By Ryan Bisesi
rbisesi@salisburypost.com
ROBBINS – The game couldn’t have been much longer than the bus ride.
For North Rowan, it was worth it just to show another part of the world how far the Cavaliers have come, literally and figuratively.
The Cavs got their ducks in a row for a rain-soaked evening at North Moore and mowed down the Mustangs 39-0 in a Yadkin Valley Conference clash. After the start was postponed 20 minutes, the action was called after the kickoff to start the second half at about 9 p.m.
Only 33 plays from scrimmage were needed to decide this one as coach Joe Nixon’s troops improved to 5-2 and 3-0 in the YVC. A running clock was used throughout the first half and the Cavs ran all of their plays in NM territory.
“North Rowan’s got a heck of a football team,” North Moore coach Greg Simmons said. “There’s no weaknesses on them right now.”
The Cavs’ win made them eclipse their win total from last season going into a big showdown with Albemarle.
“That’s a real big improvement on us,” NR safety Kasaun Coney said. “We’ve worked hard all year and it shows on the field.”
With a rough storm looming, the game was deemed official after Xavier Robinson took the 2nd-half kickoff back 79 yards for a touchdown.
“They handled it very business-like and like a mature football team,” Nixon said. “We played hard, physical and we did it with class.”
There wasn’t a litany of impressive stats for the Cavs as the defense did much of the heavy lifting. NR quarterback Alexis Archie had 39 yards passing and Denzel Price took over at running back late in the first half and took it seven times for 37 yards. Jalen Sanders had touchdown runs of 5 and 20 yards.
North Moore had a pair of fumbled snaps on its first possession and the Cavs got great field position at the NM 14 after a bad punt. Archie hit Mike Connor for 9 yards and Sanders ran it in from 5 out on the next play for the first score.
Defensively, Kasaun Coney returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown and had an interception.
“Coach told us to play as hard as we could play,” Coney said. “But also to have class and not be out here acting crazy.”
“Kasaun is doing everything we need him to do at free safety,” Nixon said. “He’s getting our calls, checks for coverages and he’s making big plays for us.”
The Cavs recovered a pair of fumbles as NM (0-7, 0-3) put it on the ground four times.
Coney got an interception following Sanders’ touchdown and returned it to the NM 28. The Cavs faced third-and-12 from the 30 when Archie scrambled around and found an open Darrell Taylor, hitting him in stride in the back of the end zone.
On the Mustangs’ next drive, defensive linemen Wesley Jefferies recovered a fumbled snap at the 20. The next play was a handoff to Sanders, which ended with his sixth rushing score of the year.
Coney’s fumble return for a score came on NM’s next play from scrimmage to make it 27-0. NM went three and out on its next possession and Jareke Chambers got the next three handoffs for the Cavs, going 17 and 11 yards before scoring his eighth TD of the year on a 3-yard spurt.
NM quarterback Kirby Lambert completed his only two passes of the night before a Mike Robinson interception at midfield. Robinson ran it to the end zone, but the play was called back on a penalty.
North led 33-0 at the half and Xavier Robinson scored his first TD of the year to cap the night.
“We make that a point of emphasis on special teams,” Nixon said. “When we’re receiving the ball we’re trying to score and when we’re kicking the ball we’re trying to pin somebody deep and create a turnover.”