Fred T. Foard 0
North Lincoln 26, St. Stephens 0
Rocky River 2A-3A
Forest HIlls 52, Anson County 0
Parkwood 21, West Stanly 7
Catawba Valley 2A
Lincolnton 27, West Caldwell 7
Maiden 46, Bandys 0
West Lincoln 13, Newton-Conover 7 (OT)
Mountain Foothills 2A
R-S Central 48, Patton 0
Piedmont Athletic (NCISAA)
Cabarrus Warriors (4-2, 0-0) at High Point Christian (3-2, 0-0), late
Western Conference (NCISAA)
Asheville School (3-2, 0-0) at Covenant Day (1-4, 0-0), 7
Catawba Shores 1A-2A
Community School of Davidson (4-2, 3-0) at Winston-Salem Prep (0-4, 0-2), late
Mountain Island Charter 61, Christ the King 6
Pine Lake Prep 35, Bishop McGuinness 0
Central Carolina 1A-2A
Salisbury 49, East Davidson 0
South Piedmont 1A-2A
Burns 64, Thomas Jefferson 7
Cherryville 50, Highland Tech 14
Western Highlands 1A-2A
Madison County (2-3, 1-1) at Draughn (3-3, 2-1), late
Yadkin Valley 1A-2A
Albemarle (0-5, 0-1) at South Stanly (1-4, 0-1)
Jay M. Robinson 21, North Stanly 7
Mecklenburg nonconference
Asheville School 34, Covenant Day 20
Charlotte Christian 28, Harrells Christian 7
Charlotte Country Day 24, North Raleigh Christian 7
Charlotte Latin 34, Ravenscroft 7
Lake Norman Charter 46, Bear Grass 6
Metrolina Christian 20, Hickory Grove Christian 6
Providence Day 42, Trinity Christian 0
Nonconference
Carolina Bearcats (1-4) vs. Quality Education (0-1), at Weddington Optimist Park
Shelby 38, Crest 28
West Rowan at Monroe, canceled
