Sports - November 2003

Lincolnton and Cummings have history

Published November 12, 2003

By DAVID KEEVER, Correspondent

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When the Lincolnton Wolves travel to Burlington Friday night, they will take on one of the premiere high school football programs in the state.

Since 1988, Cummings High School has appeared in seven state championship games. The Cavaliers won four of those contests, including three in class 3A.

Beginning in 1988, Cummings appeared in four of five 3A title games, winning three. The Cavaliers defeated Shelby 41-14 in '88, Statesville 32-26 in '90 and North Rowan 25-14 in '92.  They lost the 3A championship game in '89 to A.L. Brown by a score of 24-0. 

In 1993 the Cavaliers’ enrollment figures dropped their classification to 2A.  After becoming a mini-dynasty in the 3A class for the previous five years, they looked like a lock to dominate at the 2A level as well.  Cummings defeated T.W. Andrews 20-14 in the eastern regional final to advance to the championship game in Chapel Hill.

The Cavaliers were then to take on a little known opponent from Lincolnton that was making its first ever championship appearance. The Wolves had beaten some pretty good competition in the western regional playoffs to advance.  Wins over Black Mountain Owen, Starmount, Mooresville and Maiden sent Lincolnton to Chapel Hill not knowing exactly what to expect. The Wolves trailed 20-14 at the half, before scoring twenty-seven unanswered points to defeat Cummings 41-20.

The Cavaliers failed to reach the title game for the next six years, including four seasons at the 1A level. The closest Cummings came to reaching the finals in that stretch was a 24-20 loss to Graham in the 1A western regional final in 2000.

In 2001 the Cavaliers hosted the Wolves in the 2A western regional final.  After averaging nearly 50 points a game for the entire season, Cummings could manage only two touchdowns against a resilient Lincolnton defense. After being held scoreless for most of the second half, the Cavaliers kicked a last second field goal to advance to Chapel Hill with a 17-14 victory. Cummings lost the following week to Clinton.

 In 2002, the Cavaliers returned to the championship scene. After forfeiting their first six games due to an illegal player, Cummings entered the playoffs with a 4-7 overall record. The Cavaliers rolled through the playoffs, defeating South Robeson 47-8 in the western regional final.  One week later at Wake Forest, Cummings had a dramatic 24-21 come from behind victory over Clinton for their fourth state championship.

The Cavaliers are undefeated this season and are averaging 44 points a game. Their toughest tests were a season opening 34-28 win over Thomasville, and a 42-28 win over North State 2A conference runner-up Reidsville.

So, when the Wolves travel two and a half hours to Burlington Friday, they will again have a chance to knock off one of the elite programs in the state. Yes, they will go in as the underdog, just as they did in 1993 and 2001.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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