How Kings Mountain football eluded the upset bug in dominant Round 2 playoff win
KINGS MOUNTAIN — A bulk of games moved to Thursday due to the threat posed by Hurricane Nicole, Greg Lloyd could spare 24 hours ahead of his team’s second round clash with Smoky Mountain.
What the longtime Kings Mountain football coach received was a sobering reminder of how the postseason unfolds.
“You’re talking about some powerful football teams, and for South Point to go to (defending state champion) Dudley and play as well as they did is a reminder anything can happen in the playoffs,” he said. “All you have is that night. You earn the right to play another.”
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With Thursday night’s results fresh on their mind, the Mountaineers made sure they weren't the next domino to fall, advancing to the 3A West quarterfinal round Friday with a 42-0 victory over Smoky Mountain.
Quarterback Lamont Littlejohn threw three touchdown passes, two of them to running back Caleb Holland and another to wideout Ja’Qualyn Sanders. Holland, along with Teddy Jeffries and A.J. Richardson, rushed for TDs in the rout.
“It really was a team win for us, all three phases,” Lloyd said. “Running backs ran hard, we blocked hard. Had some penalties we overcame from playing hard and aggressive, but I’m truly pleased with our group.”
As it has done much of the season, top-seeded Kings Mountain (12-0) got off to a fast start courtesy of a blocked punt by Richardson. A few plays later, Holland’s 17-yard touchdown run put the Mountaineers in front.
However, Kings Mountain wouldn’t score again in the first quarter, Lloyd claiming it was one part the result of an odd week, the other a credit to the play of No. 17 seed Smoky Mountain (7-5).
“It was a weird week, and then having rain to start the game made it even more so. But Smoky Mountain also came to play,” he said. “You have to give them credit; after that touchdown they stopped us a time or two.”
Twice Smoky Mountain drove deep into Kings Mountain territory. Both drives ended in interceptions, one by Jake Lloyd and the other courtesy of Zay Smith. Smith had another theft later in the game.
Dynamic Smoky Mountain quarterback Jed West rarely was allowed to display his athleticism, kept in the pocket by a ferocious pass rush. Richardson was part of a Mountaineer defense that accounted for seven sacks in the game.
Kings Mountain now shifts its focus to West Charlotte, which blew out Hibriten, 56-7 in its second-round matchup. The teams met in the 2021 3A state playoffs, the Mountaineers claiming a 27-17 victory.
“West Charlotte is a very good football team. They’ll come ready to play and perhaps with an added chip on their shoulder,” Lloyd said. “They have excellent players, are well-coached and I’m sure they’ll be hungry. It should be a great ball game.”
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: NCHSAA football playoffs: King Mountain cruises past Smoky Mountain
