Independence Patriots Miss Chance at Number Eight »
On Saturday night in Wake Forest, the Independence Patriots, fresh off one of their closest games in recent memory, a 10-8 victory over West Charlotte last week, fell victim to New Bern, 28-17. The season that started with head coach Tom Knotts wearing a shirt with a large number 8 on it ended in much the same way (though he hid the shirt under another).
When the Patriots lost to Cincinnati Elder early on to bring an end to their 109-game winning streak, you knew that something was different. It just wasn't the same. When they lost to Butler late in the season, the winds of change were blowing. But the team still had a chance to keep one dream alive - the shot at a record eight straight state titles. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
