Sports - October 2003

Wolves romp Devils

Published October13, 2003

By DAVID KEEVER, LTN Correspondent

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NEWTON—The Lincolnton Wolves had little trouble staying unbeaten in Midwest 2A conference play Friday night as they rolled to a 31-14 win over Newton-Conover at Gurley Stadium.

Special teams, led by senior Terrell Phelps, played a huge part in Friday's victory, putting the Wolves in great field position all night.

Midway through the first quarter, Phelps returned a Red Devil punt 39 yards to the Newton-Conover twenty-nine yard line.  Two plays later, fullback Eric Wilson would break through the middle of the defense and go 31 yards for a touchdown. Roy Gomez would tack on the extra point giving Lincolnton a 7-0 lead. 

The Red Devils bounced right back. Newton-Conover marched eighty yards on twelve plays, as Dusty Wright scored from one yard out to tie the game at seven all.

On the Red Devils ensuing kickoff, however, Phelps would put the Wolves in position to score again. This time Phelps raced fifty-one yards down the sideline to the Newton-Conover thirty-seven yard line to set up Lincolnton's second score of the game.

Two plays later senior tailback Darren Wilson would score from thirty yards out to give the Wolves a 14-7 advantage.

On Lincolnton's next drive, placekicker Roy Gomez would connect on a thirty-two yard field goal, and the Wolves would go to the break leading 17-7.

Newton-Conover would tighten things up in the third period.  Wright would score his second touchdown of the night, this time an eight yard run to pull the Red Devils to within three at 17-14.

Lincolnton would take control in the fourth quarter. On the second play of the final stanza, quarterback Zack Gibson would put the Wolves up 24-14 with a three yard scoring run of his own.

Gibson hit his fullback Eric Wilson for an eighteen yard pass play to the Red Devil eleven yard line to set up the score.  Later in the fourth, Gibson found tight end Jordy Jefferies on a fifteen yard scoring strike, giving the Wolves their final margin of victory.

Jefferies was a bright spot on offense for the Wolves, hauling in three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.  Eric Wilson was Lincolnton's leader on the ground, gaining 86 yards on eleven carries and a score. 

Wilson also caught two passes for twenty-five yards. Darren Wilson failed to reach the 100 yard mark for only the second time this season.  Wilson, who had missed some practice during the week due to illness, finished with 66 yards on fifteen carries.

The Wolves improve to 7-1 on the season and more importantly, 4-0 in the Midwest 2A.  Newton-Conover falls to 1-7 overall, and 0-4 in conference play. 

"They are a good ball team," said Lincolnton coach Scott Cloninger of Newton-Conover. 

"They gave us all we wanted."  Cloninger also noted the play of his special teams saying "They gave us good field position all night."

The Wolves have a huge game this Friday night as they play host to Shelby. The Golden Lions come into Lincolnton as the only other undefeated team in Midwest 2A play.        

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