From staff reports
D’Andre Hopper’s 46-yard field goal in overtime lifted the Rowan Rampage to a 17-14 road victory against the Richmond County Bears on Saturday.
Rowan (8-1) is tied for first place in the Central Carolina Football League with the Greenville Seminoles and Carolina Eagles heading into the last week of the regular season. Rowan plays host to the Concord-based Eagles at Knox this Saturday at 4 p.m.
Rowan started out playing sloppy on a sloppy field and fell behind 8-0.
In the second quarter, Hopper’s 4-yard scoring pass to Bobby Lee cut the deficit to 8-6. Will Himes recovered a fumbled snap and blocked a punt, but the offense couldn’t cash in, and the Rampage trailed at halftime.
Richmond County returned an interception for a touchdown to take a 14-6 lead, but the Rampage rallied in the fourth quarter.
With under four minutes left, Lee returned a punt to the Richmond 36, and Hopper’s completions to D.J. Lyles and Hakim Pearce put the Rampage in scoring position. Hopper threw a TD pass to James Allen with two seconds left in regulation, and Pearce’s two-point conversion sent the game into overtime.
Rowan couldn’t move on its first possession of overtime, but Himes intercepted a wobbly pass forced by a strong rush by Manny Quintaro and Garette Knight and returned it to the Richmond 19.
A penalty pushed the Rampage back, but Hopper kicked his long field goal for the win.
Hopper was 20-for-34 passing for 168 yards. Willie Hosch and Brandon Walker led the rushing attack. Quintaro had three QB hurries and a forced fumble. Knight and Maurice Swaringen had five tackles each.
– Eidson wins Senior Amateur
Ronnie Edison won the Rowan Senior Amateur title at Crescent Golf Club on Sunday. It was his third major title this year.
The 55-year-old Salisbury native had two eagles and four birdies to shoot 66 for 18 holes. He won the 27-hole event by five strokes over Gus Andrews. Eric Norris, the defending champion, tied for third with David Arrowood and Stan Osteen at 113.
Charlie Andrews finished first in the Second Flight with a 121. Andy Swanson was second at 123. Bobby Whitesides shot 135 to pace the Third Flight.
– Dixon heads to Argentina
Carlos Dixon, who helped Wonju win the Korean Basketball League by averaging 14.4 points a game and shooting 47 percent on 3-pointers last season, has signed a contract to play in Argentina this fall.
Dixon (South Rowan) began the 2007-08 season in France, but he was signed by Wonju after Doug Wrenn, one of the two foreign players allowed on the roster, was injured.
“I liked Korea a lot,” the 6-foot-7 Dixon said. “I was on a good team, the people were friendly and we were treated like celebrities.”
Dixon had an opportunity to return to Wonju and also had a lucrative offer to play in Iran, but he decided to go to Argentina.
Dixon’s brother, Marvin, has played in Argentina, as has Dixon’s former Virginia Tech teammate, Terry Taylor. Their advice gives him some idea what to expect.
Dixon, 27, said he hopes to play pro ball another four or five years.
“I’ve traveled the world, seen things I never thought I’d have a chance to see,” he said. “This is a chance to try something new.”
– Catawba athletics
Lainey Nichols converted a penalty kick with 12 minutes left to lift Catawba’s women’s soccer team (7-2, 2-0) to a 3-2 SAC win against Mars Hill on Sunday.
Tasha Wilhelm and Jessica Schwertner also scored for Catawba. Keeper Lindsay Webster stopped several point-blank shots.
* Catawba’s volleyball team lost to Carson-Newman 3-1 on Saturday. Catawba (7-6, 2-2) was led by Melissa Griffith’s 12 kills and nine digs.
* Catawba’s volleyball team swept Lincoln Memorial on Friday. Catawba got 29 assists from Megan Courson and 10 kills each from Griffith and Melissa Powers.
* Catawba’s field hockey team (2-7) lost to Davidson 5-0 on Friday.
– NPC volleyball
Haili Everhart had 14 digs for East Rowan in a 25-8, 25-10, 25-10 loss against Mooresville.
– Middle school golf
Eric Edwards shot 68 and finished second in the state middle school golf championships held in Badin. Edwards earned a spot on the All-State boys team.
Isabella Rusher shot 89 and tied for third to earn a spot on the girls All-State team.
Madeline Hoskins was eighth in the girls standings with a 98. Joseph Rusher and Davis Richards shot 80s. Alex Austin shot 88.
China Grove was ninth and Salisbury Academy 10th in the team standings.
– McCanless golf
Albert “Shug” Ruff made his first hole-in-one at McCanless on Sunday.
Ruff aced the 165-yard No. 3 hole with a 7-iron. He was playing with Jay Streater, Butch Lytle, Henry Withers and Mickey Chambers.
* The McCanless Couples played a nine-hole tournament with a two-man Captain’s Choice format on Sunday.
Three teams shot 35s. A scorecard playoff determined the order of finish.
First place went to Ty and Beverly Cobb. Gene Seaford and Robin Leslie were second. Ron & Jini Blythe placed third.