Don't Back Down

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.

Since defeating the Lions last week, things have gone from bad to worse for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, the largest in the state. Already beset by problems that forced the removal of four players on other teams and another school forfeiting the entire season, West Charlotte suspended two coaches and the athletics director after it was found that an ineligible player had used an address belonging to the director's in-laws. The Lions may have to forfeit the entire season.

The investigation touched the Patriots, too, and it ended up costing them seven players - two on varsity and five on the junior squad. But ultimately, it was injuries to start running back Rod Chisholm, who is known to rush for 300 yards or more, and defensive standout Lawrence Williams, that cost the Big I. With the two Shrine Bowl players seeing only limited time, the vaunted machine could muster only limited offense, and more importantly, they could not stop the New Bern team when on defense. Penalties hurt too. It's like the 2007 Carolina Panthers were on the field.

After getting out to a quick 14-0 lead, New Bern fought back to a 14-13 score at halftime, and it was never really that close. Independence quarterback Anthony Carrothers tried in vain to catch his receivers in the end zone, but time after time his passes were knocked away - or worse, intercepted. One was returned for a touchdown. Carrothers was also called for penalties himself, which cost the team.

Meanwhile, the Patriots defense that held Butler's high-flying offense to well under 200 yards in a playoff game recently could not contain New Bern. The two teams had played three times before, and Independence had won by an average of 29 points each time. But this, as we have seen, is not the same Patriots team.