On a night of playoff upsets, Mallard Creek may’ve gotten the biggest one of all
There were some big upsets on Night One of the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs Friday, like No. 22 seeded Lake Norman going to the Greensboro area and beating No. 11 Northern Guliford 28-21.
But in Matthews, Mallard Creek surely got one of the biggest — if not the biggest — upset in the state.
The Mavericks had lost three of four games and hadn’t won a playoff game in four years, which may sound strange talking about what has been one of America’s top high school programs.
But Mallard Creek was 4-4 this season and 4-3 last spring, and the Mavericks had suffered losses by more than 20 points each to the state’s top two teams — Chambers and Hough. Friday, they were facing a hot Butler team that had won six games in a row and was averaging more than 40 points per game in that run.
So how did the Mavericks stuff the Bulldogs 29-8, at Butler, and advance?
“Honestly, bro,” Mavericks coach Kennedy Tinsley said, sounding exhausted Friday night, “it wasn’t nothing recent. It’s just us being on a tough journey and the kids answered the bell every week. It ain’t like all of a sudden they got it together. We just haven’t been able to get over the hump. Tonight, we had our backs against the wall and we came up with a big win.”
For most of the season, Tinsley has leaned on his defense, which has generally played well, but Friday he abandoned his conservative tendencies -- to play field position and run the ball a lot. He gambled on defense, constantly blitzing Butler’s Division I quarterback, Xavion Brower. Mallard Creek rushed hard at every punt, too, even though that could’ve led to a big return. Mallard Creek went for several fourth downs, even long ones. And after going up 16-0 in the second half, the Maverick tried -- and recovered -- an onside kick, which they converted into a game-sealing touchdown.
Heroes were everywhere: the defense, the special teams, the quarterback (Brayden Hinze), who stood in the pocket against monstrous pressure, and the receiver (Darren Hamilton) who had seven catches for 101 yards and had an interception on defense.
Tinsley was brought into replace Mike Palmieri, who built a national power at Creek. Things didn’t start out so well, but Friday night — against a 3-time state champion and bona fide power — the Mavericks got the kind of win that can not only propel them to a run this season, but can return them to prominence in years to come.
“This was us essentially saying that if we’re going to go down, we’re going to go down giving it our all,” Tinsley said. “We lost to Chambers and Hough, and I mean, you pick them back up Monday and they did OK and Tuesday, they’re back at it. The kids keep believing in each other and believing in their coaches, and look man, it paid off.”
And now?
“We don’t want it to end,” Tinsley said. “We love our seniors and love the group we have and we’re enjoying what we’re doing, and they’re really excited and they believe.”
Quick Links
South Meck saves best (drive) for last in West Forsyth win
Bet you didn’t see this coming: No. 25 Mallard Creek takes down No. 8 Butler
Friday’s statewide NCISAA, NCHSAA scores, next week’s pairings
Friday’s #BIG5 Top Performers
Mason Avery, West Lincoln: in a 41-7 win over Surry Central, Avery ran 28 times for 219 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he had six tackles, three assists and a sack.
Darren Hamilton, Mallard Creek: receiving touchdown and an interception in Friday’s 29-8 upset win over Butler in Matthews.
Will Jones, Cabarrus Warriors: in a 44-28 win over Raleigh Ravenscroft, Jones ran 27 times for 264 yards and three scores. He had one catch for 16 yards.
Lucas Lenhoff, Myers Park: Five touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown in a 44-26 win over Mooresville.
Ethan Rhodes, Maiden: completed 14-of-17 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-7 win over Mount Pleasant. Running back Ben Gibbs ran 15 times for 118 yards and a score.
Notes
▪ In a 34-28 loss to West Rowan in overtime, North Lincoln QB Kyle Kovalchuk had a monster game: 28 carries for 251 yards. He had four rushing touchdowns, a two-point conversion, an interception and a fumble recovery.
▪ Jones wasn’t the only Cabarrus Warrior to have a monster game Friday. Xander Lamb had four catches for 180 yards and three touchdowns. He also had an interception.
