Black Knights Escape Spartans, 20-14

The undefeated North Davidson Black Knights defense once again proved to be the difference en route to a 20-14 victory over Mount Tabor in the third round of the NCHSAA 4-A playoffs.  Senior Devonte Moore rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore lineman Shy Tuttle added one of his own to pace the Black Knights.


The Spartan offense warmed up a brisk night in Welcome on a 48-yard pass from Raekwon Brown to Deonte Stokes, which eventually led to a short Jared Huntley touchdown run.  The Black Knights answered on the next possession with a 36-yard touchdown run from Moore, tying the score at 7 after the extra point from Spencer Landfried.

After the Spartan offense stalled on the next drive, North seemed to be well on their way to another score before Deonte Stokes recovered a Moore fumble at the Mount Tabor 29.  However, the Spartan offense failed to capitalize on the turnover and punted the ball back to the Black Knights. A 31-yard pass from quarterback Chase Mitchell to Eli Moore put North in business at the Mount Tabor 28, and from there they got some help from Mount Tabor.

First, the Spartans were cited for pass interference, which put the ball at the 14 yard line.  On the following play Mount Tabor's defense was called for unnecessary roughness, placing the ball at the 7.  Adding to their woes, the Spartan bench was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.  When the flags finally found their way back into the officials' pockets, North Davidson had first and goal from the two.  North Davidson immediately sent their "jumbo" package in, culminating in a Shy Tuttle touchdown which gave the Knights a 14-7 lead with 9:21 remaining in the half.

After a Spartan punt, North Davidson's offense marched back down the field into Mount Tabor territory.  On fourth down, Spencer Landfried trotted out to attempt a 46-yard field goal (well within his range).  Instead, holder Spencer Arrowood pitched him the ball on a fake.  However, Landfried came up a yard short and the ball was turned over to Mount Tabor.

The Spartans quickly took advantage, with Brown hitting Stokes for a 73-yard touchdown on the very next play.  Just like that, the score was tied with less than 4 minutes remaining in the half.  With the SRO crowd at a fever pitch, the teams traded possessions until the Black Knights took over near midfield with 1:45 remaining.  North Davidson got close enough to call on Landfried to try a long field goal, and he responded with a 48-yard bomb that cleared the crossbar with maybe a foot to spare.

While the first half was marked by a relative offensive explosion from both teams (compared to the pedestrian 7-6 score in their regular season clash), the second was a defensive struggle.   Mount Tabor's Dishan Beasley intercepted Chase Mitchell at the North Davidson's 31 with 7:24 remaining in the third quarter, and the offense got all the way to the 10 before settling for a Billy Gentry field goal attempt to tie the game at 17.  Senior linebacker Hunter Hoots spoiled those plans, blocking the attempt and thwarting the Spartan momentum. North Davidson then embarked on an 11-play drive that was culminated by another Landfried field goal, extending the lead to 20-14.

The game was not decided without some controversy, however.  After a punt return set the Spartans up at the North Davidson 31, Mount Tabor moved the ball inside the 10 yard line.  On fourth-and-inches from the Black Knight 9, Raekwon Brown sneaked over the line for an apparent first down.  However, after a measurement  the ball was short of the line to gain.

Editors Note:  I had a unique perspective, since I wasn't in the press box.  I was standing on the Mount Tabor sideline at the line of scrimmage with the chain gang.  From my perspective, I thought Brown got the first down.  So, apparently, did the line judge.  However, they went with the referee's spot.  That's a hard judgment call, especially in that cluster of bodies without the benefit of replay.  In no way was it an obvious first down.  Just my opinion.

The Spartans had one more opportunity, as the defense forced a Chase Mitchell punt with 3:25 remaining in the game.  However, Dishan Beasley inexplicably tried to pick up the knuckling, bouncing punt at his own 38 and Hunter Hoots pounced on it.  That was the ballgame, and put North Davidson within one win of  playing in Chapel Hill.  Next week, the Black Knights will host Porter Ridge for the right to play for the state championship.