KM's Defense hangs tough to beat Anson 56-55

KINGS MOUNTAIN - To a lot of folks it was simply "Black Friday." But after watching perhaps the most exciting high school football game Mountaineers fans had ever seen, Kings Mountain will remember it as "Black and Gold Friday."

The Mountaineers (11-3) certainly proved they weren't satisfied after last week's triple-overtime second-round win, with an equally dramatic 56-55 win over Anson County (10-4) Friday night at John Gamble Stadium.

With the game tied at 49 and playing with a gimpy knee, Kings Mountain quarterback Mike Roberts rolled to his right and threw a strike to his tight end Devon Thompson for a 39-yard touchdown pass to put the Mountaineers ahead 56-49 with just 37 seconds to play.

But, as expected, given the offensive slugfest the whole game was, the Bearcats answered back.

On their first play after the KM kickoff, Anson quarterback Jordan Hildreth hit receiver Stephone Anthony for a 66-yard touchdown pass over the middle.

The Bearcats then decided they wanted no part of an overtime session with the Mountaineers, deciding to line up and go for the conversion and the win.

After a timeout, Anson ran a toss sweep to the left side with halfback Patrick Polk, but Kings Mountain came flying through to cut the legs out from Polk and he slammed to the ground around the one-half yard line.

"It was probably the most exciting game I've ever been involved with, with two teams playing just an absolutely great game," Kings Mountain head coach Greg Lloyd said. "Our guys stepped up and made some big plays when we needed them...They just aren't ready to quit playing yet."

Roberts made play after play for the Mountaineers, who were 4-for-4 on fourth down conversions, as the offense rolled up massive, video game-type numbers.

Neither team had a turnover. Roberts passed for a season-high 295 yards and four touchdowns on 16-for-24 accuracy through the air. He also added 26 carries for 161 yards and two more scores.

Kings Mountain running back Joe Chambers ran for 117 yards and two scores, and Thompson caught six passes for 98 yards and two scores, while Jacoby Giles and Cameron Roseboro also hauled in long scoring passes.

"This is the craziest game I've ever been a part of," said Thompson, the senior tight end. "I've been playing since I was a little kid and I've never been a part of something like that.

"Mike stepped up, so everybody had to step up. It's our senior year and we want to go out with a ring. We want to go to Wake Forest (site of the 3AA state title game)."

The Mountaineers now host A.L. Brown from Kannapolis, coached by former Mountaineers head coach Ron Massey, in the state semifinals, who upset Charlotte Catholic 28-27 Friday.

"It was a new game every time we'd get the ball back," Roberts said. "I knew (our offense) had to step up and make plays, and my receivers did that. They all made plays.

"We just don't want to go home. We want to win (the state title); we're so close."