Sports - November 2003

Wolves fall to the Cavs

By DAVID KEEVER, Correspondent

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The Cavaliers of East Rutherford marched 97 yards for the winning score on their final drive Friday night as they defeated the Lincolnton Wolves 21-14 at East Rutherford high school.

Quarterback Aaron Palmer's four-yard run with only eight seconds remaining gave the Cavaliers the dramatic victory, and kept the Wolves from gaining a share of the Midwest 2A conference championship.

In a game that most people thought would be an offensive shootout, the two defenses were in control for the majority of the night. 

Neither team scored until late in the first half when Chaz Jackson's six-yard run put East Rutherford on the board with under five minutes to play.  Patrick Moran added the extra point, and the Cavaliers led 7-0. 

Lincolnton answered right back, however, when Zack Gibson found Kyle Snyder for a 15-yard scoring strike with just over a minute to play before the half.  After the Roy Gomez extra point, the score was tied at seven.

The Wolves seemed to have the momentum as the second half got underway.

Midway through the third period, Lincolnton took a 14-7 lead on quarterback Zack Gibson's three-yard run.

East Rutherford, then, marched deep into the Wolves end of the field on their next possession.  

Facing a fourth down and eight from the Lincolnton 23 yard line, Palmer rolled to his right to avoid the pass rush, and found wide receiver John Sisk all alone in the end zone for the tying score. 

Midway through the fourth quarter, the Wolves began what would be their final drive with great field position at the Cavalier 42 yard line.  But, following a penalty and solid defensive play by East Rutherford, Lincolnton was forced to punt with just over five minutes to play. 

The Gomez kick was downed at the three yard line, and the Wolves were looking at getting the ball back in good field position again.

The Cavaliers had other thoughts.  After a couple first downs, tailback Jo Jo McKinney broke through the middle of the Lincolnton defense and raced 55 yards before being taken down inside the Wolves 25 yard line, setting up the winning touchdown by Palmer.

The East Rutherford drive ate up over five minutes, leaving the Wolves with only eight seconds on the clock.  Dusty Friday made a gallant effort on the ensuing kickoff return, getting into Cavalier territory before being taken down at the forty yard line as time expired.

The game was pretty even statistically, as East Rutherford gained 221 yards to the Wolves 209.  Lincolnton's Darren Wilson led all ball carriers, gaining 84 yards on twenty carries.

With the loss, the Wolves (8-3, 5-2) drop out of a first place tie and share of the conference championship with Shelby and Bandys.  Lincolnton winds up as the Midwest 2A's fourth place team and will enter the 2A playoffs as a number ten seed, traveling to Avery County on Friday night.

East Rutherford (7-4, 5-2) is the conference’s third place team, and will begin the 2A playoffs at home against Ashe County.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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