CHARLOTTE, NC -- Independence continued its run toward an eighth consecutive state championship with a 10-8 win over West Charlotte Friday night. The defining moment of the game came early in the second quarter. With the game scoreless, Lions quarterback Darius Thomas badly injured his right ankle after taking a sack. Thomas would return in the second half, but was ineffective.

The Patriots finally got on the board with 19-ticks to play before the half when Lawrence "Too Big" Williams found the endzone from a yard out, giving Indy a 7-0 lead at the half.

With Indy up 10-0 in the third, Thomas was picked off by Taylor Caldwell. The interception coming after the Lions had gotten a first down via a fake punt. West Charlotte finally got on the board in the fourth. Following a long run by Gavin Gaston on fourth and one, Gaston scored on a short run. The Lions added the two point conversion to make it a 10-8 game.

That would account for all the scoring as Independence advances to play New Bern next Saturday night. Kick-off in Winston- Salem is set for 7:30. The Patriots beat New Bern for the state title in 2005.