From staff reports

CHINA GROVE — Jayvee football teams usually play a long way from the spotlight on Thursday nights, performing in front of girlfriends, best friends, family members and coaches.

Coaches faithfully report the jayvee scores and the standouts from those games because these are the players those coaches are going to be counting on next year  — or maybe the year after that.

A jayvee game took place on Thursday in Chiuna Grove that was a little different.

It’s not unusual for Carson AD Josh Trexler to text helpful updates from the school’s varsity games, but when texts start lighting up the phone from a jayvee game, well, you know amazing things are happening.

“Wild action,” Trexler texted. “Two minutes left in China Grove. Carson just took a 14-13 lead.”

“Wild action” is a phrase Salisbury Post sports is fond of using on social media.

Scoring that late in a jayvee contest should have meant victory for Carson, but the Cougars don’t tend to do anything routinely.

Piedmont had a long kickoff return to the Carson 35. A penalty was tacked on at the end of that runback due to a Carson penalty. So Piedmont was at the Carson 20 in a hurry. Fingernails were chewed.

‘Fifty-three seconds left,” was Trexler’s next text. “Piedmont has first and goal.”

“Down to 27 ticks,” Trexler followed up. “Third and goal now.”

That text was accompanied by the symbol for praying hands.

Piedmont faced fourth and goal with 1.8 seconds left. When Piedmont set up for a field goal, Carson called timeout to ice the kicker.

“The stuff that legends are made of,” Trexler reported cheerfully. “JV Football Night in America.”

After the timeout, Carson’s defense was over-anxious and jumped offside. The ball was moved closer to the Carson goal line. Piedmont again prepared to boot the winning field goal.

But then came Trexler’s last, happy text, “Bad snap! Cougars win!”

Carson (2-1) won a great game, 14-13.

Carson head coach Jonathan Lowe said it was the best jayvee game he’d ever been a part of.

Landon Stirewalt took a shot to the ribs, got sick, shook it off, and went right back in to play with tremendous effort.

Sedrick Wallace made multiple stops at the goal line. Landon Hildebrand made a big stop on third down.

Carson Pethel contributed an interception.

Laz Smith brought some major energy. Konnor Karriker shined on both sides of the ball. Triton Wood toted the rock for the Cougars like he was a varsity guy.

Karriker caught a TD pass on a slant from Colin Masingo. Masingo also connected with Kaiden Cruz on a fade route for a TD.

“Awesome kids!” Lowe said.

Carson will look to carry that same level of energy into Friday’s varsity game at Piedmont.

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SALISBURY — East Rowan’s jayvees (2-1) rallied for a 13-8 win against Salisbury (1-2) that was big for the Mustangs.

Jaxon Lyons scored on a 15-yard run. Colin Quick scored on a 5-yard run.

James Austin and Kyle Gillespie recovered fumbles for East.

Donovan Carter kicked a PAT.

For the Hornets, Kiyren Brown scored the touchdown on a punt return.

Bryson Pastrana had a sack and three tackles for loss.

Isaiah Davidson had three tackles for loss and ran for a 2-point conversion.

Grant Hill made six tackles, two for loss.

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MOUNT ULLA — West Rowan (0-3) lost 24-0 to Mooresville.

Drew Taylor was a “tackling machine” for the Falcons, head coach Louis Kraft said.

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South Rowan, North Rowan and A.L. Brown did not play jayvee games on Thursday.