MINT HILL, NC – Friday night was a special kind of a night for any defensive football player because the game was played in cold pouring down rain. The only thing missing was the mud. That is because the game was moved from HickoryRidge to the new West Cabarrus High School which has a turf field.

The Indy defense, along with the weather, kept the Hickory Ridge offense out of the end zone, The Bull’s only score came with 9:13 left in the third quarter when the Bulls’ Don Stone blocked an Indy punt. Hickory Ridge’sAlex Smith Jr. picked up the loose ball on Indy’s 20-yard line and ran for the score to give the Bulls a 7-0 lead.

Indy’s best possession came late in the third quarter when the Patriots drove 70 yards on seven plays as the third quarter came to an end.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Indy was penalized for a false start which moved the ball back to the Bull’s 19-yard line. On the next play, Indy’s Cyrus Sanders took the handoff and ran for ten yards down to the nine-yard line. With 11:03 left in the fourth quarter, Indy’s quarterback Arnold Taylor completed a pass to Josh Iseah for the touchdown. Indy went for two but came up short and Hickory Ridge led 7-6.

After recovering a Bulls’ fumble at Hickory Ridge’s 28-yard line, Indymoved the ball down to the Bulls’ 15-yard line. Penalties moved Indy back to the 35-yard line. With fourth and 11 yards and 5:58 left in the game, Indy lined up for a field goal. The kick was no good and the Bulls took over on their own 20-yard line.

The Bulls drove to the 50-yard line and punted as time was running out. The punt pinned Indy down on its own one-yard line with eight seconds left on the clock. Time ran out and the Hickory Ridge took a 7-6 win over the Patriots.

Indy 0 0 0 6 – 6

HR 0 0 7 0 – 7