FIrst unbeaten regular season since  ‘64

Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers did something Friday night that only one other team in the 98-year history of KM football has done, and that was to complete the regular season with an undefeated, untied record.
The Mountaineers’ impressive 28-7 victory over Crest at John Gamble Stadium gave them an unshared Big South Conference championship, not to mention a sweep of Cleveland County on both the varsity and JV levels.
The only other Mountaineer eleven to post an unbeaten, untied regular season was the 1964 team that went 10-0. That team was upset 6-0 by Hickory in the opening round of the Western NC Activities Association playoffs.
The Mountaineers played an almost perfect game in all phases Friday. The offense got exceptional blocking from Isaiah Eskridge, Michael Blanton, Chris Richardson, Tykel Smith and Blake Davis and that allowed the offense to roll up 228 yards on the ground and 162 through the air.
While they were doing that, the defense was turning some outstanding Crest backs and receivers every way but loose except on an 83-yard touchdown run by quarterback T.J. Ruff in the final minutes.
In fact, it was a pass interception by Marcus Odums on the second play of the second quarter that got the rout started from the KM 40 yard line. With Rashaard Brooks carrying the running load and Ethan Reid hitting Chance Cannon for a 10-yard pass for a first down at the Crest 45, and Devin Pressley catching passes of 10 and 16 yards for first downs at the 31 and 13 yard lines and Jaylen Mims going 12 yards to the one, Reid sneaked into the end zone and the rout was on.
“We both had an opportunity and then Odums intercepted that pass and it seemed to drive us,” noted Mountaineer coach Greg Lloyd. “We scored twice more and that turned the tide for us.”
After that TD, the KM defense held Crest to 3-and-out on its next two possessions and the Mountaineers turned both of those defensive gems into points. Taking over at their own 40 with 6:06 left in the half and Brooks out with an injury, Reid hit Chance Cannon with a seven yard pass and Mims took charge and gained 34 yards on four straight runs to set up a six-yard run by Caleb Holland for a 14-0 lead with 3:23 on the clock.
“Holland (143 yards rushing) came in and played great for us after Brooks got hurt,” Lloyd noted. “He ran the ball hard. He’s fast and he stepped up big time. Mims is still not a hundred percent but he’s fast and he made some big plays, too. We hope he will be better this week.
“I thought the line blocked really well for our running and passing,” he added. “We had a lot of players that had their best game and they picked a good time to have a big game.”
Big hits by Dameon Wilson and Chris Ruffalo, Trey Crawford, Jake Lloyd, and Ty Ledbetter forced another Crest three and out and KM took possession at its own 26 with just over a minute until halftime. On a third and three from the 46,  Reid threw a lateral pass to Chance Cannon who threw to Blake Emory all alone down the home sidelines for a 54-yard touchdown and a 21-0 halftime lead.
While KM’s stingy defense was holding Crest to just seven plays in the third quarter, it was obvious the Mountaineers were going to wrap up the BSC. With Holland carrying the rushing load, the Mountaineers marched 71 yards in 12 plays with Holland scoring from 10 yards out for a 28-0 lead with 2:36 left in the third.
KM began a 14-play, eight minute and 55 seconds drive that began with 25 seconds left in the third and didn’t end until the 3:30 mark of the fourth quarter when an incomplete pass in the end zone on fourth down gave Crest the ball on its own four. Three plays later Ruff broke through the middle of his line and rambled 83 yards for the Chargers’ only score.  After Sel Randolph recovered an onside kick, the Mountaineers ran the clock out.
“On defense, we tackled very well and got through the conference undefeated,” Lloyd noted. “I’m proud of all of them. I think everybody did a great job. Both lines played really well and I thought our tight end Devin Pressley blocked good. It was a good team effort.
“We did a great job on Ruff. We had that long drive and when we didn’t score the defense had been over there on the sidelines for a while. He had the bulk of their yards on that one play.”
For the game the Chargers had only 153 yards. They had only seven plays in the second half and 29 for the game.
HOW THEY DID IT
SECOND QUARTER
8:29 – KM - Reid 1 run (Ellis PAT). 60-yd. drive following Marcus Odums int. Key first down passes to Cannon for 10 yards, Pressley for 10 and 16 yards.
3:23 – KM - Holland 6-run (Ellis kick). 60-yd. drive following Crest 3 and out. Mims 4-33 rushing, Holland 2-13.
0:13.6 – KM – Blake Emory, 54-pass from Can

(April 7, 2021 Issue)

