Chambers comes up short Friday, but new coach says don’t worry, Cougars are fine
They beat the defending champion in North Carolina but lost to the No. 2 team in Virginia.
They dominated their first opponent but got pushed around the field for two quarters of Friday night’s 26-20 loss to Highland Springs.
So what do we make of Chambers, the Observer area’s top-rated team before Friday’s loss?
Keep calm, Cougars’ first-year head coach Brandon Wiggins advises.
“Actually, I like where our team is right now,” he said.
Chambers came 3 yards short of beating Highland Springs, a perennial Virginia power, Friday night.
The Cougars were stopped at the Springers’ 2 in the third quarter and then at the 1 in the closing minutes of the game.
A Chambers defender dropped an interception on what turned out to be Highland Springs’ winning touchdown drive. The Cougars nearly recovered a fumble on another Springers’ touchdown march.
“There were a lot of plays like that, and they add up,” Wiggins says. “Those are the kinds of little things that we have to do better.”
Friday’s loss was a mix of good news and signs that there might be trouble afoot.
Good news: The Cougars built a 14-0 first-quarter lead and held the Springers to 39 yards’ total offense in the period.
Bad news: Highland Springs took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Cougars 20-0 and outgaining them 161-24.
Good news: Chambers bounced back at the start of the third quarter and drove to the Springers’ 2.
Bad news: The Cougars were stopped at the 2, and Highland Springs then drove 98 yards for a 26-14 lead.
Good news: After marching 70 yards and scoring early in the fourth quarter, the Cougars stopped Highland Springs, got the ball back at their 33 and drove again – all the way to the visitors 2.
Bad news: On fourth down, Highland Springs stopped Chambers running back Jordan Thompson at the 1.
Wiggins says he thinks his team will be all right.
“That was the No. 2 team in Virginia,” he says of the Springers. “That was a very good football team. But we had a chance to beat them at the end.”
Three who made a difference
Khristian Martin, Highland Springs: Martin, a 6-4 junior quarterback, settled down after a rocky start and finished with 181 passing yards and 109 rushing yards.
Aziz Foster-Powell, Highland Springs: Foster-Powell, a 5-9, 215-pound power runner, carried 19 times for 109 yards. He scored two touchdowns and delivered several big plays when his team needed them.
Kevin Concepcion, Chambers: Concepcion, the Cougars’ standout senior receiver, caught five passes for 116 yards. His 60-yard reception late in the fourth quarter put his team in scoring position in the closing minutes.
Worth mentioning
▪ Chambers and Highland Springs split their two-game series, with each winning on the road. The Cougars prevailed 24-13 last season.
▪ Penalties were a big issue Friday night. Chambers coach Brandon Wiggins said his team hurt itself with penalties, but Highland Springs had bigger problems. The Springers were whistled 10 times for 119 yards, while Chambers had five penalties for 65 yards.
▪ No matter how you look at it, Chambers’ defense was gashed Friday night. The Cougars surrendered 400 yards’ total offense to Highland Springs and gained 273 themselves.
▪ Highland Springs quarterback Khristian Martin completed 12-of-25 passes for 181 yards. Chambers’ Bubba Camp had 11-of-16 for 132 yards and an interception.
▪ The closing two minutes of the first half took nearly 20 minutes to play. Scoreboard clock issues were the big culprit.
What’s next?
Chambers is on the road next Friday, facing Glenn High in the Winston-Salem suburb of Kernersville. For those of you following Highland Springs, the Springers play Thursday night at Midlothian (Va.) Manchester.
Game Summary
Highland Springs 0 20 6 0 – 26
Chambers 14 0 0 6 – 20
Ch – Jaihlan Pride recovered fumble in end zone (Pedro Martinez kick)
Ch – Kevin Concepcion 32 pass from Bubba Camp (Martinez kick)
HS – Azia Foster-Powell 7 run (Kevin Finney Jr. kick)
HS – Foster-Powell 32 run (Finney kick)
HS – Darius Taylor 10 pass from Khristian Martin (kick failed)
HS – Jakre Henley 28 pass from Martin (kick failed)
Ch – Braylon Vinson 5 run (run failed)
Friday’s area scores
Piedmont Athletic Association
Asheville School 41, SouthLake-Davidson Day 15
Mecklenburg nonconference
Ardrey Kell 40, Cuthbertson 3
Buford (GA) 56, Mallard Creek 7
Butler 40, Richmond Senior 7
Catawba Ridge 16, Myers Park 0
Charlotte Catholic 35, Hickory Ridge 34 OT
Charlotte Christian 52, Southside Christian 28
Christ the King 27, Union Academy 12
Hickory Grove 55, Highland Tech 22
Highland Springs (VA) 26, Chambers 20
Hopewell 34, East Mecklenburg 0
Hough 34, Mooresville 6
Independence 28, Marvin Ridge 14
Lake Norman Charter 34, Winston-Salem Prep 14
Metrolina Christian 18, Charlotte Country Day 7
Mountain Island Charter 30, Corvian Community 17
North Mecklenburg 42, Garinger 0
Olympic 29, Rocky River 12
Palisades 52, Calhoun Falls Charter 0
Providence 42, South Mecklenburg 13
Providence Day 52, Weddington 32
Starmount 65, Community School of Davidson 53
Wake Christian 47, Covenant Day 7
West Charlotte 40, Harding 6
West Mecklenburg 34, Berry Academy 13
Area nonconference
A.C. Reynolds 45, Shelby 21
Alexander Central 17, North Gaston 8
A.L. Brown 35, Sun Valley 31
Bandys 24, Fred T. Foard 15
Bunker Hill 33, St. Stephens 12
Burns 35, Crest 12
Cannon School 55, Cabarrus Stallions 0
Chase 57, Owen 15
Cox Mill 45, Northwest Cabarrus 6
Draughn 46, Patton 16
East Lincoln 53, Forestview 0
Forest Hills 54, Red Springs 7
Freedom 33, East Burke 20
Hickory 53, South Caldwell 27
Hunter Huss 49, Hibriten 42
Kings Mountain 24, Asheville 0
Lake Norman 42, North Iredell 0
Lincolnton 20, North Lincoln 17
Monroe 55, PIedmont 0
Mount Pleasant 34, Carson 28
Newton-Conover 44, West Iredell 8
North Rowan 57, South Rowan 0
North Stanly 30, East Rowan 14
Parkwood 29, Concord 0
Pinecrest (0-1) at Anson County (1-0)
Pine Lake Prep 21, Thomas Jefferson Academy 0
Porter Ridge 48, West Cabarrus 0
Robinson 29, Central Cabarrus 7
R-S Central 36, West Caldwell 7
Salisbury 34, Green Level 12
South Iredell 29, Statesville 13
South Point 48, East Gaston 6
Southwestern Randolph 49, South Stanly 13
Stuart Cramer 48, Bessemer City 28
T.C. Roberson 12, Ashbrook 0
Tuscola 21, East Rutherford 6
Watauga 23, Maiden 19
West Lincoln 48, Cherryville 0
West Rowan 35, Davie County 34
West Stanly 18, Albemarle 6