Matt Foxx is a force to be reckoned with. He proved it again on Monday night, leading the Lake Norman boys soccer team to a convincing 5-0 win over West Iredell.
Foxx netted four goals, tying the school record for scores in a game. His performance overshadowed a crisp offensive display by the entire Lake Norman team, which is off to a fast start in its 3A state title defense.
"We're just trying to keep a level head and keep winning," said midfielder Corey Evans, who assisted two goals against West Iredell.
So far, so good.
Lake Norman, which won all 27 of its games last season, improved to 3-0. The Wildcats have outscored their first three opponents 14-1, and they don't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Blowout football win (89-0) a defenseless act
We're two weeks into the high school football season and already we have a You Should Be Ashamed of Yourself award winner.
Defending 2A state champion Burlington Cummings must have thought it was a good idea to run up the score on Friday night, because the Cavaliers hung nearly 100 points on the scoreboard. They roughed up Carrboro, a first-year school located on the outskirts of Chapel Hill, 89-0.
Is that really necessary?
You would expect a perennial power such as Cummings to show some class.
I suppose beating county foe Southern Alamance 57-6 the first week wasn't enough for the Cavaliers. And I'm sure they had to one-up rival Graham, which shut out Carrboro 47-0 the opening week.
Actually, more like double-up -- the score. Almost had it, guys. You were a field goal and a safety shy.
Shame on Cummings. That's ridiculous.
Defending 2A state champion Burlington Cummings must have thought it was a good idea to run up the score on Friday night, because the Cavaliers hung nearly 100 points on the scoreboard. They roughed up Carrboro, a first-year school located on the outskirts of Chapel Hill, 89-0.
Is that really necessary?
You would expect a perennial power such as Cummings to show some class.
I suppose beating county foe Southern Alamance 57-6 the first week wasn't enough for the Cavaliers. And I'm sure they had to one-up rival Graham, which shut out Carrboro 47-0 the opening week.
Actually, more like double-up -- the score. Almost had it, guys. You were a field goal and a safety shy.
Shame on Cummings. That's ridiculous.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Warriors running back has night to remember
Had popular TV sports broadcaster Keith Jackson been calling the action Friday night at West Iredell, he would have worn out the phrase "Whoa, Nellie!" like Warriors running back Bobby Morrison wore out the Forbush Falcons defense.
Morrison was unbelievable, carrying the ball 16 times for a whopping 274 yards. His dashes included touchdown runs of 67, 43 and 71 yards. The single-game rushing total broke the school record previously held by Chris McCormick. In 2004, McCormick posted 264 yards against South Iredell.
Built like a rock and lightning quick like the Road Runner, Morrison could have piled on more yards in the Warriors' 51-0 romp over Forbush. The 5-foot-9, 189-pound senior had a 71-yard touchdown run in the second quarter called back because of a penalty.
Mercifully, he was taken out early in the fourth quarter after his 19-yard jaunt put him into the West Iredell record book -- again. Morrison established records for points in a season (190) and rushing touchdowns in a season (25) as a junior.
Afterward, Morrison thanked his offensive line and receivers for how well they cleared paths. The words may have sounded rehearsed, but they were unquestionably sincere.
Congratulations, Bobby. Your performance was exceptional. Your attitude? Even better.
Morrison was unbelievable, carrying the ball 16 times for a whopping 274 yards. His dashes included touchdown runs of 67, 43 and 71 yards. The single-game rushing total broke the school record previously held by Chris McCormick. In 2004, McCormick posted 264 yards against South Iredell.
Built like a rock and lightning quick like the Road Runner, Morrison could have piled on more yards in the Warriors' 51-0 romp over Forbush. The 5-foot-9, 189-pound senior had a 71-yard touchdown run in the second quarter called back because of a penalty.
Mercifully, he was taken out early in the fourth quarter after his 19-yard jaunt put him into the West Iredell record book -- again. Morrison established records for points in a season (190) and rushing touchdowns in a season (25) as a junior.
Afterward, Morrison thanked his offensive line and receivers for how well they cleared paths. The words may have sounded rehearsed, but they were unquestionably sincere.
Congratulations, Bobby. Your performance was exceptional. Your attitude? Even better.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Ready for some football, high school style
Sixteen days and counting until the bands play and the teams take the field.
The 2007 high school football season got under way on Monday with the first official day of practice.
Excitement reigned at Iredell County's six schools. Everybody is unbeaten. The possibilities are endless.
Some thoughts:
1.) I don't think South Iredell will have the kind of dropoff a lot of people think the Vikings will have this season after losing their coach and starting quarterback following a remarkable run in 2006. Last year, the Vikings went 8-6 and reached the third round of the 2AA state playoffs -- the farthest South Iredell had ever advanced in the postseason. South Iredell returns a lot of talent at the skill positions and its linemen are bigger. New coach Ed Masterton seems to have installed a fun-looking offense, so don't sleep on the Vikings.
2.) Can't wait to see what West Iredell running back Bobby Morrison has in store for an encore. Morrison set school records for points in a season (190) and rushing touchdowns (25) in 2006. It's no coincidence that the Warriors posted the second-best regular-season record (9-2) in school history.
3.) Don't be surprised if you see Statesville make a dramatic improvement. Coming off a winless 2005 campaign, the Greyhounds went 2-9 in 2006, Randall Gusler's first season. They were competitive in many of their losses. I look for Statesville to win at least five games this year. Maybe six or seven to creep over .500 for the first time since 2003.
