By Brian Pitts
sports@salisburypost.com
CHARLOTTE ó Davie is battered, bruised and losing players seemingly every few seconds, but don’t tell that to Berry Academy.
The host Cardinals (0-5) watched Davie’s makeshift lineup roll to a 51-6 non-conference victory on Friday.
Davie (4-1) lost another key player during the week as sophomore nose guard Christian Peebles went down with a back ailment. But the injury news is brightening a bit. Running back/linebacker James Mayfield (shoulder) will be back for the Oct. 3 showdown at Page. So will versatile Jacob Barber (two broken toes). Cornerback Shyteek Brown (broken jaw) figures to get released the week of the West Forsyth game.
When the War Eagles heal up, watch out. They’re pretty good at 60 percent.
Jacob Vernon ignited a 41-point first half with a 57-yard touchdown run. The big plays snowballed on Berry in a hurry.
Zach Illing hit Joe Watson with a 75-yard post. The first-quarter lead swelled to 20-6 when Jarrell Marshall hauled in a 28-yard TD reception.
The second quarter brought more fireworks. Perry James, a cornerback seeing his first offensive action of the year, produced 74 yards on an end-around.
Linebacker Chase Sampson scooped a fumble and rumbled 87 yards to the end zone.
Nick Bohannon, a receiver playing cornerback for the first time, ripped the ball from a receiver and sped 15 yards the other way to close the scoring with 11:50 left.
When asked what Davie could be like in a couple weeks, coach Doug Illing said: “We’ll have a lot of experience, and that’s why you develop kids. When they go in to play, they’ve got to play at a high level and pick up the slack for who they’re subbing for.
“That’s what’s happening. These kids are learning how to play football and competing really hard. So when we can get healthy, it should be a boost to us.”