If not for COVID restrictions, John Gamble Stadium’s seating sections and hills would be packed for Friday’s Crest at Kings Mountain Big South 3A Conference football game.
In a shortened seven-game regular season, both teams enter the contest with perfect 6-0 records and the winner will be crowned Big South Conference champion and get the conference’s #1 seed for the upcoming state 3A playoffs.
Neither team has had anything close to a scare in the conference, although Kings Mountain did have to overcome an excellent Shelby passing attack to edge the Lions 36-35 in a non-conference game two weeks back.
Crest, on the other hand, rolled over the Burns Bulldogs in their only county matchup and, like KM, also handily defeated all of its Big South opponents.
So, from all indications, Friday’s game is going to be a barn burner.
Mountaineer coach Greg Lloyd is a former Crest player and wishes them well…except when they’re playing his Mountaineers.
“They are a very solid,” Lloyd said. “They’re an excellent team. They have an extremely fast quarterback in TJ Ruff. He made us look bad last year with his running and passing. He’s really fast on the field and a special talent.”
And, he hasn’t slacked off any during this shortened season. He has accounted for almost 1,200 yards in six games, including hitting 24 of 38 passes for 428 yards and rushing 87 times for 738 yards and 10 TDs.
“They also have great speed defensively. They played really well at Burns last week and Burns is a very good ball team,” Lloyd said.
Like always, the Chargers are well-balanced and have one of the best receivers in the state in Chelsey Borders, who has caught 16 passes for 375 yards and eight TDs.
“He catches a ton of balls,” Lloyd noted. “They have a lot of good skill guys. They play a 3-4 defense and are really solid. They’re going to be a big challenge for us.”
Crest, no doubt, feels the same about the Mountaineers.
“We’re happy to be 6-0 and tickled to death to get to play in a game like this at our place,” Lloyd said. “It should be a great game and some good competition. We have to play good defense, much better than we did at Shelby. We can’t give up big plays. We have to make them earn it. We have to keep them off the field as much as possible.”
Lloyd stresses that the Mountaineers must also win the kicking game. “Crest is well rounded in all three phases,” he noted.   
“I am confident we will play well,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the game and to a big crowd. It’s not just for the conference championship. If we win this game we should have some home playoff games.”
 

(April 7, 2021 Issue)

What everyone thought from the beginning is now official. After last Thursday’s 39-7 victory over Forestview at John Gamble Stadium, Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers are in the 2021 3A state playoffs.
The Mountaineers will be hosting Crest in a battle for the Big South Conference title and the conference’s top playoff berth Friday at 7 p.m. at John Gamble Stadium.
After a sluggish start due to a fired-up Forestview defense which held the Mountaineers to just one touchdown in the first quarter, the home team built an 18-0 halftime lead and rolled to its sixth straight victory.
The slow start really wasn’t anything threatening because the KM defense was in top form from start to finish, limiting the Jaguars to minus yards rushing until they gained 21 on their last two carries of the night. They had 28 yards rushing in the second half to finish with plus 20 for the game. They had only 24 yards passing.
“The defense played very well,” noted Mountaineer Coach Greg Lloyd. “We tackled their big backs really good and covered the ball with a lot of pressure.
“Our offense continued to run the ball good, but it was tough to pass with it being so windy and cold. But it was a solid effort, especially on a short week and considering it was our fourth game in about 13 days. That’s tough and it speaks volumes.”
The Mountaineers drove to the Forestview seven on their first possession before a sack forced KM to try a field goal from the 18. On a very cold and windy night, the kick fell short with 4:35 left in the quarter.
But KM’s defense quickly forced a Jaguar punt from its own 22, and an 11-yard kick put KM in business at the Jags’ 33. Four plays later Rashaard Brooks went 13 yards up the middle for a 6-0 lead.
Moments later Deandre Hoyle picked off a pass at midfield and returned it to the Forestview 39. Orlando Odums and Peyton Fisher caught key first down passes and Brooks scored on a three-yard run behind good blocking for a 12-0 lead.
After a DayDay Wilson sack at the Forestview 25, the Jaguars went into punt formation but punter Anthony Aguilar dropped the snap and
was tackled at his own four. Wilson bulled his way in for the TD and an 18-0 lead, and celebrated his 50th start as a Mountaineer by spiking the ball.
With that good of a lead, KM Coach Greg Lloyd began getting some starters out of the game. He said Brooks was “nicked up a little bit” so sophomore running back Caleb Holland entered and began his best varsity night of the year, finishing with 155 yards on 18 carries. He carried the ball five straight times to open the third period with the final tote putting KM on the Jags’ six from which point DayDay Wilson scored and Jaden Ellis kicked the point after for a 25-0 lead.
On a 61-yard drive beginning on the last play of the third quarter, Holland broke a 43 yard run to the Forestview 13. Reid went off tackle for eight yards and then threw a five-yard TD pass to Devin Pressley. Ellis kicked the PAT for a 32-0 lead.
The Jaguars answered with an 18-yard touchdown catch by Josh Medlin, and Aguilar added the PAT from placement to make it 32-7.
Taking over with nine minutes left in the game, the Mountaineers got 27 yards from Holland on two carries, two receptions by Odums for 27 yards and another by Pressley for 12 to work the ball to the Forestview four. Jake Lloyd carried twice for the TD. Ellis’ PAT wrapped things up. 
HOW THEY DID IT
FIRST QUARTER
2:04 – KM – Rayshaard Brooks 13-run (kick failed). 33-yd. drive following short FV punt. Brooks 3-23 rushing, Pressley 9-yd. reception.
SECOND QUARTER 
9:32 – KM – Brooks 3 run (pass failed). 39-yd. drive following Hoyle pass interception and 11 yd. return. Brooks 5-10 rushing, Odums 9-reception, Fisher 11-reception.
6:51 – KM – Dameon Wilson 4 run (kick failed from 25 yard line after penalty).
THIRD QUARTER
8:58 – KM – Dameon Wilson 6 run (Ellis kick). 56-yard drive, 6 plays. Holland 5-49 rushing.
FOURTH QUARTER 
10:57 – KM – Devin Pressley 5 pass from Ethan Reid (Ellis kick). Five plays. Key play 41-yard run by Caleb Holland.
9:38 – FV – Josh Medlin 18 pass from Jamarion Dawkins (Anthony Aguilar kick). 3-play, 20 yard drive following Dawkins’ 64-yard KO return to KM 20.
KM – 4:20 – Jake Lloyd 2 run (Ellis kick). 69-yd. drive following FV kickoff. 8 plays including runs of 17 and 10 yards by Holland, two receptions for 27 yards by Odums and one 12-yard catch by Pressley.
KM RUSHING – Reid 4-13, Brooks 14-49, D. Wilson 2-10, Holland 18-155, Team 1-(-5).
KM PASSING – Reid 12-27-1-123.
KM RECEIVING – Cannon 1-3, Fisher 3-43, Pressley 3-26, Odums 4-50, Brooks 1-1. 