▪ Charlotte Country Day finished the regular-season averaging six points per game and winning just one game, but the Bucs are in the NCISAA Division II playoffs and beat North Raleigh Christian 47-0 at home Friday. Grant Larson ran for two touchdowns and Harris Graham had a receiving score and forced a fumble.
▪ Next Friday, there are some simply delicious matchups in the second round: No. 1 Hough (11-0) faces a hot South Meck team (9-2) that seems to have the vibe of a team ready to do something special; Mallard Creek (5-4) tries to stay magical as it goes to face an Asheville team (9-2) that put up more than 60 Friday; old Union County rivals Marvin Ridge (9-2) and Weddington (10-1) meet, too.
But the big game will be in Cabarrus County, where Hickory Ridge (9-2) will host Chambers (10-1) in a rematch of the Cougars’ 34-27 win, a game where Hickory Ridge had the two-time champs -- then ranked among the nation’s top 20 -- on the ropes. Since that game, HIckory Ridge has been on a big tear. Chambers has been a little up and down, but the Cougars are usually better in the playoffs and better on the road.
NCHSAA Playoffs
Class 4A
Friday’s first round
West
Hough 52, Page 3
South Mecklenburg 27, West Forsyth 21
Mallard Creek 29, Butler 8
Asheville 61, Davie County 28
John Glenn 7, Providence 3
Myers Park 44, Mooresville 26
East Forsyth 49, Southeast Guilford 0
Ardrey Kell 62, Northwest Guilford 7
Weddington 35, North Mecklenburg 6
Marvin Ridge 20, Charlotte Catholic 19
Cuthbertson 42, Watauga 31
Lake Norman 28, Northern Guilford 21
Hickory Ridge 21, A.C. Reynolds 7
Chambers 73, South Caldwell 20
Porter Ridge 27, Reagan 21
Grimsley 44, Cox Mill 8
East
Richmond Senior 52, Jack Britt 14
Leesville Road 27, Holly Springs 13
Knightdale 27, Middle Creek 14
Pine Forest 28, Jordan 21
Hillside 45, D.H. Conley 38
Millbrook 49, Garner 14
Rolesville 55, Pinecrest 32
New Bern 56, Wakefield 49
Cleveland 56, Chapel Hill 14
Laney 17, Fuquay-Varina 7
Cardinal Gibbons 49, New Hanover 10
Heritage 34, Clayton 12
Hoggard 35, Corinth Holders 0
South View 31, Sanderson 23
Panther Creek 49, Southern Alamance 36
Wake Forest 47, Hoke County 0
Next Friday’s second round
West
South Mecklenburg (9-2) at Hough (11-0)
Mallard Creek (5-4) at Asheville (9-2)
Myers Park (8-3) at Glenn (7-3)
East Forsyth (9-1) at Ardrey Kell (8-2)
Marvin Ridge (8-2) at Weddington (10-1)
Cuthbertson (5-6) at Lake Norman (8-3)
Chambers (10-1) at Hickory Ridge (9-2)
Porter Ridge (7-2) at Grimsley (11-0)
East
Leesville Road (8-2) at Richmond Senior (10-1)
Knightdale (5-5) at Pine Forest (10-1)
Millbrook (10-1) at Hillside (8-2)
Rolesville (6-5) at New Bern (10-1)
Laney (9-2) at Cleveland (10-0)
Heritage (10-1) at Cardinal Gibbons (9-2)
South View (9-2) at Hoggard (10-1)
Panther Creek (8-3) at Wake Forest (8-3)
Class 3A
Friday’s first round
West
Pisgah 29, Southern Guilford 20
South Point 41, Eastern Guilford 31
Forestview 36, Clyde Erwin 19
Parkwood 42, Rockingham County 19
North Davidson 59, West Henderson 14
