news-record.com

BROWNS SUMMIT - Although they are only in their first varsity season, Northern Guilford has quickly established themselves as an exciting unit.

In a tight game with unbeaten Charlotte Christian, the Nighthawks (6-1) scored the go ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter. They then made two defensive stands, the last one with 29 seconds to play, to hold on for a 28-21 win Friday over the Knights (6-1).

"That's the way a football game should be played," Northern coach Johnny Roscoe said. "This is the way a tradition starts. We want to play people who come after you. But I wouldn't want to play them again tomorrow night. That's a good football team."

The Knights scored the first points of the second half to tie the game at 21. A 53-yard run by Ty Linton set up a 17-yard fade pass from John Kincaid to Mike Adams.

The Nighthawks came back on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Rocco Scarfone found Keenan Allen streaking down the sideline. Allen made the catch between two defenders. That was followed by a 16-yard run from Mohamed Khellah. Scarfone pushed the pile forward from the 2 and the Nighthawks reclaimed the lead at 28-21.

Allen finished with over 200 all-purpose yards.

"We came out ready to play and I don't think they were expecting that," Allen said. "It was a big game because the Charlotte paper picked them to win."

The Knights had one last chance, starting at their 20 with 2:17 left.

After two incomplete passes, back-to-back completions pushed them across midfield. Two more sideline passes to Adams set up the Knights in the red zone. After three incomplete passes in the end zone, the Knights had one last chance, but then Roscoe called two time outs to settle his defense.

"We figured what they were trying to do," Roscoe said. "The key was getting some pressure on the quarterback."

Kincaid was flushed from the pocket on fourth down, but got a pass off to Jake Watson in the right corner of the end zone. The pass was too low and Watson was unable to get it. The celebration began.

"Our juniors really came through for us. You have to give credit to Keenan (Allen). And Rocco (Scarfone) played both ways for the entire game," Roscoe said. "It's what you build your program on."

In a first half that featured no punts, there was plenty of action.

Northern Guilford used a long pass and a personal foul to get into scoring position on its first drive. Allen made a nice catch on the pass play and five plays later, Nighthawks quarterback Scarfone found Allen again, this time for a 15-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The Nighthawks scored again on their next possession.

A 21-yard pass to Allen set up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Scarfone to Tyler Davis, giving Northern a 14-3 lead. Allen took a reverse at the Nighthawk 20 and turned upfield he fought off two defenders at midfield and nearly outran a third, but was tackled at the 3-yard line.

Two plays later, Christian McCain scored on another reverse to provide Northern with a 21-6 lead.

NG - Keenan Allen 15 pass from Rocco Scarfone (Bob Hicks kick)

CC - Wil Kamin 50 FG

NG - Tyler Davis 13 pass from Scarfone (Hicks kick)

CC - Kamin 37 FG

NG - Christian McCain 3 run (Hicks kick)

CC - Ty Linton 40 pass from John Kincaid (Jonathan Miller pass from Kincaid)

CC - Mike Adams 17 pass from Kincaid (Kamin kick)

NG - Scarfone 2 run (Hicks kick)