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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

Middle school sports are in full swing in Davie County, and plenty of games are on the schedule for this week. Scroll down to see who plays where.

The Ellis football team picked up where it left off from 8-0 perfection in 2021, thumping North Davie 40-6 in the season opener for both teams on Aug. 31.

The Wildcats hung with visiting Ellis in the first half – it was 6-6 at intermission – but Braxton Bowling, Elijah Chaffin and the Jaguars cruised over North in the second half.

Chaffin’s first of two touchdown runs opened the scoring. North responded with a 15-yard TD pass from Blake French to Tanner Steinour. That’s where things stood at halftime.

“We fumbled a couple times in the first half,” Ellis assistant coach Kendall Chaffin said. “We hadn’t played a scrimmage game and we didn’t play good.”

There were some hiccups for Ellis in the first half, but if the second half wasn’t perfect, it was darn close. Jaguar defenders intercepted three passes, including two during the 34-0 onslaught in the second half. Chaffin, Brandon Forrest and Bowling had the picks.

Two electrifying Jaguars – Bowling and Chaffin – answered the opening bell in big ways. Bowling ran for three touchdowns – all in the second half – and Chaffin, who plays middle linebacker and running back – had 20 tackles to go with his two TDs. Six of them were tackles for loss. Levi Block had the other TD for Ellis.

“Our seventh-grade quarterback (Forrest) did really good for his first game,” Chaffin said. “He’s real poised. He’s going to be special. He’s got the goods.”

Besides Chaffin turning in one of the top defensive efforts in Ellis’ 16-year history, defensive ends J’seire Arnold and Evan Helms helped make life miserable for North’s offense.

“J’seire had several tackles for loss,” Chaffin said. “Evan played really good.”

Notes: Eighth grader Jonathan Hanes has been a revelation at guard on the offensive line. “He had never played football a day in his life,” Chaffin said. “He’s about 6-foot, 260. He’s raw but he’s got incredible feet.” … This was North’s worst loss since 44-6 to Ellis in 2017. … Ellis has a three-game winning streak in the series. … South Davie opened with a 28-12 home loss to Starmount. The Rams have beaten South three straight times.

Soccer

Hector Rodriguez poured in five goals, Hunter Stephens dished out six assists and North Davie roared out of the gate 2-0.

The Wildcats opened with a 9-1 trouncing of Phoenix Academy at home on Aug. 30. Rodriguez had two goals, while Dylan Cassetta, Kellan Wiles, Manny Perez, Jaden Godbey, Ethan Christie, Charleston Haynes and Ronald Perez had one each.

Stephens had three assists. R. Perez, Cassetta, Max Rappaport and Christie had one apiece.

Two days later, the Wildcats buried visiting North Carolina Leadership Academy by the same score.

Rodriguez had a hat trick, Christie scored twice and M. Perez, Rappaport, Stephens and Wiles had one goal each. Stephens had three assists again, while Christie had two and Rodriguez one.

“We are off to a great start,” coach Daniel Gamble said.

After the NCLA game, Gamble said the defensive line and goalies deserve some credit. “Our defensive line (Godbey, Gabriel Bello, Josh Baker, Cassetta, Gio Bartolo and Alex Serrano) held strong, and our goalies (Porter Spann in the first half and Brady Carter in the second half) made big saves. We moved the ball good and dominated the midfield.”

Volleyball

South Davie impressed in the first week of the season, winning 2-0 at North Carolina Leadership Academy on Aug. 30 and taking a three-set battle at Ellis on Sept. 1.

Ellis beat visiting Wesleyan Christian Academy on Aug. 30 before losing to the Tigers.

North Davie opened with a 2-0 home win over Phoenix Academy before dropping the last two sets in a 2-1 home loss to NCLA.

Upcoming Games

Wednesday, Sept. 7

Davie JV/varsity soccer at home vs. Reynolds at 5:30/7

Davie golf at Winding Creek at 4

Davie cross country at Ivey Redmon Park at 5

South Davie football at Ellis at 4:30

Thursday, Sept. 8

Davie tennis at Parkland at 4:30

Davie JV/varsity volleyball at home vs. Tabor at 5/6:30

Davie tennis at Parkland at 4:30

South Davie girls tennis at home vs. Canterbury at 4:30

South Davie volleyball at home vs. Canterbury at 4:30

South Davie boys soccer at home vs. Canterbury at 4:30

South Davie cross country at North Davie at 4:30

Ellis soccer at Millennium Charter at 4:30

Ellis volleyball at Millennium Charter at 4:30

Ellis cross country away at 4:30

North Davie boys soccer at home vs. Wesleyan at 4:30

North Davie volleyball at home vs. Wesleyan at 4:30

Friday, Sept. 9

Davie cross country in Friday Night Lights at Ivy Redmon Park

Monday, Sept. 12

Davie JV/varsity soccer at East Forsyth at 5:30/7

Davie tennis at home vs. Glenn at 4:30

Tuesday, Sept. 13

Davie JV/varsity volleyball at West Forsyth at 5/6:30

Davie golf in CPC meet at Maple Chase at 4

South Davie girls tennis at home vs. North Davie at 4:30

Ellis soccer at NCLA at 4:30

Ellis volleyball at NCLA at 4:30

North Davie boys soccer at South Davie at 4:30

North Davie volleyball at South Davie at 4:30

Wednesday, Sept. 14

Davie JV/varsity soccer at home vs. Reagan at 5:30/7

Davie tennis at Reynolds at 4:30

S. Davie football at home vs. Quality Education at 4:45

North Davie boys soccer at home vs. Canterbury at 4:30

North Davie volleyball at home vs. Canterbury at 4:30