CHAPEL HILL – Charlotte Catholic took the 3A Championship in come-from-behind fashion, edging a tough-nosed Jacksonville team 17-14 to win the school’s sixth state championship and second straight. What started as an offensive feeling game, turned into the expected defensive battle with Catholic scoring the only second-half points, a touchdown with just under five minutes to play, that put the Cougars in front for good by the final margin.


After a defensive stalemate for the majority of the second half, the Cougars opened up the offense a bit, throwing three passes on the decisive drive. The final blow was struck by Chris Walton when he stepped up and aired it out for Michael Neel on a crossing route. Neal hauled in the throw and cruised into the end zone with 4:55 to play, putting Catholic on top 17-14. Walton finished the game 6-11 for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Charlotte Catholic made a nine-play opening drive that chewed up 4:23 of the first quarter and stalled after 42 yards. George Griggs III hit an important 34-yard field goal to open the scoring and give the Cougars a 3-0 lead. Jacksonville answered right back as quarterback Justyn Benton broke off a 48 yard run on the Cardinals first play from scrimmage. He finished off the drive, scrambling out of the pocket to his left and finding an open Kendrick Blake, Jr. for a 22-yard touchdown toss, putting the Cardinals in front 7-3 with 5:23 to go in the first quarter.

The two teams settled in a bit before Benton was intercepted by Brian Jacobs, who returned the ball to the Jacksonville 49, stunting the mounting momentum and drive by the Cardinals and setting the Cougars up with a short field. Jacobs had several key tackles in addition to his key interception and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Following the interception, Charlotte Catholic quarterback Walton hit Adam Robbe for 42 yards down the sideline, putting the Cougars inside the opponent’s ten-yard line. Two plays later, Lamagea McDowell cashed in from five yards out to give the Cougars a 10-7 lead with 11:12 to go in the second quarter. McDowell finished the game with 76 yards on 17 carries with the touchdown and was named Charlotte Catholic’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

3A MVP Brian Jacobs

Jacksonville responded on the next drive, mounting a 15-play, 74-yard drive that knawed 6:59 off the clock. The Cardinals ran the ball every play of the drive, featuring Benton, Kijeir Finister or Graham Brinker the majority of the plays. With 4:13 to go in the half, it was Brinker that scored from five yards out to give the Cardinals a 14-10 halftime advantage.

Neither team was able to mount much in the second half, as field position flipped in favor of Catholic during the third quarter. The Cougars intercepted a pass and drove down to the two-yard line with five straight running plays before McDowell coughed up the ball as he powered toward the end zone and the Cardinals were able to fall on it.

Benton finished up the day for the Cardinals as the team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player. He was solid on the ground with 105 yards on the day and completed passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Defensively the Jacksonville side was led by Milton Chandler who had 4.5 tackles and an interception on the way to being named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the Cardinals.

Nick King was the leading tackler for Charlotte Catholic with 6.5 tackles in the game and was named the Cougars Most Outstanding Defensive Player. The Cougars claimed the program’s sixth Football State Championship, and second straight.


Story and photos courtesy of the NCHSAA

The 3A state championship game this year is a tale of adversity and how teams handle it. The Jacksonville Cardinals faced so much adversity this season as Hurricane Florence tore through their town and county. Players and coaches were forced to sit idly by as a storm damage ravaged their community and kept them off the gridiron for over a month. While some teams fold when they face adversity, the Cardinals grew stronger and used football as an outlet for their anguish and came together as a team and family. The results have shown this as well as Coach Beau Williams's team is in the title game for the first time in twenty-four years and are looking for their second title ever in school history.

The Jacksonville running game is definitely the heart of the offense and a major team strength. The Cardinals showed off their dedication to running the ball this year and have two separate 1,000-yard rushers in running back Graham Brinker and quarterback Justyn Benton. This solid senior duo has combined for thirty-four touchdowns this year. Due to the inclement weather playing havoc on the season's schedule, the Cardinals have only played twelve games, so this tandem is averaging almost three touchdowns a game between the two of them.

In the playoffs, the Jacksonville Cardinals have been on a tear, scoring 212 points in their four games. Knocking off Havelock in the regional final, coming back from fourteen points down in the fourth quarter, helped the Cardinals find revenge for the only blemish on their 11-1 record. Knocking off their conference rival for the first time since 2007 to secure the regional championship made it even more special for the Cardinal faithful.

For Charlotte Catholic, the adversity was less physical and more mental. Coming off the state title last year, this year's Cougar team knew they would be in the crosshairs all season long. This was no more apparent than the first week of the season, a game Charlotte Catholic dropped, 6-0, to local rival Charlotte Christian. Faced with the choice of complacency or competition, the Cougars responded with one of the strongest season-long defensive showings in recent years. the Charlotte Catholic defense is only giving up 6.4 points per game in their fifteen games so far. Only 3 opponents have even scored double digits this season. Nick King's twelve sacks leads a Charlotte Catholic squad that has put the clamps on in the playoffs, not allowing any opponent to score more than seven points in a game.

Coach Mike Brodowicz, just like legendary Coach Jim Oddo before him, relies on a running game to stymie opponents and control the clock. The Cougars have rushed for 3,600 yards as a team, with junior Lamegea McDowell leading the team with 1,192 yards. Senior Michael Neal has also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark. The Cougars are not a one-trick team, though. Senior Chris Walton has completed nearly 70% of his passes for almost 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

Week Three is filled with great match-ups throughout the state. If you can't make it to one of these great games, be sure to check out your local team.

1. 4A #1 Mallard Creek at JF Byrnes (SC)
2. 1A #1 Wallace-Rose Hill at 1A #3 James Kenan
3. Jacksonville at 2A #9 Northside
4. Northwest Guilford at 3A #10 Northern Guilford
5. Jack Britt at 3A #6 Terry Sanford
6. Charlotte Christian at 3A #4 Weddington
7. 2A #2 Shelby at South Point
8. 3A #2 Havelock at New Hanover
9. Middle Creek at 4A #11 Garner
10. Pisgah at 3A #5 Asheville