Time to take a Gamble

From the 2003 Hickory-KM game

It's finally time to get it on down in Kings Mountain as the #15-seed Red Tornadoes challenge the #2-seed Mountaineers. Hickory has had considerable success on the field at John Gamble Stadium. In 2001 Hickory defeated the Mountaineers 9-7 in the first meeting of the two teams since their epic struggle in the semifinals of the 1964 WNCHSAA playoffs. Two years later Hickory returned to Gamble and whipped the Mountaineers, 38-14.

Two years later Hickory and Kings Mountain were no longer conference rivals but Hickory still found a way to win at Gamble. That time it was against Crest in the Cleveland County Jamboree. Hickory's wild victory over the Chargers in the Jamboree remains the only time Hickory has beaten Crest, unofficially or otherwise, in football.

Tonight's game will feature two battles: Mountaineer quarterback Michael Roberts versus Hickory's defense and Hickory's offensive line versus Mountaineer monster nose tackle, Thomas James. How the Red Tornadoes perform against Roberts and James will go a long way towards deciding the winner in this contest. That's a simplification, of course, but an appropriate one.

First, some basic statistics.

Roberts is the only 1,000-yard passer and runner that Hickory has faced this season. He is KM's leading rusher (1,111 yards) as well as its top passer (1,016 yards). By comparison, Hickory's top rusher, Rakim Barrett, has compiled 1,126 yards.

Roberts touches the ball on every offensive play and when he does he will do one of three things: hand it off, keep it and run or throw a pass. The mere fact that he is a three-dimensional threat places a great deal of pressure on a defense.

Completely stopping Roberts may be out of the question. The defense will need to do the best it can to contain him as much as possible. Plus there is the other top rusher for Kings Mountain, tailback Joe Chambers. Joe the Tailback has 1,097 yards for the season. It's always scary to think about one 1,000-yard rusher handing off to another 1,000-yard rusher. Carlos Young, a junior, is another quality back who doesn't have the stats but definitely has the talent.

When Roberts takes to the air he can rely on the sure hands of wide receiver Terrance Young (30 receptions for 679 yards and 7 TDs) and big tight end Devon Thompson (6'4, 220). The running backs, Chambers and Young, will also be used as receivers from time to time.

Probably the best defense Hickory can employ would be to control the ball on offense and limit his opportunities. So the keys to victory for Hickory would be to eliminate the kinds of mistakes (turnovers and/or penalties) that make it easy for the Mountaineers. Obviously KM doesn't need any help like that! Hickory has to make everything as difficult as possible for Mountaineers.

Also, Hickory needs to play the game in Kings Mountain territory. That means getting good special teams play (good punts that put the ball back on KM's side of the 50... good kickoff and punt returns that, again, put the ball in KM's side of the field... sustained drives that either result in points or at least leave the ball in Mountaineer territory. The farther KM has to go the greater the likelihood a mistake will be made. If the game is played mostly in Hickory territory then it will be too tough to keep the Mountaineers out of the end zone.

Two things that have helped Hickory on offense in recent games have been the continued use of Trevin Parks at quarterback and the elevation of sophomore tailback T.J. Wimbush and freshman fullback Casey Stinson to starting positions on the varsity. I think the Red Tornadoes can be successful on offense but they need to win the time of possession battle, have sustained drives and not miss any opportunities to put points on the board. Because of the presence of Thomas James we may see Hickory in the shotgun a lot tonight...