Article: Alan Ford/Shelby Star
Image: Erica Morrow

There were plenty of people, penalties and passes Friday night at Crest High’s Sid Bryson Stadium.

The annual season-opening clash between Cleveland County rivals Burns and Crest took three hours and 15 minutes to complete. By that time, a driving rainstorm that came on the scene sent the overflow crowd to its cars after watching the host Chargers ring up a 42-19 victory.

In a game that started with a bang — a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Burns’ Brandon Whitworth — the tide turned on something a lot less flamboyant. It was a 99-yard third-quarter drive by the Chargers, mostly on the ground behind the running of senior workhorse Neil Chambers, that gave Crest a two-touchdown edge for the first time after trailing twice in the opening half.

“That long drive was huge,” said Crest coach Mark Barnes, standing in the Charger tunnel to get out of the rain afterwards. “We had not been extremely physical up to that point. That was gigantic because they got tired and we quickened our pace snapping the ball. I told our team that’s what championship teams have to do in those situations.”

Chambers, who racked up 103 yards rushing on the night, carried seven times on the long march before quarterback Patrick Bowman finished it off with a 30-yard scoring toss to Harvey McSwain II to make it 28-13 with two minutes left in the third period.

Burns had led 7-0 on Whitworth’s return and later went up 13-7 when quarterback Brandon Littlejohn hit Jonah Brooks on a 21-yard scoring play late in the first quarter. Crest took the lead for good when Bowman connected with Chambers on a 21-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter, then found Chambers on a screen pass that covered four yards to make it 21-13.

Littlejohn threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns on the night, but Crest, led by Frank Toms and Martavis Burris on the defensive front, didn’t allow Burns to get a running game going.

“He’s a great athlete, and their guys catch it really well,” Barnes said of Littlejohn and the Burns passing attack. “But I felt like our quarterback had a good night. He made good decisions and threw it well.”

Bowman, with the luxury of Chambers’ 23 carries on the night, threw for three scores and 130 yards.

The only drawback on the night was the nearly 25 penalties walked off against the two squads during the emotional contest, putting the offenses especially in long-yardage situations.

Burns will try to bounce back next week with another county matchup when it hosts Kings Mountain. Crest will be at home against T.C. Roberson next Friday.

View Article at The Star

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