news-record.com

GREENSBORO — This just in: T.J. Logan is a pretty darn good running back.

Logan showed quickness, vision and elusive moves at times. Other times he lowered his shoulders and crashed between the tackles for tough yards. In the end, the junior’s power and speed led to 23 carries for 166 yards and four touchdowns, helping Northern Guilford beat Western Alamance 42-7 on a cold, misty Friday night to claim an elusive Mid-State 3-A conference championship.

“It’s just a good win,” Northern coach Johnny Roscoe said. “A good, good win.”

The Nighthawks (9-1, 7-0 conference) beat Western (8-3, 5-2) in a rematch of last year’s winner-take-all game for a league title. Western won that one, but Northern bounced back and won a pile of road games on the way to a state championship.

“This was important,” said Logan, who had 151 rushing yards before halftime. “We have a lot of juniors and sophomores on this team, and we all wanted to do something special for the seniors.”

They did: The Nighthawks scored on four of their first five possessions and led 35-7 at halftime.

Next up are the state playoffs, and Northern will likely be a top seed.

“The goal now is just to win games,” Logan said. “Winning this one, hopefully it means we stay home (for the playoffs). We like those short business trips.”

The Nighthawks did suffer two key injuries. Leading tackler John McBeth emerged from the pile after covering a kick without his helmet. He wobbled off the field and left on a stretcher to be checked for a concussion at a local hospital.

And on the last play of the first half, senior quarterback Daniel Downing needed help getting off the field. He flinched in pain when a trainer gingerly touched the inside of his right knee. But there he was at the start of the second half, returning punts.

“I think it scared him a little bit. I know it scared us,” Roscoe said. “We were worried until we saw him run down those steps (to get to the field) after halftime.”

Contact Jeff Mills at 373-7024 or jeff.mills@news-record.com

NG—T.J. Logan 29 run (Austin Hoke kick)

NG—Logan 2 run (Hoke kick)

NG—Logan 34 run (Hoke kick)

NG—Logan 5 run (Hoke kick)

NG—Daniel Downing 32 punt return (Hoke kick)

WA—Jacob Webster 1 run (Andrew Falk kick)

NG—Scooter Mooney 26 interception return (Hoke kick)