Article: Clark Leonard/Shelby Star
Image: Erica Morrow

The T.C. Roberson High football team came out with a physical game plan on Friday night at Sid Bryson Stadium, but Crest showed it has plenty of muscle to go with its speed in a 26-6 Charger victory.

“We needed to be physical tonight, and I thought we were on both sides of the ball,” Crest coach Mark Barnes said. “And that was important for us.”

Crest (2-0) overcame a trio of turnovers, led by an explosive offense and a stingy defense that gave up only one first down not earned on a penalty in the first three quarters to the Rams (1-2).

Charger running back Neil Chambers had another strong all-around night, tallying 102 yards on 13 carries and two receptions for 49 more yards. Fellow senior and quarterback Patrick Bowman was 12-for-16 passing for 187 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

Crest senior receiver Kendall Kee pulled down four receptions for 85 yards, both team-highs, including a couple of highlight-worthy catches.
Chambers and Rhaheim Ledbetter recovered from a fumble each to get the slow-starting Charger offense going in the second quarter, with Chambers’ 37-yard run setting up a four-yard scoring jaunt on the next play for Ledbetter with 4:57 remaining in the first half.

Senior kicker Trever Austin would put Crest on the board again in the final minute of the half to push it to 10-0.

Bowman threaded the ball between three defenders on a 12-yard touchdown strike to Jamarcus Nance midway through the third quarter that put the Chargers in total control with a 17-0 edge.

Ledbetter blocked a punt in the end zone early in the fourth to push it to 19-0, and the ensuing 30-yard kickoff return by Kee set up a five-play drive that ended with a 2-yard Bowman scoring run and a 26-0 Crest advantage.

“We stopped turning the ball over as much (as the first half),” Bowman said of the key in the second half.

Roberson’s only score of the night was a 27-yard Noah Suber-to-Jerrell Williams connection in the final minute to account for the final margin.

“We’ve definitely got some things to work on,” Kee said. “But it was a pretty good game.”

With a second consecutive convincing victory under their belt, the Chargers will face rival Shelby at Blanton Memorial Stadium next Friday.

View Article at The Star

Advertisement