Through the Uprights

South Point and Kannapolis Brown are warming up on the field as fans continue to stream into Memorial Stadium, where two tradition-rich schools will meet in the third round of the 3AA state playoffs.

Both teams enter with 11-2 records and have been here before. Just last year, South Point advanced to the fourth round of the 3A playoffs while Kannapolis Brown lost in the 3AA state title game.

Check back at 7:30 as I bring you the action by the drive.

7:08 update
There’s surprisingly still room on the South Point side, but not much. The Kannapolis side isn’t close to full. I guess their fans are tailgating or trying to stay warm as long as possible.

We have learned that Kannapolis Brown running back Travis Riley will not play tonight. The 6-foot, 205-pound junior suffered a concussion in last week’s game and will not dress out, according to sources. Riley has rushed for 1,754 yards and 30 TDs this season.

7:25 update
South Point has made its grand entrance and the captains are about to take midfield for the coin flip.

South Point won the coin flip and elected to defer its decision to the second half. Kannapolis will receive the opening kickoff.

This place has become more lively in the past couple of minutes. A few houses line a fence behind the visitor’s side. In one of the backyards, I spotted someone warming his hands at a fire. I guess he’s watching the game for free from his yard. Another yard as a neon flashing K accompanied by some sort of sparklers.

FIRST QUARTER
Kannapolis Brown was called for false start on first down from its own 23 and then fumbled on the next play and South Point recovered at the Kannapolis 17.

One play was all South Point needed. Justice ran a QB keeper up the middle and worked himself out of one tackle for a 17-yard TD. Joey Mitchell’s extra point was partially blocked but still managed to split the uprights. South Point 7, Kannapolis Brown 0, 11:43 first quarter.

Kannapolis Brown picked up one first down a 12-yard completion from Campbell to Tyler Gilmore but eventually had to punt on fourth and 1. Truesdale fair caught the punt at the 20, 7:50 first quarter.

South Point has reached midfield, where it has first down at the SP 48.

SP went for it on fourth and a short 2 from the Kannapolis 44 but Crumbley gained just one yard. Kannapolis takes over at its own 43, still trailing 7-0, 3:42 first.

Kannapolis drove to the SP 41 before punting on fourth and 5. The Wonders downed the punt at the SP 15, where the Red Raiders will take over with 20.9 seconds left in the first quarter.

Crumbley picked up one yard on first down and that was the last play of the quarter.

End of first: South Point 7, Kannapolis Brown 0

SP managed just seven yards on that drive (1-yard run by Crumbley, 5-yard run by Justice, 1-yard run by Justice) and had to punt it away. Kann takes over at its own 40, 10:26 second quarter.

Kannapolis put together its best drive of the game, scoring on a 10-play, 60-yard drive. Xavier Stanback caught an 18-yard pass from Campbell in the end zone and the extra point was good. South Point 7, Kannapolis Brown 7, 6:21 second quarter.

A 13-yard pass from Justice to McWhirter, a 15-yard facemask penalty on Kannapolis and a 17-yard pass from Justice to Merrill highlights the current South Point drive. The Red Raiders have the ball at the Kannapolis 21 with about 2 1/2 minutes remaining.

South Point put it in when McWhirter took a pitch left and found the end zone on a 9-yard run. South Point 14, Kannapolis Brown 7, 39.2 second quarter.

Kannapolis has reached the SP 44 with 5.1 seconds until halftime after an 8-yard pass from Campbell to Gilmore. Timeout Kannapolis.

Devon Mathis sacked Campbell on the last play, preserving South Point’s lead at halftime.

Halftime: South Point 14, Kannapolis Brown 7

HALFTIME STATS

South Point
First downs: 8
Rushes-yards: 23-90
Passing yards: 35
Comp-Att-Int: 3-4-0
Fumbles-lost: 0-0
Penalties-yards: 0-0

Individual leaders:
Justice 10-44 rushing, 1 TD
Crumbley 9-24 rushing
McWhirter 2-11 rushing, 1 TD
Costner 2-11 rushing
McWhirter 2-18 receiving
Merrill 1-17 receiving

Kannapolis Brown
First downs: 7
Rushes-yards: 20-64
Passing yards: 46
Comp-Att-Int: 5-7-0
Fumbles-lost: 1-1
Penalties-yards: 3-35

Individual leaders:
Stanback 5-38 rushing; 2-21 receiving, 1 TD
Jordan 9-21 rushing
Gilmore 2-20 receiving

THIRD QUARTER
Justice was intercepted by a diving Kaleel Hollis on the third play of the second half. That evens up the turnover count to one apiece. Kannapolis takes over at the SP 42, 10:39 left in third.

Stanback ripped off an 18-yard run and Kannapolis has reached the SP 7.

Patrick Horne burst through the line for a 7-yard sack on third down. Brown lined up for a 29-yard field goal attempt, but missed to the left. SP takes over at the 20, still leading 14-7, 7:14 third.

South Point is in scoring position again after a 50-yard run by McWhirter on a pitch left. Kannapolis ran him down but SP has the ball at the Kannapolis 6.

South Point touchdown. After an offside penalty on Kannapolis gave SP the ball at the 1, Crumbley took it in from there on a run up the middle. That TD ties Crumbley for the Gaston County career touchdown record at 84. The extra point was good. South Point 21, Kannapolis Brown 7, 4:51 third.

Three and out for Kannapolis after a sack by Roy Turner on third down. Truesdale returned the punt 34 yards to the Kannapolis 36. 2:51 left in the third, SP still leading 21-7.

South Point drove to the Kannapolis 9, but the defense has held. South Point will line up for a field goal.

Mitchell split the uprights from 27 yards out, giving South Point a 24-7 lead with 15.7 seconds left in the third.

A long kickoff return gave Kannapolis possession at the South Point 45. Kannapolis ran one play — a pass for minus-2 yards — before the sound of third-quarter buzzer.

END OF THIRD: SOUTH POINT 24, KANNAPOLIS BROWN 7
South Point’s fourth sack of the game — this one by Maurice Falls — resulted in a 10-yard loss on third down and Kannapolis had to punt from its own 45. Truesdale fair caught the punt at the SP 22, 10:31 remaining.

Quick three and out for South Point. Fair catch at the 50, 8:33 remaining, SP still leading 24-7.

Kannapolis is sniffing the end zone after a 36-yard pass reception by tight end Spencer Falls. Kannapolis ball at the SP 14.

SP defense held. On fourth and 9 from the 13, Campbell’s pass went incomplete in the end zone. South Point takes over at its own 13 with 6:45 remaining.

Another three and out for South Point. Kannapolis takes over at its own 47 with 4:48 remaining, trailing 24-7.

Kannapolis has reached the South Point 28 but faces fourth down and 6.

Campbell threw incomplete on fourth down and South Point takes over on its own 28. This one’s just about over, with South Point leading 24-7 with 3:58 remaining.

We’re under a minute and South Point is simply draining the clock.

That’ll do it. South Point took a delay of game penalty on fourth down, then took a knee and Kannapolis didn’t even attempt a play with 17.7 seconds remaining.

FINAL SCORE: South Point 24, Kannapolis Brown 7

South Point advanceas to the state semifinals for the second straight year. They’ll face No. 1 seed Northern Guilford or No. 12 seed Anson County next Friday. South Point would be at home against Anson County or on the road at Northern Guilford.

Thanks for following the blog. Check out the recap later tonight on gastongazette.com and VarsityNC.com.

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