Before a crowd of fans filling the bank and bleachers surrounding the Historic Cranberry High School, the Carolina Golden Knights took the field for the first time in its North South American Football League (NSAFL) season and home opener against the Burke Storm.The game was competitive throughout the first half as the Knights put forth a great performance on the defensive side of the football, but a strong second half propelled the Storm to a 41-0 victory.
Much of the first quarter was a defensive struggle. The Knights forced a turnover on Burke’s opening drive as linebacker and former Mountain Heritage Cougar Kyle Burris dropped back into coverage and intercepted a pass for the team’s first takeaway. The team also recovered a Burke fumble later in the half.
Carolina was its own worst enemy in the first half which contributed to over half of Burke’s points for the first two quarters. A fumble near the Knights’ own goal line was recovered by the Storm in the end zone for the first points of the contest. The PAT gave Burke the 7-0 advantage through one quarter.
The score remained unchanged until midway through the second quarter. On the first play following a Knights turnover, a tall Burke receiver out-leaped a Knight defensive back in a “jump ball” at the end zone to come down with the football and a touchdown.The Knights blocked the extra point to keep the lead at 13-0, a score which remained unchanged through the rest of the half.
In the second half the Knights, who fielded a team of just over 20 players, appeared to slightly wear down with the combination of the warm weather and the deep Storm rotation of players. Carolina continued to play hard on every down, however, much to the delight of the home crowd who were solidly behind the Knights club.
Burke scored on its first two possessions of the second half, then chewed up ground with its running game in the second half, while the defensive line was able to put pressure on both Knights starting quarterback Stephen Whittington and backup Ryan Whelan.
In spite of the game’s final score, the team was thrilled to see its dream of fielding a semi-pro squad in the High Country become a reality and to see the support from the community.
“I thank Cranberry for the ability to use the field, and there were a lot of people here today to sit on the bank and tailgate. It was great seeing fans here a couple of hours before the game,” Knights head coach Mark Beach said in the post-game interview.
“We had some issues on the line and our quarterbacks took some hits. We had several schools help us with equipment, like Avery High and Hampton High School, and Mars Hill College sold
some of their used equipment to us to help out. The players really enjoyed it out here today.”“They said it couldn’t be done, and we did it,” Knights quarterback and team founder Stephen Whittington said after the contest. “We knew it would be tough because we’re a little short on players, and we’re still accepting players who want to be part of the team. My teammates played great today, and I’m proud to play alongside of them.”
Over 300 tickets were sold for the game, with the game’s proceeds going to the Cranberrian Corporation. Gate receipts from each home game this season will go to a different charity.
The Knights travel to Kernersville on Saturday evening for a road contest against the 2-0 Carolina Renegades. Anyone interested in joining the Carolina Golden Knights as a player, or for more information on the team can contact head coach Mark Beach at 733-2397 or 828-217-3231.
