LANDIS — The South Rowan Raiders came out aggressively by executing an on-side kick off to start the game. South was not able to recover it, and Central Cabarrus took only four plays to go 42 yards for their first score in a 62-0 rout of South.
It did not get better for the Raiders. On its first play from scrimmage, South fumbled after an 8-yard gain. This time it took only two plays to go the 32 yards for score number two. The only early sign of potential weakness was reflected in the second of two missed point after attempts by Central kicker Riley Mcgee.
South was unable to get anything kick-started until their third possession. The crowd at Donnell Stadium showed their enthusiasm as the Raiders earned their initial first down. Three plays later, punter Marshall Long’s second punt put the Vikings back on their own 25. A 46-yard pass from quarterback Hasaan Klugh put Central back in business on the Raider 28. Momentum was temporarily slowed by two penalties. After a South penalty for a personal foul, the ball was placed at the South 1, where Purvis scored on a one yard plunge. Kicker Mcgee hit his first PAT to give the visitors a 27-0 lead.
The Raiders showed some resilience by mounting a 7- play drive that would take them into Central territory for the first time, before coming up short on a fourth and one at the Vikings 45.
Tillman Cook would catch his second 50 plus yard pass for a quick score.
On the first play after kicking off to the Raiders, Levon Hightower would intercept the South pass for a quick 35-yard pick six, coming at the 8:56 mark in the second quarter.
The frustration continued as South would muster only ten plays the rest of the half, while Central continued the romp scoring an additional TD while eating up time.
While the Central juggernaut would be somewhat slowed in the second half (South held them to just one score per quarter), it was obvious that the talent-loaded team from Cabarrus was just too much for the Raiders.
Emblematic of this was that while the South team was stoic in the lop-sided defeat, they immediately headed for the locker room. The deep disappointment was evident in that coach Jason Rollins was unavailable for comment.