Written by JEREMIAH ARTACHO
All night long, Chapel Hill High School (1-4) was in an uphill battle Friday — going up against the No. 2 football team in North Carolina, Weddington High School. Head coach Andy Capone and the Warriors traveled all the way from Matthews and grabbed win number five on the season, 56-0.
The defending state champions wasted no time and grinded out a rushing touchdown up the middle during the first quarter from Chapel Hill’s 5-yard line— the result of junior running back Brody Anson’s legs.
One drive later, senior quarterback Gregory Fee slung a 49-yard pass down the left side of the field to senior wide receiver Javon Barber with two defenders crowding his bubble. Barber dove into the end zone, making the catch and putting another 6 points on the scoreboard.
“We’ve been missing the deep-ball and stretching the field a little bit earlier in the year,” Capone said about Fee and Barber’s touchdown play. “It was good to see a connection and him [Barber] going out there and getting it.”
On another occasion, during the third quarter junior quarterback Walker Powell took his turn in the pocket — and tossed a pass from Chapel Hill’s 14-yard line that was batted in the air but landed in the hands of junior wide receiver Kelson Tate. Tate broke a couple of tackles and found himself in the end zone. Afterward, found on the ground in pain, Tate exited the game due to a shoulder injury.
Coach Capone’s team scored on 8 of their 9 total drives against the Tigers. Their only scoreless drive ended with a sack by Chapel Hill’s junior inside linebacker Silas Munday.
The aerial attack was not the only offensive tactic that worked for the Warriors — the run game clicked too.
To begin the second quarter, sophomore running back Anthony Barrino ran for a 53-yard touchdown down the right side of the field from their own 47-yard line. After a successful field goal by junior Owen McNulty (who went 7/7 on extra point attempts), the scoreboard read 28-0 with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
The Warriors had a total of six running touchdowns and two passing touchdowns on the night from eight different players.
For head coach Ryan Horton and the Chapel Hill Tigers, their first drive of the game saw a different look for the home team. Senior wide receiver Nik Demas took snaps and Roberson was at his natural running back position.
Eventually, Chapel Hill’s head coach resorted back to Roberson at the quarterback position. The strategy gave them their first win of the season in Week 4 against Carrboro High School.
Chapel Hill High School used the jet sweep on four different instances but found success off the edge one time — Oliaro found room for a gain of 15 yards during the second quarter.
The closest Chapel Hill High School was able to get to Weddington’s end zone was at their opposing 49-yard line. This was the result of a pass interference on senior quarterback Josh Roberson’s pass to intended senior wide receiver Tyler Oliaro.
“I can’t say enough about Josh — he’s the kid that will literally do anything you ask him to do,” Horton said about Roberson playing out of position. “He could’ve dropped his head and complained — it’s his senior year, he’s been one of best running backs in the conference.”
The Tigers will have one week off before returning to action on Friday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. where they will begin conference play on the road against Jordan High School (3-1).
Coach Horton continues to move along season without his two quarterbacks in junior Samuel Zimmerman and senior Jonah Berman. The last time either made an appearance in a game was during Week 2 against Orange High School at home — before Berman went down with an injury.
“I’m not a doctor but I’m hoping that to start conference we have a chance at getting one of them back,” Horton said. “We’re gonna prepare as if we won’t — we’re gonna prepare to go with who’s available.”
Weddington High School will face the number one team in South Carolina in Westside High School (4-0) next week on Friday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m.
“We signed them up for it,” Capone said about facing the top ranked team south of North Carolina. “It will be a challenge and should be a great ball game.”
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