Golden Knights Earn Thrilling Semi-Pro Football Win over Burlington

After a rough start to the season two weeks earlier, the Carolina Golden Knights returned to the football field at Historic Cranberry High School and put on a great show. Carolina gave up a pair of scores in the second half, but roared back with a tough defense and efficient offense, as the Golden Knights captured a 14-12 win Saturday night against first-year club Burlington.

Both teams had measures of success moving the football, but each team’s blitzing defense wreaked enough havoc to keep either team from putting any points on the scoreboard. At halftime the game remained scoreless.

Burlington got on the scoreboard first midway through the third quarter on a 35 yard touchdown pass for a 6-0 lead. Burlington added a second touchdown on a ten-yard touchdown run in the waning moments of the third quarter to lead 12-0.

Burlington attempted an onside kick after its second score, but it was recovered by Carolina’s Mike Ward in good field position. The Knights took advantage with its first scoring drive of the game. Using a pounding ground game, the Knights pushed the ball inside the five-yard line. On fourth down, Knights quarterback and former Avery Viking Samson Jennings ran play-action and found former Watauga standout Mitchell Harris in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown pass. The point after try from Danny Ball was successful to shrink the Burlington advantage to 12-7.

Early into Burlington’s next possession, Golden Knights defensive back Mister Cooper leapt in the air to haul in his second interception of the game to give Carolina’s offense the football back. Carolina capitalized quickly as another former Avery Viking, running back Chase Arrowood, took the football to the right, reversed field to his left, and in shades of a memorable prep touchdown he scored his senior season, moved the pile and broke several tackles to race 45 yards to pay dirt.for the go-ahead score. Ball’s PAT was good, giving Carolina a 14-12 lead with around seven minutes left in the game.

It was up to the Golden Knights defense to make the lead stand up. The Knights appeared to hold on fourth down in Burlington’s ensuing possession, but a personal foul penalty kept the Burlington drive alive. Undaunted, the Golden Knights held firm, forcing and recovering a fumble in the final two minutes. Carolina then ran out the remainder of the clock to seal the narrow win.

Carolina Golden Knights head coach Mark Beach was excited about his team’s performance following the win. “The team’s emotions were high. We were excited to be able to score, much less think that we could win, considering how we’ve struggled the past year just to score points in a game. It was just enormous,” Coach Beach said.

The Golden Knights are infused with talent not only from the Asheville area and locations across Western North Carolina, but a majority of players hail locally from High Country, many having played high school football for the Avery Vikings or neighboring schools.

“I hope having the local players will inspire other local players who want to play to come out and see what we’re doing,” Beach added. “I know folks have busy lives with lots of things, but I’d love to see more guys come out to play and just give the game a shot.”

This Saturday the Golden Knights will host the Catawba Hornets, a veteran team that defeated the Knights handily last season. This year Carolina hopes to reverse the result from the 2009 meeting.

“Catawba is a really good team. If we can beat those guys, we’ll be ready to play football in whatever league they’d want to put us in!” Beach stated.

The Golden Knights have received support from a number of local individuals and businesses in order to be able to take the field for their second season of semi-pro football.

“I really want to thank the people who are coming out to watch us and those who have been supporting us, as well as the players. Without the players we wouldn’t have the games,” Beach said. “I appreciate the people who have helped out doing things from concessions to the gate to even officiating. Having local officials come and help us for a cheaper cost helps us put more investment back into the team. Our ultimate goal is to be able to save enough money where we’re able to help some person or some family in this area who is in need. Winning has been a slow process that I thought might take three or four years, but if we’re able to keep infusing young talent on the field to practice and work together we’ll keep improving.”

The Knights will host the Hornets at the Historic Cranberry High School football field this Saturday evening at 7 p.m.