Here's how Crest football rallied past West Charlotte to keep NCHSAA 3A title hopes alive
BOILING SPRINGS — Jim Sosebee has a knack for finding a silver lining, even under the most dire of circumstances.
Such faith was put to the test Friday, Sosebee’s undefeated Crest football team down 22-6 to a hard-hitting West Charlotte squad. Yet when their feet were put to the fire, Sosebee and the Chargers didn’t flinch.
Down two scores, Crest (13-0) rallied to defeat West Charlotte 30-29 in overtime to advance to the 3A West semifinal round. The Chargers will host No. 4 Dudley, which won 50-28 over Jay M. Robinson.
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After West Charlotte running back Scottie Cooper scored a touchdown to give the Lions a 29-22 advantage, Crest quarterback Ny’Tavious Huskey found UNC recruit Javarius Green for a 10-yard TD pass. Opting against kicking the extra point, Huskey found Adams for the two-point conversion, lifting the Chargers to victory.
“Never count out the Crest Chargers,” Sosebee said. “I told our guys it’s just two plays, it’s two plays (to get even). We stayed the course, didn’t change anything; we just did what we did.”
West Charlotte (10-3) led at halftime thanks to a 53-yard pass from quarterback K.D. Smith to wideout Davion Jones. It started the second half by returning the opening kickoff to Crest’s 16-yard line. Three plays later, running back Scottie Cooper added to the Lions’ lead with an 11-yard touchdown scamper.
Later in the quarter, Smith skirted through the Crest defense for a 15-yard TD run to give West Charlotte a 22-6 lead.
Early in the fourth, the switch turned on for Crest as Huskey found wideout A.J. Adams for a 56-yard touchdown pass. Huskey then ran it in for the two-point conversion, cutting the West Charlotte lead to 22-14.
After the Charger defense earned a stop, Crest traveled 48 yards in nine plays punctuated by a 16-yard catch and run by Aiden Carson for a TD. The Chargers tied it up on the next play, Huskey finding Adams for the two-point conversion, knotting things up at 22-all.
West Charlotte had an opportunity in the final minute to win the game, but its 30-yard field goal was blocked.
Such set the stage for a miraculous finish, with Green stretching the ball over the goal line, allowing Crest to escape.
“The linemen wanted to run the ball, but we can go play action where I have the option to run or throw,” Huskey said. “(Green) always, I love that guy.”
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA football: Crest rallies past West Charlotte in 3A playoffs
