BOILING SPRINGS — It was no secret; if Crest football wins out, it’s almost a shoe-in for NCHSAA 5A West’s No. 1 seed, along with home-field advantage through the regional final round. With such stakes, the Chargers did their best not to play with their food on Friday, Oct. 23.
Crest claimed at least a share of the Big South 5A/6A title, shutting out Ashbrook 38-0 at Sid Bryson Stadium in Boiling Springs.
MR. CONSISTENCY: What's the secret to Crest football's Paxton Dobbin's consistent play?
ALL-STAR STATUS 8 Gastonia, Shelby football players chosen as NCCA East-West all-stars
“(Crest’s loss to Ashbrook) last year was a topic of conversation all week long,” said Crest football coach Mark Barnes. “There were things this program wanted to do last year, like win a conference championship and a state championship together, something which hasn’t been done since 2015. So this was an important one for our team and wanting to accomplish all of its goals.”
Following a sluggish start, a Crest offense buoyed by its senior contributors began to make an impact.
After kicker Carson Grier got the Chargers on the scoreboard with a 47-yard field goal, all-purpose man Brock Melton got in on the act with a catch-and-run for a touchdown from junior quarterback K.J. Bell. Melton also added a TD run in the second half. Senior back Malachi Gamble also proved formidable in the Week 10 matchup, rushing for 113 yards and a second quarter TD run. Fellow upperclassman Maurice Redmond added a TD run of his own in the fourth.
Bell also connected with junior wideout James Battle on a 51-yard TD pass earlier in the game.
It was Crest’s defense which stole the show, however, holding an Ashbrook offense averaging better than 378 yards and 34.6 points per game to 102 total yards and no points in their Week 10 matchup. Green Wave quarterback A.J. McClain was harassed throughout, while his favorite target Braylon Smith was held without a catch.
“Our defense made a really good offense look average,” Barnes said. “They have a lot of weapons and scored a lot of points, but our defense is getting better week by week.”
The Chargers (8-1, 5-0 Big South 5A/6A) can now turn their sights toward its regular season finale against Kings Mountain, Crest seeking its first outright league championship since 2023 and an opportunity to finish a sweep against Cleveland County foes.
“We’re excited about the opportunity, and I’m sure (Kings Mountain) is too,” Barnes said. “This is a great football county, and after all is said and done it’s the two of us who will decide (how Big South 5A/6A) shakes out. Those are the games you love this time of year.”
Ashbrook is 4-5 (2-3 Big South 5A/6A). The Green Wave host rival Hunter Huss Oct. 30 in their annual "Battle for the Victory Bell" game.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: How Crest football stifled Ashbrook, set up showdown with county rival