 (March 31, 2021 Issue)

Offensive lineman Tykel Smith recovered a fumbled two-point conversion attempt in the end zone to give Kings Mountain a 36-35 come-from-behind victory over Shelby in a non-conference football game Saturday night in Shelby.
The victory kept the Mountaineers unbeaten with a 4-0 conference and 5-0 overall record heading into an important Big South contest with Forestview Thursday night at John Gamble Stadium. It broke a 39-game home winning streak for the Lions and it was KM’s first victory on the Shelby field since 1986. That was KM’s second straight victory on the Shelby field as Denny Hicks’ 1985 team beat them there 7-0 in the second round of the state playoffs. Current Shelby assistant Aubrey Hollifield was a linebacker on those KM teams.
The defending state champion Lions used good defense and an outstanding passing game to hold a 35-28 lead going into the final quarter.
But Kings Mountain, which had struggled with its running and passing in the first half, mounted an 80-yard touchdown drive in the final 10 minutes and got a three-yard touchdown run by Rashaard Brooks to pull within 35-34 with 3:39 remaining.
The Mountaineers lined up for an extra point kick, but when Shelby jumped offside and the ball was moved inside the two Coach Greg Lloyd called a time out and set up a two-point conversion try. Big linebacker Dameon Wilson went in to carry the ball but the Shelby defense caused a fumble. After a scurry by players from both teams to retrieve it, Smith scooped it up for the winning points.
“That was a huge win for us,” said Mountaineer coach Greg Lloyd. “Both teams laid it on the line.”
The game see-sawed back and forth all night. Shelby’s Omar Phillips rambled 74 yards for a TD on the Lions’ second possession to put them up 7-0.
KM answered with a 66-yard, 11-play drive capped by a two-point sneak by quarterback Ethan Reid. However, KM’s extra point kick was wide and Shelby clung to a 7-6 lead.
Early in the second period, Day-Day Wilson blocked a Shelby field goal attempt and Marcus Odums scooped it up and rambled 85 yards for a TD. Jaylen Mims ran a two-point conversion to put KM up 14-7.
Late in the second quarter, KM drove to the Shelby 11 but Shelby’s Adams intercepted a pass and appeared heading to the end zone but Mims ran him down at the KM 27. With 16 seconds left, Luke Williams caught a 16-yard TD pass to tie the game at 14-all at the half.
The Lions opened a rainy second half with two quick scores to go up 28-14. The first came on the first play following KM’s third quarter kickoff when Adams caught a pass and rambled 76 yards for a 21-14 lead. Shelby picked off a pass two plays later and returned it to the KM 44 and Torrian Arrington caught a touchdown pass to put Shelby up 28-14.
“We got off to a very slow start but Shelby was ready to play,” Lloyd said. “They came out with five wide receivers and we didn’t do a good job with them. I’m not saying it as an excuse but we didn’t have a full day of practice because it rained on Thursday. And, then when you consider we played three games in eight days it was hard. We just had to regroup. Shelby played great. They’re a fine team and our kids did a great job against them.”
After Shelby went up 28-14, Mims returned the kickoff to the Lions’ 31, and later scored from two yards out to cut the margin to 28-21. Along the way Odums caught two passes and Brooks and Mims shared the running load.
After the ensuing kickoff, Shelby set up at the 27 but Odums intercepted a pass at the 50 and returned it to the Shelby 30. Six plays later Wilson rambled 11 yards up the gut of the Shelby defense to pull even at 28-all.
Shelby lost the services of quarterback Gabe Huitt to an injury, but Adams scooped up a Brooks fumble at the Shelby 35 and rambled 65 yards for a touchdown which put the Lions up 35-28 going into the final quarter.
KM set up its winning TD drive at the 20 with 10:03 left in the game. Brooks and Mims shared the running load. Odums hauled in a key 29-yard pass for a first down at the Shelby 43, then an 8-yarder for a first down at the 31. Brooks, Mims and Caleb Holland shared the rushing load to work the ball to the Shelby two to set up Brooks’ three-yard TD and Smith’s winning two-point conversion.
 HOW THEY DID IT
FIRST PERIOD
S – 6:18 – Omar Phillips 74 run (Eli Berkowitz kick).
KM – 1:52 – Ethan Reid 1 run (kick failed).
SECOND PERIOD
KM – 11:32 – Marcus Odums, 85 yards return of blocked field goal by DayDay Wilson (Jaylen Mims 2-point run).
S -0:16 – Luke Williams, 16-yard pass from Gabe Huitt (Berkowitz kick).
THIRD PERIOD
S – Marquiz Adams, 76-pass from Huitt (Berkowitz kick).
S – Torrian Arrington, 46-pass from Huitt (Berkowitz kick).
KM – 6:07 – Mims 2 run (Jaden Ellis kick).
KM – 3:45 – Dameon Wilson, 11-run (Ellis kick).
S – 0.09 – Adams, 65 fumble return (Berkowitz kick).
FOURTH QUARTER
KM – 3:39 – Rashaard Brooks 3 run (Two-point PAT fumbled in end zone, KM lineman Tykel Smith recovered).

