North Carolina Football Association (NCFA)

With a win this week Gastonia could have eliminated most of their competition for the final playoff spot.  But instead they ran into a Wilson Tobs team that is high on talent, but short on wins who are fighting desperately to still make the playoffs.  The first bad game Darrell Sparks has had this season going 23/51 for 201yds with 2Ints.  His main weapon WR Olav Flores was held to just 1 reception for 8yds.  It was a big step up for the Tobs defense who had been struggling against the pass and who Sparks felt like could be picked apart.  With the passing game struggling they tried to go to HB Konrad Wahler but his success was even more limited with only 11yds on 14 carries.  But despite all the offensive woes the defense kept the Pirates in the game lead by LB Chris Moxie with 3 tackles and 3 sacks.  They were able to keep good pressure on QB Derrick Smith and contain HB Ken Haslip for almost the entire game giving up the game winning touchdown drive with under a minute left in the game.  Gastonia still holds control of the wild card spot since they beat Greensboro in week 5, but it's now much closer than they wanted.  They have to travel to Winston-Salem next week where they will face a Twins team that is playing much tougher at home the second half of the season pitching shutouts in their last two home games.

 

Wilson sat in a must win situation if they had any playoff hopes left, and they were facing one of the best passing teams in the league this season with one of the worst passing defenses in the league.  But the defense came through and put up the game of their season giving the offense enough chances that they were finally able to take advantage of with under a minute left in the game when HB Ken Haslip slipped outside for a 21yd TD.  The young gun QB Derrick Smith struggled again for Wilson going 11/18 for only 80yds, but he didn't make any mistakes and did make plays when needed.  But the real story for Wilson was their defense lead by DE Rafferty Tebbs who had 2 tackles 2 sacks and 2 knockdowns.  Wilson was able to keep constant pressure on QB Darrell Sparks and disrupt his game.  Now Wilson has to go to Raleigh and beat their old head coach and old starting QB if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.