North Meck 27, Rocky River 23
North Mecklenburg coach Brad Baker called time out with 3.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter Friday night against Rocky River anticipating that his team would attempt a game-tying field goal.
Quarterback Kendall Coles had a different plan.
Coles helped overrule the decision, and then kept the ball himself for a 1-yard run to give North Meck a dramatic 27-23 victory.
“(The other captains) wanted to kick a field goal,” Coles said. “I was like, ‘Nah, coach. Let’s win or lose through me. I got this.’ ”
Coles had one last change of plans after he surveyed the defense from the shotgun. The play was supposed to be a handoff to sophomore tailback Emanuel Wilson, but Coles caught the snap and went untouched into the end zone.
Rocky River took a 23-20 lead with 1 minute, 34 seconds remaining, but one of a few great kick returns by De’Montrez Burroughs gave North Meck great field position before Coles went to work. He scrambled left and then right before finding wideout Nyree Hardy for 42 yards on a key third-down play.
Coles finished with 105 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while also passing for 110 yards and a score.
Quote
“That dude has ice water in his veins. Nothing bothers him,” Baker said of Coles.
Records
North Meck is 4-1. Rocky River is 1-4.
Worth mentioning
Rocky River running back Ellijah Henry had 129 yards from scrimmage and a 73-yard kick return to set up a short touchdown drive. Quarterback Tyshawn Carter threw for 107 yards and had a pair of touchdown runs.
Wilson complimented Coles’ slippery moves with brute force, gaining many of his 107 yards on the ground after contact. This is Baker’s fourth year at North Meck, and the Vikings have matched their best win total from the previous three.
Up next
North Meck begins MECKA 4A conference play at home against A.L. Brown. Rocky River opens Southwestern 4a conference play with a trip to Myers Park.
This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 10:12 PM with the headline "North Meck 27, Rocky River 23."