The Champs move on. Chambers gets the victory it wanted, ends Hickory Ridge’s win streak
Chambers High beat Hickory Ridge a few months ago in an exciting game that didn’t end until Cougars star Daylan Smothers got the game-winning score with less than 10 seconds left.
To the two-time state champions, it almost felt like a loss. Hickory Ridge gained confidence and won seven consecutive games in impressive fashion.
On Friday night, when the teams met in the second round of the playoffs, Chambers made sure to not have to sweat, winning 42-21 to advance to the third round.
Chambers (11-1) will host Porter Ridge next week. Porter Ridge upset previously unbeaten Greensboro Grimsley 41-27. Grimsley was the reigning 4A state champs from the spring.
The reigning 4AA champs had a little trouble early but really got going late.
After being down 14-7, Chambers got four straight scores, including three in the third quarter, to gain a 21-point lead. The Cougars defense was playing well and that lead was more than enough to get the win over a determined Ragin Bulls team (9-3).
The game really turned early in the second half. Chambers, tied at 14, got an early break after going three-and-out of offense to start the half. Hickory Ridge muffed the punt and lost it.
Chambers got it at the Hickory Ridge 42. On the next play, Kevin Concepcion ran around the left side, out of the Wildcat formation, and ran away from the defense. The Cougars had their first lead, 21-14 with 10:23 to play in the third quarter.
The Chambers defense forced a punt and Chambers scored again, on a long run from Daylan Smothers, the reigning N.C. Player of the Year.
Later, Chambers Jayden Reeder blocked a punt late in the third quarter, giving his team the ball inside the 10. Smothers scored from the 2. It was his third rushing touchdown of the game.
Besides Smothers, Concepcion had a monster game with a rushing touchdown, a pass-receiving touchdown and a monster punt return early in the fourth quarter that put his team up 42-14.
The first half was much closer.
Hickory Ridge got on the board first after a great punt pinned Chambers inside its 5, and the Cougars dropped a potential first-down pass. That led to a punt out of the end zone.
Hickory Ridge got the ball at the Chambers 44 and Randall Fisher ran up in the middle on the next play, practically untouched for a 7-0 lead.
Next, Chambers answered with a 37-yard Smothers score and the Cougars forced a quick punt and appeared to be gaining momentum, but lost possession on a muffed punt with 9:11 in the second quarter. Hickory Ridge got the ball at the Chambers’ 37.
A roughing-the-passer penalty pushed the Ragin Bulls to the 22. A few plays later, and a few false-start penalties later, Alex Bentley threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Sabin McLoughlin with 8:25 left in the first half. Hickory Ridge had a 14-7 lead.
Chambers mounted a big drive after that, but Hickory Ridge’s defense stiffened at its 10 and forced a field goal. Melvin Benitez missed a 30-yard attempt. But the Cougars got a stop and tied the score when Anshon Camp hit Concepcion on a long pass with 16 seconds left in the first half.
The game was tied at half.
Game summary
Chambers 0 14 21 7 — 42
Hickory Ridge 0 14 0 7 — 21
HR: Randall Fisher 44 run (Will Laing kick)
C: Daylan Smothers 37 run (Melvin Benitez kick)
HR: Sabin McLoughlin 37 pass from Alex Bentley (Laing kick)
C: Kevin Concepcion 33 pass from Anshon Camp (Benitez kick)
C: Smothers 35 run (Benitez kick)
C: Smothers 2 run (Benitez kick)
C: Concepcion punt return (Benitez kick)
HR: Aaron Carey run (Laing kick)
This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 10:31 PM.
