By Bryan Meadows
Statesville Record & Landmark
LANDIS – Josh Medlin scored the final touchdown of the season for South Rowan on Friday night.
Unfortunately, it was the only score of the game as North Piedmont Conference regular-season champion Statesville defeated the Raiders 56-6.
It ended South Rowan’s season at 2-8.
Medlin caught a touchdown pass from his third quarterback. First in was Nathan Lambert, who was injured. Then, it was Aaron Kennerly, who was injured against Statesville. He hauled in South’s only score against the Greyhounds from Drew Glenn.
But Statesville was too much to handle. The offense was efficient and overwhelming, needing only 24 plays to score 42 pointst that clinched the school’s first conference championship since 1999.
Statesville (10-1, 6-0 NPC) now waits as the N.C. High School Athletic Association decides which team it meets next week in the first round of the state football playoffs.
“It feels great to be conference champs, especially for this group of seniors,” head coach Randall Gusler said. “They put in the time and work.”
Statesville (10-1, 6-0 NPC) now waits as the N.C. High School Athletic Association decides which team it meets next week in the first round of the state football playoffs.
The Greyhounds’ first-half scoring drives went like this: two plays, four plays, five plays, three plays and one play. On the first possession of the game, quarterback Carlis Parker found Tyree Ward for a 45-yard catch and run to make it a 7-0 game 22 seconds after kickoff.
Brevin Renwick, however, was the model of efficiency. He touched the ball three times, and he found the end zone all three times.
“They are a great football team,” South Rowan head coach Jason Rollins said. “They deserve to be on top of the conference. When you’ve got four or five Division 1 players on one team, you know you’re in for a long night against them.”
South Rowan (2-8, 2-4 NPC) got on the board in the closing minutes of the game. Glenn pushed the Raiders 69 yards down the field in 14 plays. He found receiver Medlin in the middle of the end zone to get South Rowan on the scoreboard.
Glenn was 5 of 10 for 28 yards and a costly interception. Willis picked off a floating pass from Glenn and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown with 47 seconds left.
South Rowan running back Antonio Hester carried the ball 18 times for 77 yards.
The special teams also made its presence known. Tristan Mumford blocked Brennan Lambert’s 26-yard field goal attempt. Marquis Willis picked up the loose ball and returned it 84 yards for a 35-0 lead.
Mumford and Carlis Parker combined to go 6 of 10 for 223 passing yards and four touchdowns.