FOOTBALL

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Shelby seeks 17th state title in Raleigh

Richard Walker
rwalker@gastongazette.com
Shelby quarterback Isaiah Bess prepares to throw a pass during the Golden Lions' 35-7 third round home playoff win over North Lincoln. [Brittany Randolph/The Star]

SHELBY — For the 14th time in the past 20 years and 41st time in history, Cleveland County will be represented in a high school football state championship game.

The county's all-time leader in appearances, Shelby, is back in the finals for the 27th time on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when the Golden Lions meet North Davidson at N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium.

Shelby will be seeking its 17th state championship in school history.

"We're playing good football right now," said Golden Lions coach Lance Ware, whose team is in the finals for the fifth time in six years. "We're working and planning to play another good football game."

Shelby (12-3) enters on an 11-game winning streak after starting the season with a 1-3 record.

The Golden Lions have been led by a pass-happy offense and an opportunistic defense.

Junior quarterback Isaiah Bess has 3,821 yards passing with 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, with juniors Diovanni Daley (48 catches for 930 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Jahari Mitchell (59 catches for 794 yards, nine touchdowns) his top targets.

The defense is led by junior linebacker Nick Stites (137 tackles), sophomore linebacker Jack Lineberger (126 tackles), senior linebacker Jaylon Scott (92 tackles), senior defensive back Dorian Davis (36 tackles, five interceptions) and junior defensive back Dashun Christopher (92 tackles, six interceptions).

A key to Shelby's turnaround has been turnover margin.

The Golden Lions had committed 10 turnovers and forced two turnovers in the first four games and have committed 11 turnovers during the 11-game winning streak while forcing 28 turnovers.

Shelby faces a team with similar offensive numbers as North Davidson averages 205.8 yards passing and 157.5 yards rushing per game.

Junior quarterback Landon Moore has passed for 2,778 yards and 37 touchdowns with eight interceptions for the Black Knights (13-2), who avenged one of their regular season losses last week by winning at Thomasville Ledford in the Eastern N.C. 2AA championship game.

North Davidson's defense is led by senior defensive back Evan Vanmeter (123 tackles), senior linebacker Maddox Johnson (117 tackles) and senior defensive lineman Blake Stephens (96 tackles with 15 sacks).

The schools are meeting for the second time in history with both coming in state championship games.

In 1975, when the schools were members of the old Western N.C. Activities Association, they were declared co-champions after playing to a 21-all tie.

Shelby first made a state title game in 1924 when it finished as runner-up to Rockingham in a N.C. High School Athletic Association open title game.

From 1933 to 1976, when the Golden Lions were a member of the Western N.C. Activities Association, Shelby won six state titles and finished as runner-up three times.

Since re-joining the NCHSAA in 1977, the Golden Lions have added 10 more state championships and finished as state runner-up four times.

Four other Cleveland County high schools have advanced to state championship games — Crest (6-3 record), Kings Mountain (1-1), Burns (1-0) and old Cleveland School (2-0).

Richard Walker: 704-869-1843; twitter.com/jrwalk22

2018 N.C. football championship schedule

(At Duke)

4AA - Wake Forest (13-0) vs. Charlotte Vance (14-1), Friday at 7:30 p.m.

1A - Pamlico County (13-1) vs. Murphy (12-1), Saturday at 3 p.m.

4A - Scotland County (9-5) vs. East Forsyth (14-0), Saturday at 7 p.m.

(At North Carolina)

3AA - Southeast Guilford (14-1) vs. Weddington (14-1), Friday at 7:30 p.m.

3A - Jacksonville (11-1) vs. Charlotte Catholic (14-1), Saturday at 11 a.m.

(At N.C. State)

2A - Elizabeth City Northeastern (14-0) vs. Reidsville (14-0), Saturday at 11 a.m.

2AA - North Davidson (13-2) vs. Shelby (12-3), Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

1AA - Tarboro (14-0) vs. East Surry (11-3), Saturday at 6 p.m.