Hickory 37, Smoky Mountain 34
West Rowan 34, North Lincoln 29
Crest 28, Jesse Carson 7
Dudley 60, North Henderson 0
Ledford 28, Central Davidson 21
West Charlotte 34, Stuart Cramer 10
Hibriten 14, Freedom 13
Concord 34, Tuscola 14
East Lincoln 22, Oak Grove 14
Statesville 49, Enka 0
East
Eastern Alamance 56, East Wake 12
Havelock 33, Rocky Mount 28
Westover 46, Vance County 8
North Brunswick 47, South Brunswick 30
Lee County 59, West Johnston 15
Southern Nash 49, White Oak 9
Jacksonville 22, Western Alamance 8
Hunt 38, Franklinton 14
Seventy-First 28, West Brunswick 6
Williams 48, Fike 24
J.H. Rose 45, Croatan 24
Terry Sanford 64, Currituck County 40
West Carteret 24, Cape Fear 7
Scotland County 35, Southern Durham 13
Smithfield-Selma 54, South Johnston 14
Northern Nash 24, Northwood 17
Next Friday’s second round
West
South Point (8-3) at Pisgah (10-1)
Forestview (6-5) at Parkwood (6-2)
Hickory (7-4) at North Davidson (7-3)
West Rowan (7-3) at Crest (8-2)
Ledford (8-3) at Dudley (10-1)
Kings Mountain (9-2) at West Charlotte (7-3)
Concord (7-3) at Hibriten (7-3)
East Lincoln (8-3) at Statesville (10-0)
East
Havelock (7-3) at Eastern Alamance (8-1)
North Brunswick (7-4) at Westover (9-1)
Southern Nash (9-1) at Lee County (8-3)
Jacksonville (8-2) at Hunt (9-2)
Williams (7-4) at Seventy-First (11-0)
Terry Sanford (7-3) at J.H. Rose (7-4)
Scotland County (6-4) at West Carteret (8-3)
Smithfield-Selma (8-3) at Northern Nash (10-1)
Class 2A
Friday’s first round
West
Shelby 56, C.D. Owen 3
Polk County 29, Southwestern Randolph 14
Forest Hills 27, Providence Grove 26
East Gaston 57, Community School of Davidson 39
Hendersonville 42, West Stanly 0
Burns 56, McMichael 14
Chase 47, Pine Lake Prep 8
Reidsville 49, Randleman 7
Maiden 37, Mount Pleasant 7
West Lincoln 41, Surry Central 7
Salisbury 49, North Forsyth 6
Bunker Hill 21, East Davidson 7
Monroe 57, Lincolnton 13
Jay M. Robinson 33, West Stokes 14
East Surry 30, Newton-Conover 6
East
Princeton 56, Bunn 20
Kinston 27, Eastern Wayne 21
Nash Central 29, Southwest Onslow 28
South Granville 44, Midway 21
St. Pauls 56, Goldsboro 0
Roanoke Rapids 34, Bartlett Yancey 14
James Kenan 41, East Bladen 34
Whiteville 56, Camden County 0
Northeastern 52, East Carteret 8
John A. Holmes 28, North Pitt 22
Washington 63, South Columbus 36
West Craven 54, North Lenoir 6
Wallace-Rose Hill 71, SouthWest Edgecombe 36
Clinton 48, Hertford County 44
East Duplin 63, West Bladen 0
Saturday’s first round
West
North Surry (5-4) at Forbush (7-3)
Next Friday’s second round
West
Polk County (7-3) at Shelby (10-1)
Forest Hills (7-4) at East Gaston (7-4)
Burns (8-3) at Hendersonville (9-1)
Chase (10-1) at Reidsville (10-0)
West Lincoln (9-2) at Maiden (11-0)
Bunker Hill (10-1) at Salisbury (10-0)
Jay M. Robinson (10-1) at Monroe (7-1)
North Surry-Forbush winner at East Surry (10-0)
East
Kinston (8-3) at Princeton (10-0)
South Granville (5-6) at Nash Central (6-5)
Roanoke Rapids (7-4) at St. Pauls (9-0)
James Kenan (6-3) at Whiteville (10-0)