The 2007 high school football season got under way on Monday with the first official day of practice.
Excitement reigned at Iredell County's six schools. Everybody is unbeaten. The possibilities are endless.
Some thoughts:
1.) I don't think South Iredell will have the kind of dropoff a lot of people think the Vikings will have this season after losing their coach and starting quarterback following a remarkable run in 2006. Last year, the Vikings went 8-6 and reached the third round of the 2AA state playoffs -- the farthest South Iredell had ever advanced in the postseason. South Iredell returns a lot of talent at the skill positions and its linemen are bigger. New coach Ed Masterton seems to have installed a fun-looking offense, so don't sleep on the Vikings.
2.) Can't wait to see what West Iredell running back Bobby Morrison has in store for an encore. Morrison set school records for points in a season (190) and rushing touchdowns (25) in 2006. It's no coincidence that the Warriors posted the second-best regular-season record (9-2) in school history.
3.) Don't be surprised if you see Statesville make a dramatic improvement. Coming off a winless 2005 campaign, the Greyhounds went 2-9 in 2006, Randall Gusler's first season. They were competitive in many of their losses. I look for Statesville to win at least five games this year. Maybe six or seven to creep over .500 for the first time since 2003.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
MLB, NBA, NFL clean yourselves up
NBA commissioner David Stern is in damage control mode with the revelation that one of the league's officials bet on games.
The NFL has a multitude of players that can't seem to keep their noses' clean, like Tennessee Titans defensive back Adam "Pacman" Jones. Of course, Michael Vick headlines that crowd right now. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback appears to be in a heap of trouble stemming from dogfighting allegations.
Major League Baseball has issues with rampant steroid use. A cloud of suspicion hangs over Barry Bonds' head as he closes in on the sport's most hallowed record. He is three home runs shy of breaking Hank Aaron's mark of 755.
What a mess those three "major sports leagues" find themselves in.
It is a great day to be a hockey fan!
The NFL has a multitude of players that can't seem to keep their noses' clean, like Tennessee Titans defensive back Adam "Pacman" Jones. Of course, Michael Vick headlines that crowd right now. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback appears to be in a heap of trouble stemming from dogfighting allegations.
Major League Baseball has issues with rampant steroid use. A cloud of suspicion hangs over Barry Bonds' head as he closes in on the sport's most hallowed record. He is three home runs shy of breaking Hank Aaron's mark of 755.
What a mess those three "major sports leagues" find themselves in.
It is a great day to be a hockey fan!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Dog days of summer
OK, I didn't understand ESPN'S choosing to air Scripps National Spelling Bee.
I finally accepted it.
But honestly, do we really need Breaking News for hot dogs?
Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest was Wednesday in Coney Island, N.Y. Joey Chesnut ate 66 in 12 minutes to dethrone longtime reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi.
Call it entertaining (although I question those who get their kicks watching others scarf down wieners and buns), but it's NOT a sport.
An ESPN TV commentator covering the event had the gall to refer to it as the greatest moment in the history of American sports.
I would've said the Miracle on Ice, but what do I know? I'm not an athlete -- I can only eat about two hot dogs in one sitting.
I finally accepted it.
But honestly, do we really need Breaking News for hot dogs?
Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest was Wednesday in Coney Island, N.Y. Joey Chesnut ate 66 in 12 minutes to dethrone longtime reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi.
Call it entertaining (although I question those who get their kicks watching others scarf down wieners and buns), but it's NOT a sport.
An ESPN TV commentator covering the event had the gall to refer to it as the greatest moment in the history of American sports.
I would've said the Miracle on Ice, but what do I know? I'm not an athlete -- I can only eat about two hot dogs in one sitting.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Iredell baseball has seen better days
At best, Mooresville Post 66 will finish its Area III Southern Division schedule at 8-12.
Wow. That is hard to believe.
The Moors' American Legion baseball roster is dominated by guys who played in high school this spring at Lake Norman and Mooresville. Lake Norman finished tied for third in the eight-team North Piedmont 3A Conference and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in program history. Mooresville brought home the NPC title, its first league championship since 1985. The Blue Devils lost only two games in conference play.
But those success stories haven't translated into wins when they've combined forces on the diamond this summer.
Despite its shortcomings, at least Post 66 will be in the American Legion playoffs.
The Statesville Owlz were eliminated from playoff contention on Monday night. That's bad in a league where almost everyone qualifies. The Southern Division is made up of 11 teams -- 10 if you take into consideration that winless Montgomery County dissolved at the end of the season. The top eight go to the playoffs.
Statesville will finish ninth.
Mooresville will squeak in at seventh or eighth.
Iredell baseball has seen better days.
Wow. That is hard to believe.
The Moors' American Legion baseball roster is dominated by guys who played in high school this spring at Lake Norman and Mooresville. Lake Norman finished tied for third in the eight-team North Piedmont 3A Conference and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in program history. Mooresville brought home the NPC title, its first league championship since 1985. The Blue Devils lost only two games in conference play.
But those success stories haven't translated into wins when they've combined forces on the diamond this summer.
Despite its shortcomings, at least Post 66 will be in the American Legion playoffs.
The Statesville Owlz were eliminated from playoff contention on Monday night. That's bad in a league where almost everyone qualifies. The Southern Division is made up of 11 teams -- 10 if you take into consideration that winless Montgomery County dissolved at the end of the season. The top eight go to the playoffs.
Statesville will finish ninth.
Mooresville will squeak in at seventh or eighth.
Iredell baseball has seen better days.
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