For Charlotte Christian, Myers Park win brings smiles, celebrations — and plenty to fix
Saturday afternoon and evening were for smiles, handshakes, congratulations, and singing happy birthday to a certain 1-year-old boy.
Sunday? That’s when the work begins.
Myers Park and Charlotte Christian put on a marvelous show Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, trading the lead five times before Charlotte Christian prevailed 40-37 in the opener of the Turf Kings Classic.
But all those things that excited the fans … well, they probably mean a lot of work Sunday for coaches of both teams.
For every long pass, there was broken coverage. Every kick return for a touchdown meant a special team didn’t do its job. And there were the interceptions, the fumbles, the long snaps into the end zone.
“It was great,” Charlotte Christian rookie head coach Chris James said, addressing what fans saw. “But it was also a coach’s nightmare.
“It’s the sort of thing you can expect in a first game.”
Each of the teams in Saturday’s opener was led by a first-year coach named Chris James. Each has served as an assistant for a number of years.
Myers Park’s Chris James is hoping to build the Mustangs back into the power they were from 2016 through the 2021 spring season, when they compiled a record of 57-8. The last two years, the Mustangs have gone 5-17.
James wants to change that, and for nearly all of the first quarter Saturday, it looked a bit like the Mustangs might be ready to consider uttering those words, “We’re back.”
They had a pick-6 and added a safety when Charlotte Christian snapped the ball into the end zone on an attempted punt. Then Myers Park made it 16-0 when quarterback Wendell Thompson, a key piece in the rebuilding process, threw a touchdown pass.
But remember … this was a day when neither team could stand prosperity.
The Mustangs fumbled the ball away at their 13 on their next possession, Charlotte Christian scored a quick touchdown, and the Knights had new life.
It was exactly the type of spirit that the Knights’ Chris James wanted of his team.
“It means a lot to have a team that can come back like this,” he said. “That’s exactly what we want at Charlotte Christian.”
But there was plenty more craziness remaining in this game.
Myers Park put together a legitimate long drive and led 23-13 at the half.
Then the Mustangs fumbled the ball away at their 12, and Charlotte Christian scored. And then the Knights’ Owen Farrell returned a punt 72 yards for a score, giving his team a 27-23 lead.
Myers Park put together a solid drive and scored for a 30-27 lead, but on the kickoff, it was Owen Farrell, once again taking the kick, cutting to his left, and dashing 88 yards for a touchdown.
Charlotte Christian’s pass coverage broke down on the next series, and Myers Park was back in front 37-33.
But remember … neither team seemed interested in prosperity. The Mustangs fumbled the ball away again deep in their territory, and the Knights’ Christian Vann ran 2 yards for the winning score with 2:58 left.
You want the positives?
Myers Park moved the ball efficiently … some of the time. The Mustangs’ defense also kept a lid on Charlotte Christian at times, and Mustang quarterback Wendell Thompson was a model of efficiency, completing 13-of-17 passes for 187 yards.
Charlotte Christian’s kick return team looked sensational, the Knights’ defense forced four turnovers, and Bryce Young had a recovered fumble, two sacks, and a tackle for loss.
The negatives?
Well, let’s leave those for the coaches.
“All of us will have a lot to look at,” the Knights’ Chris James said.
On Saturday, though, James was celebrating.
He talked to reporters after the game on the field, holding son Jackson, 2½, in his arms. Up in the stands was second son Thomas, who turned 1 on Saturday.
“This is really a special day in our family,” James said. “We’ve got a lot to celebrate.”
PHOTOS: Myers Park vs. Charlotte Christian at Memorial Stadium
Scoring Summary
Myers Park 16 7 7 7 – 37
Charlotte Christian 0 13 20 7 – 40
MP – Adam Lueders 33 interception return (Hank Thompson kick)
MP – Safety; Charlotte Christian snapped ball out of the end zone
MP – Brody Keefe 18 pass from Wendell Thompson (H. Thompson kick)
CC – Corban Hall 21 pass from Parker Burke (Tripp Woody kick)
CC – Tate Estep 29 pass from Burke (pass failed)
MP – Miles Baucom 8 pass from W. Thompson (H. Thompson kick)
CC – Christian Vann 8 run (Woody kick)
CC – Owen Farrell 72 punt return (Woody kick)
MP – Jahari McDonald 31 pass from W. Thompson (H. Thompson kick)
CC – Farrell 87 kickoff return (bad snap on PAT)
MP – R.J. Alexander 8 run (H. Thompson kick)
CC – Vann 2 run (Woody kick)
This story was originally published August 19, 2023 at 2:59 PM.
