Chambers High is back. Cougars stop nationally-ranked Mallard Creek, look playoff-ready
Hey North Carolina, don’t write off Chambers High just yet.
Ranked No. 1 to start the season in The Observer’s Sweet 16 poll, Chambers has had an up-and-down regular season, losing to Hough and Highland Springs (VA). Some people may have thought the Cougars — who have dealt with injuries, a new coach and losing star running back Daylan Smothers to transfer — may not have been ready to make a run at a fifth straight state championship appearance.
Think again.
On Friday night, the Cougars went to Mallard Creek and sent a massive statement to North Carolina and the state association hours before the N.C. 4A playoffs are released Saturday. Chambers jumped out to a two-touchdown first-quarter lead and beat its Top-100 nationally ranked rival, 27-13.
“We just executed, man,” said first-year Chambers coach Brandon Wiggins, who was an assistant at Mallard Creek last season. “We didn’t the ball over. I think they had three or four. That’s really the name of the game.”
Wiggins felt like his team was exactly where he hoped it would be going into Selection Saturday.
“Our goal was to have an undefeated October,” he said, “to have momentum into the playoffs. We’ll see how the seeding process goes, but after today I feel we’re one of the best teams in the state.”
It looked like it Friday, for sure.
Chambers (8-2), which ended Mallard Creek’s six-game win streak, won its fourth straight game and looked ready to make its annual postseason push. During the win streak, no team has scored more than 14 points against the Cougars.
And look a little deeper into the numbers: Chambers’ two losses are to two teams ranked in the High School Football America Top 100. Highland Springs is No. 94. Hough is No. 86.
But after a win over Mallard Creek (7-3), No. 84 nationally, Chambers probably earned itself a few home playoff games and precious momentum as its moves into the part of the season where it has been so dominant.
Chambers led 20-6 at halftime, but in the third quarter, a 15-yard penalty pushed Mallard Creek into Chambers territory and Mavericks quarterback Tre Robinson scored to trim the lead to 20-13 with 7:55 to play in the quarter.
On its next possession, Mallard Creek drove deep into Chambers territory before the Cougars defense forced a key fumble at its 6 at the end of a long Mavericks run.
Early in the fourth quarter, down seven, Mallard Creek went for a fourth-and-1 and failed, giving Chambers the ball at the Mavericks’ 20. A pass from Anshon Camp to Zion Booker got Chambers to the Mallard Creek 3. Two plays later, Camp ran a sweep to his right and scored. Chambers led 27-13, and that was enough.
First-half highlights
The first quarter was a Zion Booker show. He made several key receptions for Chambers, two of which ended in scores. Booker scored from 25 yards out and from 3. The Cougars led 13-0 at the end of the first.
The Mavericks answered with a sustained drive in the second quarter, ending in a Tre Robinson 1-yard touchdown rush.
After the Mavericks got the ball back inside the Cougars’ 40 yard line, Chambers forced a key turnover, taken back inside the Mavericks 5-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, KC Conception leaped over the pile to make the score 20-6 at halftime.
PHOTOS: Chambers High at Mallard Creek Friday
This story was originally published October 28, 2022 at 9:36 PM.