KM RUSHING – Brooks 28-83, Mims 12-49, Reid 4-5, Cannon 1-3, Wilson 1-11, Holland 1-5.
KM PASSING – Reid 11-29-152.
KM RECEIVING – Orlando Odums 6-116, Devin Pressley 2-6, Bryce Fisher 1-10, Chance Cannon 2-20.

(March 31, 2021 Issue)

Kings Mountain got off to a slow start but still rolled to its third straight shutout with a 50-0 victory over North Gaston in a rare Tuesday night Big South contest at Gamble Stadium.
The fired-up Wildcats held the Mountaineers to three-and-out on the game’s opening possession but Greg Lloyd’s men still managed to put a couple touchdowns on the board by the end of the first quarter. A flurry of touchdowns in the second period built the lead to 43-0 resulting in a running clock the entire second half.
Very few starters were on the field in the second half but the reserves stood strong against the Wildcats, especially on defense. The Mountaineers held the Wildcats to minus 80 yards rushing and just 11 yards total offense as the ‘Cats were able to pass for 91.
Forestview transfer Jaylen Mims led the KM rushing attack with 83 yards on seven carries and also scored a pair of touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Quarterbacks Ethan Reid and Jonah Patrick hit 8 of 10 passes for 152 yards with Bryce Fisher hauling in three for 77 yards and Chance Cannon three for 44.
After North held the Mountaineers to three and out to open the game, KM returned the favor with DayDay Wilson’s 11-yard sack the highlight of a three-play, minus 14 yards start by North.
KM started a 58-yard, five-play TD drive with a 19-yard burst around left end by Mims. A 19-yard reception by Marcus Odums set up a four-yard TD run by Wilson. Jaden Ellis’ PAT made it 7-0 with 6:38 on the clock.
North answered with its best drive of the night to the KM 30 but Trey Crawford put a stop that with an 8-yard quarterback sack on fourth and 17.
North answered by forcing a KM punt, but a DayDay Wilson sack forced the Wildcats to kick from their own 10. After just a 21-yard kick, KM took over on the Wildcats’ 31 and five plays later Mims scored from the two and then ran a two-point conversion to put KM up 15-0.
After that the Mountaineers were unstoppable. On North’s third play following the kickoff, Logan Patrick picked off a pass at the 40 and returned it to the North three from which point Rashaard Brooks scored and Ellis added the PAT for a 22-0 lead.
North’s next possession ended in three plays when Javari Rice-Wilson sacked North QB Daniel Scott. The KM defense put pressure on the punter and he punted the ball out of bounds at the North 29. Mims rambled 24 yards to set up Brooks’ five-yard TD and a 29-0 lead.
North’s next possession ended in another three-and-out on consecutive tackles for losses by Ty Ledbetter, DayDay Wilson and Trey Crawford and KM took possession at its own 43. On the first play, Reid hit Fisher for a 57-yard TD and a 36-0 lead.
With the first half clock winding down, KM again held the Cats to three straight negative rushes at their six, and a short punt gave KM possession at the Wildcats’ 28. Only 29.8 seconds remained, so Reid immediately hit Cannon  for a 28-yard catch and run TD and a 43-0 lead which resulted in a running clock.
On the first play of the second half, Fisher intercepted a pass at the North 11. It took just one run for Mims to score, and Dillon Messenger added the PAT to end the scoring with 9:56 left in the third quarter.
With mostly reserves in the game the KM defense still held the Wildcats without a first down in the second half until the last play of the game. DJ Black carried the rushing load with seven carries for 30 yards, and reserve quarterback Jonah Patrick completed his only pass, a 12-yard catch by Blake Emory.
KM RUSHING –  Jaylen Mims 7-83, Rashaard Brooks 4-13, Ethan Reid 2-(-6), Jake Lloyd 2-18, Logan Patrick 1-4, D.J. Black 7-30.
KM PASSING – Ethan Reid 7-9-140, Jonah Patrick 1-1-12.
KM RECEIVING –Chance  Cannon 3-44, Orlando Odums 1-19, Bryce Fisher 3-77, Blake Emory 1-12.

(March 24, 2021 Issue)

The Kings Mountain High School Booster Club would like to honor Ruthie Ware, 4th grader from East Elementary as their Good Citizen of the Week.  Ruthie is an example of good citizenship. She is always doing the right thing and making smart decisions. Ruthe always follows school and classroom rules. Even with the challenges of remote learning, Ruthe gives one hundred percent and wants all her classmates to succeed. Her favorite subject is English. She also enjoys recess  to interact with her friends. At home Ruthe likes creek stomping, climbing trees and playing video games.
Ruthe is the daughter of Patrick and Charlotte Ware.

