Independence Chases 100th Consecutive Win

[goasu984Life]

By Tom Sorensen

Football players stretch in the late Thursday afternoon sun. Whistles blow. Kids whisper. Assistants shout commands in "Coach," a language similar to English that only players understand.

The scene is replicated on grass fields across the country. But only on this one is a team preparing for something momentous. If Independence High wins at East Mecklenburg tonight, the Patriots will capture their 100th straight victory.

Only one high school, De La Salle of Concord, Calif., notched more consecutive wins. The private school amassed 151 straight from 1991 to 2004. The third longest streak, held by Hudson (Mich.) High, is 72.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/high_school/15746807.htm

I covered Independence a few weeks back for the Observer. They played like crap and still won 55-14. This is gonna be quite an accomplishment, and I expect them to win handily tonight for No. 100.

[AppGuy04]

Where are the recruits they have going?

Isn't this where Chris Leak played?

[goasu984Life]

Yeah, this is Chris Leak's school. Joe Cox, the backup QB at Georgia and UGA wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi also played there.

Their quarterback and best receiver this year are being recruited by SEC schools.

[AppGuy04]

Yeah, this is Chris Leak's school. Joe Cox, the backup QB at Georgia and UGA wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi also played there.

Their quarterback and best receiver this year are being recruited by SEC schools.

Damnit, why can't NC State keeps these guys in the state:bang:

[FUwolfpacker]

I feel the same way AppGuy, but State (and the other NC schools) have to start winning consistently to keep the majority of kids in NC. State has had some success keeping a few of the top guys in state, and UNC has been able to get a lot of guys in the 15-30 range.

As far as guys who played at Independence, Furman's Scott Shuford was a lineman for Chris Leak:nod: .

Congrats in advance to Independence. 100 straight wins is quite the accomplishment!

[goasu984Life]

Well, they haven't won No. 100 yet. Stranger things have happened, but I feel confident that they will win tonight.

My wife works in sports at the Observer, and she is supposed to be keeping me updated tonight while I'm covering the race at Lowe's. I'll keep you all updated as she keeps me updated.

[goasu984Life]

In the second quarter, Independence leads East Meck 26-8. Well on their way to victory No. 100 in a row.

[goasu984Life]

26-8 Indy at the half.

[AppGuy04]

How many games do HS's play each year

[goasu984Life]

I wanna say that they play 11 with the possibility of playing 12 regular season games. There is an endowment game at the start of the season that teams are not required to schedule. Playoff games are also included in the streak. Indy hasn't lost since Chris Leak was a freshman in HS.

[goasu984Life]

7:43 to go in the third. Indy 26, East Meck 14.

[Mr. C]

Independance might have had many more than 100 wins by now, if Leak's father hadn't pulled his brother (who played QB at Wake Forest and Tennessee) out of school and transferred him to another school in Charlotte. The father, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer player, is a piece of work. He pulled his kid, because he didn't like the offense that Independance's coach was running.

On the subject of schedules, there are also the playoffs after the season, which add a bunch more wins to the total.

[goasu984Life]

I agree. Mr. Leak is something else.

[goasu984Life]

Quick score by the Patriots. Indy 33-14, 5:34 to go, third quarter.

[AppGuy04]

I agree. Mr. Leak is something else.
I think parents of high profile kids usually fall into the same category more often than not

[goasu984Life]

I'm sure a lot of them do. I hope when I have kids that I'm not like that if they are really good at something.

[AppGuy04]

I'm sure a lot of them do. I hope when I have kids that I'm not like that if they are really good at something.

I was all state in HS in baseball, but didn't want to play in college cause I knew I wasn't THAT good. I sure as hell know my mom wasn't that bad, but she sure was annoying alot of times.

[goasu984Life]

Independence 40, East Meck 14 (1:01 left in 3Q)

[goasu984Life]

Thats the score at the end of 3 quarters.

[goasu984Life]

Independence 47, East Meck 14 (9:52 left)

[goasu984Life]

Independence 54, East Meck 22 (2:00 left)

[goasu984Life]

Independence 54, East Meck 22 (F)

The second HS team to win 100 consecutive games.

[FUwolfpacker]

As I said before the game started, congrats to Independence:). That's an awesome accomplishment!

To follow up on Mr. C's comment about the playoffs...if I remember correctly. De La Salle did all of their damage without playoff games. There was a documentary on ESPN a few years ago about De La Salle and I want to say that their part of California (or all of California...) didn't actually do playoffs. Winning the district title was all they were able to do. I don't know, I could have just imagined that. Playoffs or not, 100 straight wins is an amazing accomplishment. Congrats again to Indy!

[goasu984Life]

Indy hasn't played a game within 10 points in quite a while. I covered them a couple of weeks ago and had all of the stats, and I think out of the 95 games that they had won at that point, only eight or nine had been within 10 points. They usually blow their opponents away. No matter how they get those wins, the numbers are just staggering.