Is ‘Big I’ back? If Independence keeps winning like this, it can’t be underdogs anymore

Independence head football coach D.J. McFadden knows the us-against-the-world theme will run out of fuel eventually.

McFadden’s Patriots are 3-0, after their 28-7 trouncing of visiting West Charlotte on Friday night.

Independence was the underdog in those victories, and the Patriots talked like a team with a collective chip on its shoulder. But at some point, as the victories keep piling up, that underdog tag won’t fit any more.

That’s the point McFadden made to his team after their Friday night victory. Repeatedly, he told the Patriots, “Each week, we try to be 1-0.” He told them that Hopewell (1-2) will be waiting for Independence.

“Tomorrow, we have to start all over again,” McFadden, a second-year head coach who played for the Patriots in their glory days nearly two decades ago, told his team. “We have to keep working to get better.”

Independence isn’t likely to be ranked No. 1 in the state next week, but the Patriots’ opponents certainly must be taking notice. The Patriots’ margin of victory over West Charlotte was nearly as impressive as Butler’s 28-0 triumph over the Lions two weeks ago.

So what makes these Patriots tick?

Defense, for sure.

They shut down explosive offenses in victories over Jay M. Robinson and Marvin Ridge, and it was more of the same Friday night. West Charlotte scored 40 points last week against Harding, but the Patriots held the Lions to 184 yards’ total offense. Quarterback Caleb Barringer, the architect of the victory over Harding, was held to 57 rushing yards and 86 passing yards.

“Planning for him kept us up at night,” McFadden said. “We knew the key to this game was containing him. We had to contain him.”

Joshua Iseah returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, blocked a punt, and disrupted at least a half-dozen other West Charlotte plays. Tyree Glenn and Camden Martin also had several sacks and tackles for losses.

“That team is crazy fast,” McFadden said of coach Sam Greiner’s Lions. “Holding them tonight was a big deal for our defense.”

And the Patriots can move the ball themselves. Quarterback Justin Little passed for 144 yards, and Independence piled up 121 yards’ total offense in the first quarter.

Challenging times are ahead. The Patriots will face solid opponents in Butler, Charlotte Catholic and Providence, once they start Southwestern 4A play in three weeks.

“But these guys are working,” McFadden said. “We’ve told them that Independence is a winning brand. We don’t care about what happened the last four, five or six seasons. They worked hard and pulled this out.”

Three who made a difference

Joshua Iseah, Independence: A senior linebacker, Iseah scored on a 55-yard pick-six. He also blocked a West Charlotte punt, had two tackles for losses, and had a big tackle on a big third-down play that stopped a Lion drive.

Justin Little, Independence: Little, a sophomore quarterback, completed 16-of-27 passes for 144 yards and ran for a score.

Jaden Smith, West Charlotte: Smith, a junior, had a sack and three tackles for losses.

Worth mentioning

▪ One area that needs a lot of work for Independence is limiting penalties. The Patriots were whistled 16 times for 151 yards. That included seven holding penalties. McFadden told his team that the coaching staff “will work on that.”

▪ The Patriots piled up two holding penalties and a personal foul successively on one fourth-quarter possession and were facing a first-and-51. They did not convert the first down.

▪ However, Independence was extremely successful in converting fourth downs, making four of five. They converted two of those on their second touchdown drive.

▪ Independence topped West Charlotte in total yardage 265-184. First downs were pretty equal, with the Patriots holding a 13-12 edge.

▪ Independence-West Charlotte was a huge Mecklenburg County rivals in the late 1990s, but the Patriots have won 13 of their last 14 meetings with the Lions. West Charlotte last beat Independence on Sept. 11, 2010, by a 48-33 score.

What’s next?

West Charlotte is home next Thursday against Garinger. The game will be played at the old Waddell High stadium in southwest Charlotte. Independence is on the road against Hopewell.

West Charlotte 0 7 0 0 – 7

Independence 7 7 7 7 – 28

I – Sincere McIntyre 9 run (Daniel Locklear kick)

I – Khaleil Hoke 1 run (Locklear kick)

WC – Khemaan Fleming 18 pass from Caleb Barringer (Deng Chengkauch kick)

I – Justin Little 3 run (Locklear kick)

I – Joshua Iseah 55 interception return (Locklear kick)