(March 24, 2021 Issue)

Kings Mountain’s Mountaineers scored on six of their seven first half possession and rolled over the Ashbrook Green Wave 41-0 in a Big South Conference game Friday in Gastonia.
With that lead coming just before halftime, the game went to a running clock the entire second half. The Mountaineers used that time to rest their starters and get everyone else some playing time.
While the KM offense was riding the Wave for 390 total yards, the Wave’s offense wasn’t as much as a ripple  with just two first downs and minus yardage for the night. Both of those first downs came late in the fourth quarter against KM’s reserves.
“It was a great effort,” said Mountaineer head coach Greg Lloyd. “I thought we showed a lot of improvement. It was the best game we’ve played. Both lines played the best since the Stuart Cramer game.
“And I thought our defense was phenomenal. We tackled well and showed a lot of improvement. The special teams played well also. “
The defense showed its stuff on Ashbrook’s opening drive. Ashbrook running back Elijah Antis picked up a yard on the game’s first play from scrimmage, but it was followed up by an incompletion and then an interception by KM’s Deandre Hoyle at the KM 47. Seven plays later quarterback Ethan Reid hit Orlando Odums with a 16-yard touchdown pass and Jayden Ellis kicked the point after for a 7-0 KM lead.
Yet another Ashbrook three and out set KM up at its own 45. It took just an 11-yard pass from Reid to Rashaard Brooks and three carries for 44 yards by Jalen Mims, the final one for 11 yards and a TD for a 14-0 lead.
After another three and out by Ashbrook, KM took over at midfield on a punt and seven plays later Brooks went in from the three to make it 21-0.
A quarterback sack by Chris Ruffalo forced yet another Ashbrook three and out, and KM took over at its own 24. Nine plays later Brooks scored from a yard out, but the PAT was wide left and KM led 27-0.
The Ashbrook defense was able to force a loss of downs on KM’s next possession. But after the KM defense held the Green Wave to three and out again, Coach Lloyd reached into his bag of tricks and had Reid throw a lateral pass to Chance Cannon who then threw to Payton Fisher 20 yards behind the Ashbrook defense for a 44-yard touchdown reception and a 34-0 lead with 2:23 left in the half.

On Ashbrook’s first play following the KM kickoff, freshman Robert Kendrick recovered a fumble at the Ashbrook 21 and it took just one run by Brooks to get the final TD with 2:10 to go in the half.
“I thought Rashaard ran the ball very well,” Coach Lloyd noted. “Our offensive line was good, and the defense played well, too. I thought Trey Crawford had a really good game, and so did AJ Richardson. It was just a good all-around game by all.”
Most KM starters were taken out at the half but the defense still held Ashbrook without a first down until late in the fourth quarter. It came on a four yard reception by Antis at the Ashbrook 20. They added another first down at the 30 from which point they threw three incomplete passes and a run for zero yards by Brandon Lewis to end the game.
It was the second straight shutout for the KM defense against a Gastonia team (the other a 35-0 win over Hunter Huss the week before) and the second straight game that the D held its opponent to minus rushing yards.

See more photos in this week's issue of the KM Herald (3-24-21)

(March 24, 2021 Issue)

The Kings Mountain High School Booster Club would like to honor Ruthie Ware, 4th grader from East Elementary as their Good Citizen of the Week.  Ruthie is an example of good citizenship. She is always doing the right thing and making smart decisions. Ruthe always follows school and classroom rules. Even with the challenges of remote learning, Ruthe gives one hundred percent and wants all her classmates to succeed. Her favorite subject is English. She also enjoys recess  to interact with her friends. At home Ruthe likes creek stomping, climbing trees and playing video games.
Ruthe is the daughter of Patrick and Charlotte Ware.

(March 17, 2021 Issue)

Kings Mountain High’s women’s softball team was defeated 12-6 on opening night Monday by Stuart Cramer.
The Lady Mountaineers were led at the plate by Austyn Dixon, who went 3-for-4 with one RBI. Jenna Ramsey was 3-for-4 with one RBI and Alayna Patrick went 3-for=4.
The Lady Mountaineers pounded out 12 hits.
Kali Weaver got the start in the circle for KM. She gave up nine hits and struck out five.
Andrea Weaver took over in the fifth inning, surrendering three hits while striking out two.
Kings Mountain travels to North Gaston Wednesday night and returns home Monday for a 6 p.m. game with Hunter Huss and a Wednesday game with Ashbrook.

(March 17, 2021 Issue)

Kings Mountain High senior volleyball standout Kyann Crocker signed a letter of intent last week with Winston-Salem State University. She is pictured front row, left right, with her grandmother Patricia Craig, mother Latrisha Jeter and grandmother Gayla Crocker. Back row, left to right, athletic director Matt Bridges, principal Julie Rikard, club coach Lewis Williamson, stepfather Reginal Jeter, father Sidney Crocker and KMHS coaches Lindsay Ellis and Heather Pasour.
 

