Ira Cronin | Will the real Patriots please stand up?

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

This week was my first chance to see the Independence Patriots up close and personal this year. While I was only at the Vance-Independence game for the first half, I have to say I was not impressed. I'm use to being impressed by the Patriots. I think I have been spoiled watching history be made until last year when the streak came crashing to a close.

I have watched Butler play twice this year, and I would say the Bulldogs have impressed me. All season long, Charlotte Observer prep writer Langston Wertz has been saying on our show and on our web roundtable that Independence is the class of the city, and I would not pretend to know more about high school football than Langston, but I'll be watching that prediction closely as the season rolls on.

What I can say about Independence is that even when they look sloppy like they did against Vance, they always have that big play threat that can rise up at any moment. Michael Rhynes is a big receiver who I watched haul in a couple of nice catches, one for a touchdown, and Lawrence Martin made an eye popping one-handed touchdown catch that may be the best play I have seen all season long.

One thing I know for sure, Tom Knotts is one of the best coaches in our area, and he will work these kids until he feels like he's getting out of them, what he feels he can get out them, and I pity them a bit at practice while he works the team through the process. Sooner or later, the real Patriots will show themselves, what remains to be seen is where those Patriots will finish up the season.

See you next week!

See prep football scores and highlights on HSGameTime.com.

Posted by WCNC  at 7:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)