NC High School Football: Hopewell stops Berry, off to its best start in 13 years
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Hopewell High’s varsity football team hasn’t had many big wins the past few seasons — or many wins at all.
But the Titans came through with both Friday night, grinding out a 20-12 victory over previously-unbeaten Berry Academy.
Edward Johnson threw for 201 yards, and K.C. Cunningham and Marvin Reed Jr. combined for three rushing touchdowns for Hopewell (2-1), which is now off to its best three-game start since 2009.
“I’ll be honest, I’m kinda glad it got tough down there at the end, so we would figure out the plays we needed to make,” Titans head coach Brandon Gentry said. “On that last drive, we were able to run the ball down the field and make the plays we needed to make.
“Our kids needed this, it was a confidence builder. We’ve found ways not to make those plays, but the kids came through tonight.”
Cunningham, one of the Titans’ seniors, ran for a game-high 80 yards on 17 carries, including two touchdowns — a 13-yarder late in the second quarter for the game’s first score, and a 1-yard plunge late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Reed, a sophomore, added 60 rushing yards and a four-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that, along with Johnson’s two-point conversion pass to Derrick Eley, put Hopewell in the lead to stay.
“We’ve got to be able to rush the football when games get tight,” Gentry said. “We can’t sit back and wait for Derrick Eley to make a big play. We’ve got to be able to get first downs rushing the ball. Those guys kinda grew up tonight.”
Still, the Cardinal (2-1) had its chances to score, even though Hopewell held them to a season-low in scoring.
After blowing several chances, Berry managed to tie the game at 6-6 before the half on Savion Kinard’s five-yard touchdown run, and quarterback Tanner Busbee’s one-yard keeper in the third quarter pulled the Cardinal within 14-12 with a chance to tie things again. But the two-point run failed.
“Tonight, we should’ve taken avantage of all the opportunities we had,” Berry head coach Chris Redding said. “We shot ourselves in the foot a few times. Offensively, it’s all about rhythm. They kept us out of rhythm a lot of the game. They did a great job of making up play left handed, so to speak.”
Three who made a difference
K.C. Cunningham, Hopewell: The 6-foot-1 senior gave the Titans a strong inside running game, but also had the speed to pop outside and still gain yards.
Edward Johnson, Hopewell: The Titans’ senior quarterback completed 13 of 21 attempts, most of those going to Eley (five catches for 126 yards).
Savion Kinard, Berry Academy: The 6-1 senior back had a team-best 60 rushing yards and the one touchdown.
Worth mentioning
▪ The last time Berry got off to a 3-0 start came in 2010, when they opened the season with nine consecutive victories en route to a school-record 11-3 finish and advancing to the third round of the NCHSAA 2AA playoffs.
▪ Eley nearly had a touchdown catch to cap off the first half for Hopewell, diving to pull in a 50-yarder from Johnson. But he hit the ground two yards shy of the end zone.
What’s next?
Berry plays its final non-conference game on the road Sept. 8, against Rocky River in Mint Hill. Meanwhile, Hopewell gets a week off before opening its Queen City 3A/4A Conference schedule on Thursday, Sept. 14, at Harding University.
SCORING SUMMARY
BERRY ACADEMY 0 6 6 0 – 12
HOPEWELL 0 6 14 0 – 20
H—K.C. Cunningham 13 run (kick blocked).
B—Savion Kinard 5 run (kick wide right).
H—Marvin Reed Jr. 4 run (Edward Johnson pass to Derrick Ealy)
B—Tanner Busbee 1 run (run failed).
H—Cunningham 1 run (run failed).
