North Carolina Football Association (NCFA)

After a horrible start Erik Waters (17/29 333yds 3TDs 4Ints) did all he could down the stretch to give the Tourists a chance at winning.  There were 3 touchdowns scored in the last 1:30 of the game, two from the arm of Waters.  But in the end it would all fall on the foot of kicker Trevor Home who would have to watch his 46yd effort sail wide and leave a final score of Gastonia 27, Asheville 24.  Richmond Dumas had a huge game with 158yds and 2TDs on 5 receptions.  Waters also got good support from HB Brett Stinson with 89yds on only 17 carries.  The Tourist defense is still struggling as they have for a few years now giving up over 350yds of offense, forcing no turnovers, and only getting 1 sack. 

Darrell Sparks looked brilliant going 23/31 for 240yds and James Carter looked just as good racking up 94yds and 2TDs on 22 carries.  It was his 32yd TD after the Tourists' first onside kick that clinched victory for the Pirates.  And although the Pirates gave up a lot of yards their defense forced 4 turnovers and sacked Waters 5 times.  Jeff Waddle had a great game with 6 tackles 2 knockdowns and an interception.

This is the kind of start Gastonia was hoping for and a hard loss for a Tourists team that was hoping to show their fans they were on their way back.  Asheville has to travel to Durham next week and Gastonia stays on the road heading to Greensboro.

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