Hughes Views: 4 Key Takeaways from Week 5 Football in Gastonia and Shelby

Ashbrook Football Coach Darius James and the Importance of Preparation

Past experience has taught Ashbrook football coach Darius James to always be prepared for every scenario, especially when facing a formidable opponent like South Point quarterback Patrick Blee. “Three years ago, we heard he was hurt and prepared for another quarterback. Of course, he played and played well,” James said. “This time, we planned for both him and (backup Cayden Rumph). We treated it with the mind of, ‘If he’s hurt, he’s playing.’”

James’ instincts proved correct as Blee took the field for his team’s Big South 5A/6A opener at Ashbrook despite a leg injury sustained in Week 3 at T.C. Roberson. Playing at less than 100%, he led the Red Raiders to a touchdown on their opening drive. Even after tweaking the injury early in the third quarter, Blee remained on the field in the closing moments for South Point, hoping to lead his team on a game-winning touchdown drive.

Rumph also saw time in Friday’s game, the junior quarterback scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown. However, the story of the night was the Ashbrook defense, which limited a vaunted South Point rushing attack to 2.9 yards per carry in a 20-14 victory. Blee was limited to a career-low nine yards, while Kaveaun Pless — who was averaging 141.3 yards per game — was held to a season-low 58 yards.

It was Ashbrook’s third straight win over South Point, two of which have seen the Green Wave limit the Red Raiders to 14 points. “(Blee) has a warrior mentality; you’ve seen it, we’ve all seen it,” James said. “He wanted to finish for his team and his school, hats off to him. But we’ve put the work in, and found something that works for us. We have to tweak it every now and again, but our kids have bought into it, and that’s what it’s truly about.”

Shutouts Galore Across the State

Few teams statewide are putting up points at the pace East Lincoln is this fall, averaging 53.8 points per game through Week 5. The Mustangs are 5-0. While the East Lincoln offense was its typical self, scoring 49 points to help the Mustangs snap a two-game losing skid against North Lincoln, it was their defense that stood out last Friday, allowing a mere 74 yards in a shutout of the rival Knights.

Week 5 brimmed with stellar defensive efforts, with East Lincoln being one of six area teams to earn a shutout. Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A is well represented, with Burns, Lincolnton, Shelby, and Stuart Cramer outscoring opponents 224-0 this past Friday. Kings Mountain also blanked Forestview, 49-0.

Big Night for ‘Big Tex’

William Vaughn provided all Sept. 19 a few reasons why he’s soon bound for Boston College. Vaughn made an impact on both sides of the football, catching two touchdown passes and returning an interception for a TD in Kings Mountain’s 49-0 win at Forestview. It is the second game this season in which Vaughn has caught a TD and intercepted a pass, doing so in a Week 1 victory over rival Shelby.

Through five games, the Boston College recruit has eight TDs and two interceptions.

New Program High Marks

With five touchdown passes in Friday’s 62-0 win over Cherryville, Shelby quarterback Lan Farmer is now the school’s all-time leader in touchdown passes. He passed former Golden Lion great Daylin Lee, who threw 90 TDs from 2019-22. Farmer has thrown 15 TDs this season.

Friday was also a record-setting one for Stuart Cramer, the Storm scoring a program-record 70 points in a win over Highland Tech. The previous record was 56 points, Cramer first setting the mark in an Aug. 2018 win over East Gaston, then matching it in a March 2021 victory against North Gaston. More importantly, the Storm are 4-0 for the first time in program history. Stuart Cramer visits Shelby for a Week 6 clash of undefeated teams in Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A.

Week 5 Scores

• Ashbrook 20, South Point 14
• Burns 50, Bessemer City 0
• Christ the King 35, Lincoln Charter 14
• East Lincoln 49, North Lincoln 0
• Hunter Huss 35, North Gaston 19
• Kings Mountain 49, Forestview 0
• Lincolnton 42, East Gaston 0
• North Stanly 51, Mountain Island Charter 21
• Shelby 62, Cherryville 0
• Stuart Cramer 70, Highland Tech 0

Week 6 Schedule

• Albemarle at Mountain Island Charter
• Ashbrook at North Gaston
• Bessemer City at East Gaston
• Corbian Community at Lincoln Charter
• East Lincoln at Bunker Hill
• Forestview at Crest
• Hickory at North Lincoln
• Highland Tech at Lincolnton
• Hunter Huss at South Point
• Stuart Cramer at Shelby
• West Lincoln at Burns