John A. Holmes (8-2) at Northeastern (10-0)
Washington (10-0) at Cummings (9-1-1)
Wallace-Rose Hill (9-2) at West Craven (6-3)
Clinton (8-2) at East Duplin (10-1)
Class 1A
Friday’s first round
West
Draughn 56, Elkin 9
Mountain Heritage 51, Albemarle 0
Murphy 58, Alleghany 20
Thomas Jefferson Academy 39, Avery County 7
North Rowan 62, Bessemer City 0
Cherokee 36, Cherryville 15
Robbinsville 66, Winston-Salem Prep 14
Mitchell County 49, South Davidson 10
Swain County 40, Hayesville 14
Thomasville 63, Highland Tech 0
South Stokes 28, Christ the King 16
Andrews 34, Bishop McGuinness 6
Starmount 65, South Stanly 8
East Wilkes 24, North Stokes 0
Mount Airy 75, Union Academy 0
Byes: Eastern Randolph (9-0)
East
Southeast Halifax 34, Weldon 8
Perquimans 51, Northwest Halifax 8
Martin Riverside 48, Chatham Central 0
North Edgecombe 62, East Columbus 38
Warren County 32, Pamlico County 22
Gates County 34, North Duplin 8
Pender def. Lejeune by forfeit
West Columbus 43, Bertie 0
Southside 48, South Creek 0
KIPP Pride 44, Jones Senior 22
Hobbton 56, Lakewood 21
Byes: Tarboro (9-1); Rosewood (5-2); Northampton County (8-2); North Moore (9-1); Pinetown Northside (9-1)
Next Friday’s second round
West
Draughn (6-5) at Eastern Randolph (9-0)
Murphy (7-4) at Mountain Heritage (8-2)
North Rowan (7-3) at Thomas Jefferson Academy (7-3)
Cherokee (6-4) at Robbinsville (7-3)
Swain County (5-5) at Mitchell County (9-2)
South Stokes (7-4) at Thomasville (8-2)
Andrews (7-3) at Starmount (7-4)
East Wilkes (5-6) at Mount Airy (11-0)
East
Southeast Halifax (5-6) at Tarboro (9-1)
Martin Riverside (6-3) at Perquimans (7-2)
North Edgecombe (4-5) at Rosewood (5-2)
Warren County (4-6) at Northampton County (8-2)
Gates County (4-4) at North Moore (9-1)
West Columbus (5-5) at Pender County (7-3)
KIPP Pride (6-3) at Southside (10-1)
Hobbton (5-6) at Pinetown Northside (9-1)
NCISAA Playoffs
Division 1
Friday’s quarterfinal
Charlotte Christian 42, Christ School 7
Nov. 12 semifinals
Charlotte Latin (8-2) at Rabun Gap (7-2)
Charlotte Christian (5-5) at Providence Day (6-3)
Nov. 19 finals
Semifinal winners play at higher seed
Division 2
Friday’s quarterfinals
Harrells Christian 48, High Point Christian 27
Charlotte Country Day 47, North Raleigh Christian 0
Cabarrus Warriors 44, Raleigh Ravescroft 28
Asheville School (6-3) at Metrolina Christian (9-1), canceled due to health issues at Asheville
Nov. 12 semifinals
Charlotte Country Day (2-8) at Harrells Christian (10-1)
Cabarrus Warriors (8-2) at Metrolina Christian (10-1)
Nov. 19 finals
Semifinal winners play at higher seed
8-man Division 1
Friday’s semifinals
John Paul Catholic 56, Rocky Mount 32
Cary Christian 64, Arendell Parrott 22
Nov. 12 finals
Cary Christian (8-2) at John Paul Catholic (9-2)
8-man Division 2
Last Friday’s semifinals
Wayne Christian 66, Lawrence Academy 6
Halifax Academy 70, Bethel Christian 28
Saturday’s championship
Halifax Academy (7-2) at Wayne Christian (7-3)
This story was originally published November 6, 2021 at 7:30 AM.