(March 17, 2021 Issue)

Quarterback Lamont Littlejohn scored on a sneak with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter to lift Kings Mountain High’s JVs to a 12-8 victory over Burns in their 2021 opener Thursday night at Gamble Stadium.
The winning drive began with 28.8 seconds left in the third period after Burns punted to KM’s 24 yard line.
The Mountaineers’ sophomore running back Caleb Holland, who finished with 209 yards rushing on 20 carries, got the winning drive going with a 13-yard burst. Holland and Micah Ward shouldered the rushing load during the winning drive with Holland producing 37 yards and Ward 19.
A big play came with KM facing a third and 21 at the 49 when Burns was whistled for pass interference. That gave the Mountaineers a first down on the Burns 36, and the Mountaineers were awarded another 15 yards on an unsportsmanlike penalty call against the Bulldog sidelines.
That put KM at the Burns 21 with 5:25 remaining. Two carries by Ward for six yards and a 14-yard burst by Holland put KM within inches of the goal line from which point Littlejohn snuck it in for the winning score.
The KM defense rose to the occasion, forcing three straight incomplete passes to regain control of the ball with 2:06 left. From there, Holland burst 13 yards for a first down at the Burns 27. Ward picked up four and Holland seven for another first down at the 16 with just over a minute remaining. With Burns having used all of its timeouts, Littlejohn took a knee twice to end the game.
The Mountaineers had taken a 6-0 lead in the second quarter on a six-yard run by Holland and that score stood until after halftime.
The Mountaineers’ offense had some problems holding onto the ball, and Burns scored its only TD when a KM pitch that took one bounce was caught on the run by Jeremiah Norris who raced 67 yards for a touchdown. A pass from Ben Mauney to Kamari Smart for a two-point conversion left the Bulldogs on top until the Mountaineers mounted their winning drive.
Javion Smith aided the KM running game and also had an outstanding game on defense along with JaQualyn Sanders, Curtis Simpson, Andre Willis, Javier Teshawn-Currie and others.
The Mountaineers will hit the road Wednesday for a 7:30 game at South Point. They return home March 17 at 6:30 against Shelby.

(March 17, 2021 Issue)

With several outstanding returners aboard like major college commits Dameon Wilson and Javari Rice-Wilson, Kings Mountain High coaches and fans knew the Mountaineers would be strong on defense this season.
But, perhaps no one except the players and coaches knew that they could turn in the dominating performance they did against the Hunter Huss Huskies Friday night at Gamble Stadium.
Limiting the Huskies to just six first downs – of which two were on KM penalties – minus four yards rushing and just 43 passing, the Mountaineers completely outclassed their Gastonia opponents 35-0 in a homecoming game current KMHS players and students will remember each time they have a class reunion.
From an offense that accumulated 269 yards overall to a defense that came up with three interceptions and two safeties, the Mountaineers scored in all four quarters. The Huskies offered only one serious scoring threat which ended on a pass interception at the one by KM senior Titus Phillips.
“It was a great game,” said Coach Greg Lloyd. “We got off to a great start and played with a lot of intensity from the opening kickoff. I was pleased with all three phases of the game.”
After Huss won the toss and deferred to the second half, the Mountaineers made it as far as the Huss 49 before having to punt. But, the defense quickly gave a glimpse of what was to come by holding the Huskies to minus three yards on their first possession.
Punting from their own 13, the Huskies’ kick was partially blocked by KM’s Jake Lloyd and KM took over at the Huss 25. After Jaylen Mims and Rashaard Brooks ran for eight and 16 yards, respectively, senior quarterback Ethan Reid scored from the one and Jaden Ellis kicked the extra point and the rout was on.
From that point on, the Huskies had very little success moving the ball, except for a brief time late in the first quarter when Titus Phillips picked off a pass at the KM one yard line.
After KM’s initial score, the defense got a big sack from Derek Wilson to force a fourth and 18 at the Huss seven. Five plays after the Huss punt quarterback Ethan Reid hit end Marcus Odums with a 19-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead.
“The first quarter was big for us,” Lloyd noted. “Getting a score after a blocked punt set the tone. I was pleased with all three phases of the game. It was a great effort.”
Down 14-0, Huss got its first two first downs on back-to-back 15 yard penalties against KM which put them on the KM 36. A 19-yard reception by Noah Lowery put them on the KM 20, but a sack by AJ Richardson followed by Phillips’ interception at the one basically stopped what little offense the Huskies could muster.
KM was able to drive the ball to the Huss 23 before losing it on downs, but on the Huskies’ first play from scrimmage Logan Patrick intercepted a pass. A 21-yard run by Mims put the Mountaineers on the Huss 15, from which point Reid rolled right but threw back to his left to  a wide-open Rashaard Brooks for a 21-0 lead.
That score stood until halftime, but it didn’t take long for the KM defense to score again when Javari Rice-Wilson sacked the Huss QB in the end zone for a safety and a 23-0 lead.
After the free kick, KM marched as far as the Huss 12 but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Ellis to run the score to 26-0.
Early in the fourth quarter the Mountaineers took over at their 39 following a Huss punt. Brooks covered the distance in six carries, scoring from eight yards out for a 33-0 lead.
With Huss backed up to its own three facing second and 12, the Mountaineer defense forced another fumble by the Huss QB and Xavier Johnson covered it for a safety to end the scoring.
Obviously, Coach Lloyd was pleased with his team’s overall performance against a Huss team that is always a contender for the BSC championship.
“We were happy with our defense,” he said. “Coach Wilson and the defensive coaches did a great job. Our offensive line looked better. They’ve really gotten better and we hope to get better every Friday.
“Javari Wilson had someone roll into his leg in the fourth quarter and that concerned us,” he noted. “I was worried for a while but he’s in good shape and ready to go. I was really proud of his effort as well as the whole defense. Javari had five sacks. Isaiah Eskridge did a good job at right tackle in his first start.
“I thought Logan Patrick at safety did a great job for us. He was all over the field hustling. And Titus Phillips’ interception at the one was big. He got it out to the 30. We got penalized but still drove it to their 30, so that was big.”
Lloyd said he was also pleased with his running combo of  Brooks and Mims, who kept the clock running.  

