Mallard Creek coach Mike Palmieri: I’m not worried about national rankings

Two weeks ago, Mallard Creek took an unbeaten, nationally ranked team to Duncan, S.C., to play a Byrnes club that had lost three home games in 14 years. Byrnes, one of the best programs in the Carolinas, kicked a field goal in the final seconds to win 31-29.

Mallard Creek had been ranked as high as No. 6 in national polls this season. If it could have gone this season without a loss, the Mavericks might have had a chance to win a national title.

Instead, given North Carolina’s light reputation as a football state, the Mavericks fell out of many national polls after losing – and dropped well down in others.

It doesn’t seem to bother Mallard Creek coach Mike Palmieri.

“I’m not concerned about national rankings,” Palmieri said. “That stuff is great, but our goal is to win a state championship here. I mean, we didn’t have to play all these good teams.”

His point is this: If he were chasing paper titles, he could have scheduled differently. But he scheduled games against state powers Independence, Butler, and then the game at Byrnes. Mallard Creek beat Garinger 70-0 last week, but Friday night will face another powerhouse in McDonogh (Md.). McDonogh is a traditional state power and is ranked No. 4 –regardless of class – in Maryland.

“They’re a big football team,” Palmieri said. “That’s why I scheduled it. They can help us get better. We’re not worried about wins and losses in the season. We’re trying to get better for the playoff run. We feel our schedule will help us a lot.”

▪ Since the Byrnes game, Palmieri said his team has made adjustments. Some players who were only playing offense or defense are now playing both, and there have been other personnel moves. He said these are normal adjustments for his team this time of year.

“We just lost a football game,” he said. “We didn’t play well. We turned the ball over four times. We had two touchdowns called back. We gave up three touchdowns in four minutes.

“You can’t do that and beat many good teams. We didn’t play 48 minutes. We played 43. Yardage-wise, points-wise, we dominated that time. We just started slow and gave up some mental mistakes. I think it got our whole program more locked in.”

▪ South Point linebacker Nick Muse had a 44-yard interception return to give his team a 35-34 lead against West Charlotte Monday with 38.9 seconds left. The Lions then drove 64 yards on the back of quarterback Isayah Cole, who tossed a 2-yard scoring pass to 6-foot-3 Jacory Reaves as time expired. West Charlotte went for the two-point conversion and failed, but showed heart with the rally.

▪ South Mecklenburg senior Moryah Johnson’s one-handed interception against Myers Park last week not only won the game in overtime, but made him an of Internet celebrity. His catch made top-five lists on national high school video lists.

It reminded me of the one-handed touchdown catch that New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham made against the Dallas Cowboys last season, the one that has been called the greatest catch of all time.

Johnson, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior, has started at South Meck for four seasons. With his team ahead 14-7 in overtime, Myers Park had four plays from the South Meck 10 to tie or win the game (with a touchdown and two-point conversion).

On second down, Johnson made a big hit on a Mustangs player that forced a fumble, which Myers Park recovered, Sabres coach Rocky White said. On the next play, a third-down pass, Johnson leaped, reached behind his body with his right hand and made the interception to end the game.

“With Moryah, anytime there’s a pressure play, he’s the guy we want to get the ball to,” White said. “We’re not surprised by the plays he makes.”

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Mallard Creek coach Mike Palmieri: I’m not worried about national rankings."