Published Nov. 1, 2008
The Charlotte Observer
By Herb White
Special Correspondent
The perennial CISAA kings are still on top.
Charlotte Latin scored 23 unanswered points Friday to secure the league title again in a 30-10 win against rival Charlotte Country Day.
The Hawks (8-2, 2-1) fell behind early, but roared to life behind quarterback David Pearson and a defense that held Country Day (8-2, 2-1) to 159 yards total offense.
“This is our time,” said Pearson, who passed for three touchdowns and ran for another. “We had no problem getting that momentum started.”
Latin broke the game open in the third quarter with a succession of big plays. Special teams grabbed the momentum when Carter Barnhardt's kick return to the Country Day 37 opened the half to set up Pearson's 1-yard scoring run for a 16-3 lead. Pearson and receiver Paul Paschal hooked up on the next possession for an 81-yard gain that led to a 2-yard scoring strike to Taylor Sipperly for a 20-point bulge.
“We split the safety” on the long gainer, said Pearson, who completed 10 of 14 passes for 182 yards and three scores. “I was looking for Ross (Cockrell) and Paul was wide open in the middle.”
Latin wasn't about to let the lead get away. Country Day pulled to within 13 on Michael Watterson's 5-yard run with 3:55 left in the third, and Aaron Arant's fumble recovery at Latin's 38 with seven minutes left put Country Day in position to shave the deficit further.
Defensive end Archie McIntosh squelched the Bucs' hopes with his first career intercepted at the 46.
“That was just a small part of it, to be honest with you,” he said. “We played great together, and it was a real team win.”
Said Pearson: “We pulled away and our defense kept that lead. The defense was playing great. We were playing great. It was easy.”
McIntosh and his defensive mates were all over the field, limiting Country Day's options with a fierce pass rush that produced a pair of sacks and three batted passes at the line of scrimmage. Bo Ernsberger and Paschal led Latin with seven tackles each.
“We just wanted to raise (a fuss) on Halloween,” McIntosh said. “We did the best we could, and we were there, we were screaming and talking to each other, and that's what makes a great defense.”
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