As crews from Vision Cable and a couple of local radio stations called the action, the Wonders aired another feature presentation Friday night at South Rowan.

“We put the ball in the end zone,” 11th-year coach Bruce Hardin said after Kannapolis posted an off-the-wall 53-31 non-conference victory. “And it’s a good thing we did. I wasn’t happy with our defense, but when you give up that many points you better score a lot.”

Kannapolis (2-0) scored touchdowns on eight of its 13 possessions and racked up 501 total yards — including 352 on the ground. That’s the good news.

“We came in thinking we could blow people off the ball,” said left tackle Kurjuan Kirkpatrick. “It was the whole line working as a unit.”

It worked well enough for senior tailback Marcello Stanback to gain 141 yards on 18 carries, including TD runs of 14, 11 and 14 yards. “He’s got great vision, good feet and he keeps going,” said Hardin. “He was a real plus for us last year until he got hurt. But he’s getting better every ballgame.”

Teammate Eric Caldwell supplemented Stanback’s total with 119 yards rushing on 12 attempts. He scored the Wonders’ final touchdown on a 66-yard run down the left sideline with just over two minutes remaining.

“Nick Maddox is far, far away,” said Kirkpatrick, a 6-3, 285-pound senior. “And still, we’re not missing anything in the backfield. We’ve got so many weapons.”

One of them is quarterback Justin Hardin. The senior passed for 149 yards — including 77 on a short spiral across the middle that tight end Justin Chambers turned into a third-quarter touchdown. He also ran for a pair of scores.

“The offensive line deserves a lot of credit,” he said. “(Assistant coach) Tony Paroli works with them every day, even before and after games. He teaches them to come off the line and deliver a blow. Be the first one to attack.”

South (0-3) was first to find the end zone on this unusual night. The Raiders used a tone-setting 59-yard run by Tore’ Girty on the game’s first play from scrimmage to set up Robby Bassinger’s 28-yard field goal.

It opened the floodgates, and while few anticipated a pitcher’s duel, no one could have forecasted South’s four-touchdown explosion.

“We were able to get the passing game going tonight,” said left guard Brian Billings. “That helped out our running game and spread the field. It all came down to effort. In the West Rowan game (a 49-12 loss last week), the effort wasn’t there. Tonight we gave our all for four quarters, and the score tells the story.”

So did a brilliant showing by quarterback Tim Cook, who completed nine of 18 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns — the second on the game’s final play.

“Tim had his best game of the year,” said Raiders’ coach Rick Vanhoy. “We’ve known all along that he’s a good quarterback, but the offensive line finally gave him enough protection and time to find his receivers.”

Among his prime targets were running backs Girty and Keith Garrett, each of whom caught three passes. Girty (88) and Ernie Wiggins (86) helped South grind out more than 300 yards on the ground.

“We had a chance,” Vanhoy smiled afterward. “At least we can say that. It was 21-17 in the third quarter before we let them drive down the field on us. But we gave them a game and hopefully, that’s something we can build on.”