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Second-half spurt propels Kannapolis
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Published: November 15, 2008
KANNAPOLIS — Lake Norman made the game close late in the first half, but that only caused the Kannapolis Wonders to play better.
In a 42-27 first-round NCHSAA playoff win, the Wonders built a 21-0 lead that melted to 21-14 by halftime.
Then three third-quarter touchdowns propelled fourth-seeded Kannapolis (10-2) ahead 42-14, more than enough to offset a pair of fourth-quarter scores by the 13th-seeded Wildcats (7-5).
Wonders senior quarterback Jamill Lott passed for 206 yards and four touchdowns, two of them to T.J. Johnson, who had three catches for 126 yards.
Lott also ran for 71 yards, with 66 of it coming in the second half.
Lott passed 42 and 62 yards to Johnson, 30 yards to Colby Reid and 15 yards to Zach Massey for scores in the Wonders' seventh win in a row.
Travis Riley had the other two Kannapolis touchdowns on runs of 1 and 8 yards.
Lake Norman was able to move the ball against the Wonders, but Kannapolis' quick strikes were the difference.
It was not exactly the type of game Kannapolis head coach Ron Massey expected.
"We were worried about their defense," he said. "And you saw it. We knew it was going to be feast or famine.
"We knew we had to big-play them when we had the opportunity. Jamill made some great plays in the first half. We caught balls and made some athletic plays.
"Then we let them get back in the game. That bothered me a little bit at halftime. Coming back out and marching it downfield that first series, that's the first time we've done it all season. That was big. That kind of put our confidence back on the level it needed to be.
"I thought our defense contained them. They were a little bit faster offensively than we thought at the skill positions."
Wonders defensive back Xavier Watson set up Riley's first touchdown with a 65-yard interception return to the Wildcats' 8-yard line.
Johnson's 31-yard kickoff return starting the second half put the Wonders at their 45. Behind the running of Lott and Antwoine Jordan, then Lott's pass to Massey, Kannapolis scored in six plays.
Mike Robinson's blocked punt started the Wonders at the Wildcats' 46 on their second drive of the third quarter. Kannapolis scored in seven plays, with Riley covering the final yard. Lott's 26-yard pass to Massey went to the 2.
The Wonders are hosting a familiar opponent in the second round of the 3AA West playoffs, Marvin Ridge.
The 12th-seeded Mavericks, also a member of the South Piedmont Conference, lost 23-20 in overtime at Kannapolis during the regular season.
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