Charlotte Catholic upsets conference champ Myers Park in NCHSAA playoff shocker
Charlotte Catholic’s longtime football success is based largely on a Wing-T offense that forces opposing defenses to defend the Cougars’ often dominating running game.
This year, with one of the best pass-catching targets in the country, coach Matthew Reilly has changed the focus a bit more toward a passing game.
Friday, in Reilly’s first state playoff game as a head coach, 6-foot-3, 220-pound tight end Jack Larsen helped make that switch pay off in a convincing 42-24 victory at Myers Park.
“We’re known for the Wing-T stuff on offense,” said Larsen, the top ranked senior tight end in the state by 247sports.com and a Notre Dame commit. “But coach Reilly has done a good job incorporating the pass for us.”
Larsen caught six passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns for quarterback Charlie Smith, who finished with 233 yards passing overall.
Coupled with a defense that returned two interceptions for touchdowns and had a TD fumble return nullified by penalty, the Cougars will move into the second round for the 21st time in the past 23 seasons.
“The beauty of him is everybody watches him,” Reilly said of Larsen, who draws lots of attention from opposing defenses. “And he does everything well.”
Catholic (8-3) advances to play at T.C. Roberson in the second round of next week’s 4A playoffs.
Myers Park, which had won seven straight games on its way to the South Meck 4A title, finishes its season at 7-4.
Three who made a difference
Catholic QB Charlie Smith: Completed 12 of 14 passes for 233 yards and directed Catholic’s 403-yard offensive attack.
Catholic RB Jake Anderson: Rushed 17 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for 30 yards.
Myers Park QB Wendell Thompson: Completed 19 of 28 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
Worth mentioning
▪ Myers Park’s first-ever football victory came against old O’Donoghue School in 1951 by a 12-6 score on Nov. 1, 1951 at the Myers Park field. O’Donoghue, which would become Charlotte Catholic in 1955, also lost to Myers Park in 1952, but Catholic is now 5-0 all-time against the Mustangs with four straight wins from 2005 to 2008 and Friday’s playoff victory.
What’s next?
Catholic visits T.C. Roberson in the second round of the N.C. 4A playoffs.
SCORING SUMMARY
Catholic 0 28 14 0 — 42
Myers Park 3 6 7 8 — 24
MP - Hank Thompson 36 FG
C - Jake Anderson 4 run (Roman Hyland kick)
C - Anderson 3 run (Hyland kick)
C - Rhett Teeter 41 interception return (Hyland kick)
MP - Mauriangelo Skanes 89 kickoff return (Pass failed)
C - Jack Larsen 13 pass from Charlie Smith (Hyland kick)
C - Larsen 25 pass from Smith (Hyland kick)
MP - Landon Moss 2 pass from Wendell Thompson (H. Thompson kick)
C - Zachary Noonan 20 interception return (Hyland kick)
MP - Miles Baucom 1 pass from W. Thompson (Brody Keefe pass from W. Thompson)
PHOTOS: Charlotte Catholic at Myers Park
This story was originally published November 3, 2023 at 11:03 PM.
