Sports - October 2003

Mustangs lose tough one to Wildcats

By MIKE POWELL, LTN Correspondent

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DENVER—Even the best executed game plan cannot overcome two interception returns for touchdowns.

That was the sad reality for East Lincoln Friday night in a 21-14 Big South 3A Conference loss to North Gaston.

The visiting Wildcats turned two first-half  turnovers into touchdown plays of 93 and 95 yards, handing the Mustangs (3-5, 1-3) their most disappointing loss of the season.

It was one of those games in which the stat sheet was rendered meaningless by the final score. The Mustangs rushed for 276 yards in their new-look wishbone offense and piled up 15 first downs to the Wildcats' seven.

On defense, East Lincoln controlled one of the area's premier running backs, limiting sophomore Rafael Littlejohn to 44 yards on 21 carries, more than 60 yards below his season average. North Gaston (2-6, 1-3) did not pick a first down in the second half until the 2:46 mark of the fourth quarter.

However, the mistakes were too much to overcome.

"We shot ourselves in the foot," East Lincoln coach Matt Rikard said. "You give up two touchdowns on two interceptions, and logic tells you you are not going to win with that many mistakes."

For East Lincoln, it was a case of one mistake setting up another.

 On their first series, the Mustangs surprised North Gaston by coming out in the fullhouse backfield rather than their usual spread. They clicked off three straight first downs and drove to the Wildcats' 5-yard line. There, on fourth and one, East Lincoln drew a five-yard offsides penalty.

Instead of opting for a high-percentage field goal attempt, the Mustangs went for it on fourth and goal from the 10. Quarterback Dennis Hickman rolled out to his right, and under pressure threw a pass across the grain.

 North Gaston's Jake Campbell was in the right place at the right time. Campbell ran 93 yards down the sideline for a touchdown that put North Gaston ahead 13-0 late in the first quarter.

Despite the reversal of fortune, East Lincoln put together a 67-yard scoring drive on its next series, climbing back in the game on an 18-yard pass from Hickman to T.J. Smith.

After nearly blocking a North Gaston punt, the Mustangs gained possession at the Wildcat 18 midway through the second quarter, trailing by only seven. But they were hit with a five-yard penalty before they could run a play. A 10-yard holding penalty followed, negating Thomas Huntley's 9-yard gain on a reverse.

On fourth down from the 15, Hickman's pass went through the hands of tight end Grant Covington and into the clutches of North Gaston's Okeba Rollinson, who had a clear path to the end zone 95 yards away.

The Mustangs also lost a fumble in the first half and went into the break down 21-7.

Late in the third quarter, Charlie Betts, a converted linebacker, turned a toss sweep into a 43-yard touchdown run to pull the Mustangs to 21-14.

However, the Mustangs could get no closer. Their last gasp came on a fourth-down pass from Hickman that was broken up in the end zone.

The Wildcats took over with three minutes left and picked up two first downs that sealed the victory.

Linebackers Trey Hamlin and Doug Orndorf and nose guard Stan Miller led East Lincoln's stout defense against the run.

"I can't say enough about our defense. They stepped up and played an awesome game," Rikard said.

And when it was not turning the ball over or drawing flags, the offense clicked well too. T.J. Smith rushed for 100 yards on 19 carries, and Betts picked up 72 yards on 10 attempts.

The Mustangs did not abandon the wishbone until late in the game. As a result, Hickman threw for only 43 yards and leading receiver Jadarious Roseboro did not catch a pass.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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