(March 10, 2021 Issue)

With several returning players from last year’s team, Kings Mountain High softball coach Kevin Cruise expects his Lady Mountaineers to be among the best teams in the Big South 3A Conference this season.
The Lady Mountaineers begin their season Monday at 6 p.m. with a home conference game against Stuart Cramer, another team that is expected to be fighting for first place in the BSC.
Cruise also expects Crest and Forestview to be very strong so the Lady Mountaineers will have to be at the top of their game when they face those opponents. “If we can sweep or split with all of them, we would have done something,” he says.
Cruise said one drawback has been that he has been coaching both football and softball, but he credits his assistant coaches Shon Macopsen, Jeff Cloninger and Cassie King for their help in keeping the softball program strong.
The Lady Mountaineers have a host of returning players from last year’s team that saw its season cut short because of Covid-19. They include Jenna Ramsey, Andrea Melton, Keegan Irby, Alayna Patrick, Karlee Nantz, Monica Head, Austyn Dixon and Samantha Harrelson.
A new player, freshman Kali Weaver, may be the #1 pitcher with Melton and Irby also seeing duty on the mound. “Keegan pitched some last year and both would have pitched a lot had our season not ended early,” Cruise said.
Because of the shortened season last year, Cruise said an all-conference team was not named but Crest has the returning Player of the Year from two seasons ago.
“They will be someone to reckon with,” he said, “but I feel good about our chances. Defense is what we hang our hats on. We’ll have to keep the score low and get timely hits.”

(March 3, 2021 Issue)

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a free program designed for cancer survivors 18-years and older who have become de-conditioned or chronically fatigued from their treatment or disease. The goals of the program include:
• Rebuilding muscular strength and endurance
• Increasing flexibility and improving functional ability
• Reducing severity of therapy side effects
• Preventing unwanted weight changes
• Improving self-esteem and energy levels
Participants receive a FREE 12-week Family Membership Plus and may use YMCA facilities at any time. Participants may bring a support person who can participate in a workout of their own. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the program is free to participants.
Participants must receive medical clearance and are evaluated on an individual basis. Patients currently undergoing treatment may participate, but only if they receive proper medical clearance.
The 90-minute sessions are held twice a week. There is easy parking front and side of buildings and designated handicapped parking is available.
For more information, contact Margaret Litton, LIVESTRONG Instructor, Kings Mountain Family YMCA, 211 Cleveland Ave., Kings Mountain, 704-739-9631, or email MLitton@CleveCoYMCA.org.

(March 3, 2021 Issue)

Kings Mountain’s Natalie Lutz is off to a good start in her second year on the Lenoir-Rhyne tennis team.
Presently, Lutz is 3-0 and leading the team (2-1) in individual wins.
Lutz’s freshman year with the LR ladies came to an abrupt halt because of Covid.
Lutz was a two-sport standout at KMHS, playing tennis and golf. She had the option to play either sport in college and chose tennis. She and her KMHS teammate Madelynn Frye won one state championship in doubles.
“She always excelled in both sports and what was amazing and both were played in the same season,” noted her high school coach Rick Henderson. “So when the decision had to be made, Naatlie chose tennis over golf. As her high school tennis coach those four years, it didn’t surprise me that she wanted to continue her tradition by competing at the college level on the tennis team.
“Natalie could have taken the easier of the sport which was golf, but she chose the most physical and demanding of her body simply because tennis was her first love,” Henderson added.
Lutz opened this season by defeating a nationally ranked Queens University player. She was chosen the player of the match mainly due to her winning both her singles and doubles matches. She later defeated her opponents from Lander and Mars Hill.
Lutz is presently playing #4 in singles and bounces between #1 and #2 in doubles.
Lutz is majoring in Medical Studies and plans to attend graduate school to become a physician’s assistant.