Photos: West Charlotte vs. Independence

Friday’s NC football scores

Albemarle 57, Swannanoa Owen 12

Andrews 52, North Buncombe 6

Anson County 26, Monroe Piedmont 6

Asheville 28, Brevard 0

Asheville Reynolds 49, Alexander Central 7

Bartlett Yancey 56, Hillsborough Cedar Ridge 0

Bear Grass 28, Seven Springs Spring Creek 6

Belmont Cramer 27, East Gaston 21

Belmont South Point 42, R-S Central 14

Boonville Starmount 59, East Bend Forbush 0

Bunn 49, Oxford Webb 0

Burlington Williams 37, Southern Alamance 20

Cape Fear 39, Fayetteville Sanford 28

Cary Panther Creek 35, Durham Jordan 27

Central Cabarrus 32, Gastonia Huss 27

Central Davidson 67, West Davidson 0

Chambers 40, Robert B. Glenn 0

Charlotte Ardrey Kell 45, Waxhaw Marvin Ridge 10

Charlotte Berry Tech 30, Charlotte Garinger 6

Charlotte Christian 42, Waxhaw Cuthbertson 21

Charlotte Latin 18, Metrolina Christian Academy 12

Charlotte Olympic 41, Huntersville Hopewell 0

Charlotte Providence 64, Monroe Parkwood 42

Charlotte Providence Day 21, Charlotte Catholic 20

Cherryville 21, Blacksburg, S.C. 20

China Grove Carson 47, South Stanly 0

Chocowinity Southside 33, Robersonville South Creek 8

Choctaw Central, Miss. 30, Cherokee 20

Christ the King High School 14, Lake Norman Charter 0

Clayton Cleveland 34, Greenville Conley 23

Clinton 55, Fayetteville Smith 28

Concord Cox Mill 24, Monroe Sun Valley 23

Croatan 18, East Carteret 7

Davie County 28, North Davidson 21

Durham Hillside 15, Greensboro Dudley 8

Durham Riverside 42, Vance County 13

East Burke 28, Valdese Draughn 27, OT

East Davidson 42, Trinity 13

East Duplin 55, Richlands 0

East Surry 42, West Stokes 7

East Wilkes 43, North Wilkes 7

Eastern Alamance 41, Northern Guilford 35

Eastern Randolph 35, Walkertown 21

Enka 45, Rosman 6

Fayetteville Pine Forest 49, Fayetteville Byrd 0

Fayetteville Westover 54, Fairmont 0

Forest City Chase 65, North Gaston 14

Gastonia Forestview 13, Morganton Freedom 7

Gray’s Creek 21, West Johnston 10

Hampton, Tenn. 36, Avery County 27

Hertford County 48, Bertie County 8

Hickory 35, Newton-Conover 28

Hickory Ridge 37, Indian Trail Porter Ridge 14

Holly Springs 14, Fuquay-Varina 3

Kannapolis Brown 28, Mint Hill Rocky River 0

Kinston 38, Ayden-Grifton 14

Knightdale 47, Pembroke Swett 14

Lake Norman 35, Statesville 14

Lee County 34, South Granville 28

Lenoir Hibriten 60, West Caldwell 14

Marlboro County, S.C. 27, Scotland 24

Marshville Forest Hills 52, Monroe Union Academy 7

Matthews Weddington 49, West Forsyth 32

McDowell County 26, East Rutherford 0

Monroe 54, Concord 10

Mooresville 35, West Rowan 14

Mooresville Pine Lake Prep 21, Bessemer City 0

Mount Airy 54, Surry Central 6

New Bern 53, West Craven 0

New Hanover County 29, Matthews Butler 28

Newton Grove Hobbton 47, East Columbus 6

Newton Grove Midway 22, South Lenoir 14

North Brunswick 49, Swansboro 23

North Duplin 35, Jones County 14

North Myrtle Beach, S.C. 42, West Brunswick 26

North Raleigh Christian 20, Southlake Christian 0

North Rowan 49, North Stanly 0

North Surry 36, Elkin 27

Northeast Guilford 18, Eden Morehead 7

Northwest Cabarrus 14, North Lincoln 0

Northwest Guilford 49, Winston-Salem Reynolds 6

Oak Grove 21, Jamestown Ragsdale 20

Pamlico County 36, Harrells Christian 30

Pasquotank County 38, Perquimans 12

Person 55, Granville Central 0

Pfafftown Reagan 17, Charlotte Myers Park 14

Pungo Christian 38, Swan Quarter Mattamuskeet 18

Rabun Gap-Nachoochee, Ga. 50, Charlotte Country Day 12

Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons 31, Richmond County 0

Raleigh Leesville Road 31, Wallace-Rose Hill 21

Raleigh Millbrook 48, Garner 7

Raleigh Ravenscroft 28, Cabarrus 13

Raleigh Sanderson 56, Erwin Triton 55

Randleman 47, Montgomery Central 7

Roanoke Rapids 53, North Pitt 8

Robbinsville 26, Burnsville Mountain Heritage 8

Rocky Point Trask 42, Rose Hill Union 0

Salisbury 35, East Rowan 7

Shelby Crest 54, Shelby 49

South Brunswick 62, West Bladen 0

South Iredell 43, West Iredell 6

South Mecklenburg 53, East Mecklenburg 0

South Pointe, S.C. 16, Charlotte Mallard Creek 13

Southeast Halifax 44, Northwest Halifax 0

Southern Guilford 21, Western Guilford 0

Southern Pines Pinecrest 41, Apex Middle Creek 24

Southern Wayne 20, Goldsboro 0

Southwest Guilford 49, High Point Central 6

Spring Lake Overhills 34, Morrisville Green Hope 0

Swain County 13, Franklin 10, OT

Thomasville 38, High Point Andrews 0

Thomasville Ledford 70, Trinity Wheatmore 0

Topsail 43, Holly Ridge Dixon 0

Unicoi County, Tenn. 35, Madison County 14

Waccamaw, S.C. 43, Wilmington Ashley 0

Wake Forest 17, Wilmington Hoggard 7

Washington Academy 12, South Central Pitt 7

Washington County 27, Kill Devil Hills First Flight 12

Watauga County 28, Mitchell County 21

Waynesville Tuscola 33, Asheville Erwin 12

West Carteret 24, Farmville Central 7

West Lincoln 54, Newton Foard 7

West Mecklenburg 14, Gastonia Ashbrook 9

West Stanly 21, Mount Pleasant 20

Western Alamance 28, Eastern Guilford 26

Whiteville 43, East Bladen 13

Wilmington Laney 56, Lumberton 0

Winston-Salem Carver 42, Gastonia Highland Tech 0

Winston-Salem Mt. Tabor 29, Greensboro Page 14

Winston-Salem Prep 21, Winston-Salem Parkland 20

This story was originally published September 4, 2022 at 6:30 AM.