Cleveland football team to play at powerhouse Charlotte Christian as replacement for last week’s cancellation by Red Bank
Today at 11:43 a.m.
by Stephen Hargis
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Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Cleveland head coach Chandler Tygard has scheduled a game at North Carolina powerhouse Charlotte Christian for this Friday, to make up for last week's game at Red Bank that was canceled.
When last week's game at Red Bank was canceled on Friday morning, due to standing water and poor field conditions from the heavy rains that had moved through the area, Cleveland High School football coach Chandler Tygard immediately began searching for a replacement game.
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That effort eventually took up most of Tygard's weekend but paid off in an agreement for the Blue Raiders to make a six-hour trip to face North Carolina powerhouse Charlotte Christian this Friday.
"Our kids, especially the seniors, work too hard to not get to play a full 10-game schedule," said Tygard, who was in contact with seven other schools, from four states, including nationally-ranked Rabun Gap (Georgia) before eventually coming to an agreement with Charlotte Christian. "I was going to do everything I could to find an opponent for us to play. I was even willing to schedule someone last Saturday, but this wound up being our only option that we could get worked out on such short notice."
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Charlotte Christian has won nine state championships, including six since 2012, and throughout its history has had more than 100 players sign college scholarships, with four eventually playing in the NFL. This year's team has three players with scholarship offers from Power Four college programs and former Carolina Panthers players Greg Olsen, Luke Kuechly and Jamaal Stewart are all members of the coaching staff.
Among the prospects on the Knights roster are safety L.J. Porter, who has more than 20 college offers including Clemson, North Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee and Virginia Tech, as well as tight end Brandon Hettwer, who is committed to Maryland. Junior running back Jamal Rule rushed for more than 2,700 yards last season.
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The Blue Raiders (5-0), who are ranked fourth in the latest state polls, will travel on Thursday, then tour the Carolina Panthers facilities on Friday morning, including walk-through game preparations, before Friday night's game. They will make the return bus trip home on Saturday.
The cost of the trip — charter bus, two-day hotel stay, plus meals — is estimated to be around $15,000, which Charlotte Christian is helping pay for.
"Our players were very disappointed to have a game taken from them last week, so we are very excited to provide them with a college-like travel experience," Tygard said. Some of our kids won't get the chance to play in college, so this will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for them.
"We talk to them about being willing to do things other teams are not, and this would include taking on the challenge of playing a nationally-known opponent with only a few days notice. We want to prepare our guys for not only the type of high-caliber competition we'll see in our region and across the state, but also build a regional power here. This type of game is a step in that direction."