By Tony Bazen
sports@salisburypost.comOLIN ó West Rowan continued its march toward a second consecutive 3A state championship with a 55-6 demolition of North Iredell on Friday at Raider Ravine.
West star running back Kevin Parks scored on a 67-yard burst the first play of the game and finished the first half with 208 yards and four scores on his way to a 261-yard, five touchdown night.
The victory gave the Falcons the outright North Piedmont Conference championship, their sixth consecutive title.
Parks also continued his march toward the state career rushing mark, currently held Toney Baker who amassed 10,241 during his career at Ragsdale.
Parks entered the game needing 712 yards to equal Baker’s record, and looked ready to threaten the mark Friday. He played just one play in the third quarter and averaged 19 yards per carry on the game.
“I’m really not worried about the record,” Parks said. “I just want us to keep winning. I want to end my high school career with another state championship.”
While the ground game was clicking, the Falcons also went airborne often in the first half to amass a huge lead. Quarterback B.J. Sherrill threw for 148 yards in the opening half, including touchdown strikes to Patrick Hampton and Jon Crucitti, who caught eight passes for 123 yards.
“We came out throwing early because they were crowding the line of scrimmage,” West coach Scott Young said. “We started slowly with our passing attack, but then things started clicking.”
West had a commanding a 49-0 lead at the break and cleared its bench in the second half.
The Raiders showed no quit, though, blocking a Falcons’ punt and scoring on a 6-yard pass from Chris Van Hoose to Matt Ramseur.
“Our kids played with great heart and great effort,” said Raiders coach Shannon Ashley. “They left it all on the field, and that’s all we can ask of them.”
Ramseur led the Raiders on offense with seven rushed for 28 yards. He also had seven receiving yards.
North (1-10, 0-6 North Piedmont Conference) ends its season while West (11-0, 6-0 NPC) will host a first round playoff game next week.