(March 3, 2021 Issue)

About the only bright thing for Kings Mountain High’s venture into the state 3A basketball playoffs last week was that junior standout Isaiah Tate topped the 1,000 career point mark in the Mountaineers’ first round 95-57 loss to Central Cabarrus.
The KM girls were in a similar boat at Jesse Carson, falling hard to a very good Carson team 69-33.
Led by a couple of Tate three-pointers, the Mountaineers were able to take an early 9-3 lead before Central Cabarrus began canning some threes of its own and rallied to lead 27-19 at the first quarter break. They were never headed after that.
It was Central Cabarrus’ first home first round playoff win in 10 years.
After leading 44-31 at the half, Central took a 71-44 lead heading into the final quarter.
Tate and Zeke Cannedy were KM’s only double-digit scorers with 20 and 12 points, respectively. Matt Toms scored seven, Marcus and Orlando Odums six each, Maddox James four and Titus Phillips two.
The undefeated Carson team had no trouble with the KM ladies, running up a 23-2 first quarter lead en route to a 69-33 victory.
Saniya Wilson had a big game with 23 points, four rebounds and four steals but she was the only KM player in double figures.
Tyasya Bell scored three points and also had four rebounds and three blocks. Khalia King had three points, two rebounds and two blocks, Aaliyah Byers two points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks, Monica Head two points and Kennedy Barnes six rebounds.
A strong 1-3-1 press was the key to Carson’s quick beginning. Kings Mountain rallied in the second period to outscore Carson 14-12 but that still left them behind 25-16 at the break. Carson led 52-23 going into the fourth quarter.
Mary Spril and Carleijh Perry scored 16 points each to lead Carson. Hannah Isley added 13, Colsie Perry and Ellie Wilhelm nine each, Kary Isley six and Camden Carley two.

(March 3, 2021 Issue)

Kings Mountain sophomore Caleb Holland made a varsity debut that he will remember for a long time Saturday when he returned the opening kickoff of the 2021 spring season 90 yards for a touchdown to spark a 43-7 win over Stuart Cramer.
The Mountaineers would go into the halftime break with a 36-0 lead and turned the contest into a “running clock” game when quarterback Ethan Reid hit Devin Pressley on a 16-yard touchdown across the middle to run the score to 43-0 with 9:52 left in the third quarter.
Cramer scored its only touchdown in the final seconds of the third period when Jesse Allran managed to get past the KM defense for a 15-yard TD reception.
The Mountaineers showed signs of its typical greatness all through the game, but hurt themselves at times with miscues that can be corrected.
“It was a good first game,” said head coach Greg Lloyd. “We made plenty of mistakes but all in all it was good. Our defense was solid and we had a decent running game. The offensive line was better than a week before” when the Mountaineers scrimmaged Burns.
Last year’s leading rusher, junior Rashaard Brooks, finished with 92 yards rushing in 13 carries as the Mountaineers tried to distribute the ball to a lot of players. Quarterback Ethan Reid and running backs Holland and Jaylin Mims also did a good job running the ball.
“Brooks and Mims played well and the kickoff return by our tenth grader was the first time he touched the ball on varsity,” Lloyd said.  “We have to work on a lot of special teams’ breakdowns, but all in all it was good.”
Reid, the top passer in the Big South a year ago, hit 7 of 15 passes for 205 yards.
After KM’s initial score, new placekicker Jayden Ellis put his first varsity kickoff down at the two yard line where Cramer’s Johnny O’Shea caught and returned it to the 21. Three plays later the visitors faced a fourth and 23 at their own seven and the Storm’s punter was tackled in the end zone for a safety to put KM up 9-0.
KM then drove 57 yards in 10 plays to score on a two-yard burst by Jaylin Mims for a 16-0 lead.
The Mountaineers had some problems early with its passing game, but late in the quarter wide receiver Titus Phillips, who had just finished his basketball season earlier in the week, came onto the field and immediately raced down the home sideline past a Cramer defender and caught a pass in stride for a 51 yard touchdown and a 23-0 lead that broke the game open.
Cramer was driving later but Phillips, now in the secondary, intercepted a pass at the one yard line and returned it to the 30. However, a block in the back resulted in KM taking possession at the five. On first down, Reid hit Chance Cannon with a quick screen pass and he went 95 yards down the home sideline for a touchdown and a 29-0 lead.
On their next possession, a 34-yard run off tackle by Brooks was the big run on a drive that ended with Reid’s one-yard sneak and a 36-0 lead with 1:06 left in the half.
Deandre Hoyle recovered a fumble at the Cramer 35 on the first possession of the third quarter to set up Pressley’s touchdown.

KM RUSHING – Brooks 13-92, Reid 6-31, Mims 6-24, Holland 6-25, Patrick 1-2, Team -10.
KM RECEIVING – Cannon 2-103, Fisher 2-23, Phillips 1-51, Hoyle 1-13, Pressley 1-16.
KM SCORING – Holland 6, Mims 6, Reid 6, Cannon 6, Phillips 6, Pressley 6, Ellis 5, Team 2.
INTERCEPTIONS – AJ Richardson, Titus Philllps.
FUMBLE RECOVERY – Deandre Hoyle.

(March 3, 2021 Issue)

Kings Mountain junior guard Saniya Wilson has been named Big South Basketball Player of the Year by the conference coaches.
She is a repeater on the All-Big South team and was joined there by her teammate, Khalia King.
Wilson, who topped the 1,000 career point mark in a win over Forestview this season, averaged 24.3 points a game in leading the Lady Mountaineers to a tie for second place in the BSC and a berth in the state 3A playoffs. She also set a personal single game record of 40 points in a game against Crest. Jessica Brunson of Crest was named BSC Coach of the Year.
The boys all-conference team will be announced after Crest has completed its run in the state 3A playoffs. The Chargers were schedule to face Weddington in the semi-finals last night.