Call ‘em the Second-Half Boys. Chambers wakes up after halftime, smothers Porter Ridge
Chambers High, the two-time reigning N.C. 4AA champions, appears to be a second-half team in 2021.
For the second week in a row, the Cougars overwhelmed a good opponent in the second half of a one-and-done playoff game. On Friday night, in the third round of the playoffs, the Cougars smothered Porter Ridge in the second half of a 28-10 win. Porter Ridge trailed 14-10 at halftime and didn’t score in the second half.
Last week, Chambers beat Hickory Ridge 42-21 after being tied at 14 at halftime.
Chambers (12-1) will play in a state quarterfinal next week at Weddington (12-1). Weddington beat Cuthbertson 34-21 to advance. Weddington was the last team to beat Porter Ridge, beating the Pirates 27-7 on Oct. 8. After that, the Pirates had won five straight games, including last week’s 41-27 upset at reigning N.C. 4A state champion Greensboro Grimsley.
On Friday, the Pirates appeared to be in position to take down another state champion, when the Chambers defense made the play of the game.
Early in the third quarter, Porter Ridge hit a slant and had a receiver streaking down the field, down 14-10. The Pirates defense had just stopped Chambers’ first second-half possession with a sack of QB Anshon Camp and appeared to have momentum.
But as he was being tackled, the Pirates receiver fumbled.
On the next play, Camren Kennedy broke up the middle for an 85-yard run and a first down inside the Pirates’ 10. Two plays later, Chambers scored to go up 21-10.
That was really about it.
But it didn’t start out easy.
Chambers drove for an easy score to start the game, but Porter Ridge got a long kickoff return and took over at Chambers’ 32. The Pirates converted a fourth down and their triple-option style offense had Chambers guessing where the ball was.
Porter Ridge tied the score late in the first quarter.
Chambers had another quick drive, capped off by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Anshon Camp to KC Concepcion. Chambers led 14-7 after the first quarter.
To start the second, Porter Ridge got a long pass to get inside the Cougars’ 20. The drive stalled however, and the Pirates missed a 34-yard field goal. Porter Ridge’s next drive, aided by a pass interference penalty on third-and-long, did net points: a 42-yard field goal from Braeden McAlister closed Chambers’ lead to 14-10.
Porter Ridge got a big stop on Chambers’ next possession. Daylan Smothers broke off a 58-yard run to get deep in Pirates territory, but Porter Ridge bowed up and stopped Smothers on fourth down inside its 20.
Then, on Chambers’ next possession, Porter Ridge got a second-down interception at the Chambers’ 41. A personal foul on the same play — Chambers’ second in three plays — gave Porter Ridge the ball at the Cougars’ 26. But Chambers’ defense forced a field goal and the 41-yard attempt was short.
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 9:56 PM.
