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SPENCER— West Rowan’s Falcons put an impressive offense on display here Friday night and whipped big rival North Rowan 20-7.
Coach Scott Young’s Falcons (2-1), keeping the ball on the ground most of the way, did all their scoring in the second quarter for a 20-0 lead against a stunned North defense.
North’s Cavaliers (1-1), consistently going to the air with quarterback Graham Hosch, had a chance to get back in the contest, but West’s defense held deep in its territory late in the third quarter while protecting a 20-7 lead.
A late North threat ended with 1:52 to go when West defensive back Terris Sifford intercepted a Hosch pass at his own 10 and ran it back 78 yards.
Statistically, it was a fairly even contest with West having a 337-322 edge in total offense. But it was never close after West’s 20-point blitz in the second quarter.
Workhorse fullback Jonathan Diggs (182 yards in 29 carries) and elusive freshman tailback Joe Jackson(115 yards in 15 carries) did the job on the ground as the Falcons amassed 304 yards rushing.
“We ran the football well. We made some changes up front and got both of them backs in there, a heck of a combination,” coach Young said of senior Diggs and freshman Jackson. “We knew from our film study we had to get better at blocking from the backfield, and I believe that happened tonight.I believe that was a big reason for our success on the ground.”
North coach Roger Secreast said, “I thought coach Young and his staff did a good job. The little freshman at tailback and Diggs at fullback: That was a great combination. ... Their offensive line whipped us up front.”
Even though his Falcons led by two or more touchdowns most of the last three quarters, Young thought the Cavaliers made it tough for West.
“I don’t think it was easy. I think they made us play an entire ballgame. They scared me right up until the very end when we got Terris’ interception,” said the Falcons’ third year head coach.
Sifford’s, whose interception ruined any North hopes of a late comeback, said he and the defensive unit were very much concerned about North’s passing game.
“In practice we struggled real bad trying to adjust to their pro-set. It was like college stuff to us. They were running it at us in practice, and we had a hard time. We had a hard time tonight, but we overcame it.”
Hosch, taking over at quarterback for graduated star Mario Sturdivant, completed 22 of 35 passes. Two were picked off by the Falcons’ Sifford and Eric Weimer.
“I’m proud of the whole team for what we did today. South Rowan (31-24 double-overtime loss the previous Friday) took something out of us. This week, we really worked hard to come out with a win over North Rowan,” said Sifford.
West had only one first down until Diggs ran 14 yards on the first play of the second quarter. That started the Falcons on a seven-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that included a 50-yard run by Diggs. StevenMeseroll’s extra-point conversion made it 7-0 with 8:35 left in the half.
West’s defense forced a North punt, then Jackson’s 12-yard return put the Falcons at the Cavaliers’ 39. Three plays later, quarterback Jared Barnette threw a pass to running back Ben Hampton, who broke a tackle on his way to a 28-yard TD play. West needed less than two minutes to score again (6:43), and it was 13-0 after the Falcons’ extra-point try failed.
West’s defense set up the final touchdown, which came in less than three minutes (3:44). Kendall High blocked a North punt, putting the Falcons at the North 18.
It took Jackson (one carry) and Diggs (two carries) no time at all to get 9 yards each with Diggs scoring on a 5-yard run. Matt Russ added the conversion for the 20-0 lead.
North reached the West 25 with less than two minutes to play in the half, but Weimer’s interception and 56-yard runback stopped that threat.
North did score on its first possession of the second half, going 39 yards in six plays after a short West punt. Hosch was 5-for-5 passing during the drive and completed a 7-yarder to wide receiver Chris Phillips for the TD with 7:19 left in the third quarter. Kevin Rutherford added the extra point.
Jackson, who wound up with 87 yards on kick returns, then broke loose for a 56-yard kickoff return to the North 32 to re-emphasize that the Falcons were in control.
“The kickoff return was the ballgame,I thought,” said Secreast. “I thought if we could have held them on that possession, we would have had a better chance to win the ballgame. That broke what momentum we had.”
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