North back Jo Jo Tarver looks for running room.

Jacqui Smith Watson photo.

New East head coach Brian Flynn.

Photo by Kelly Shugart.

 

By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

GRANITE QUARRY — New East Rowan head football coach Brian Flynn knew North Rowan was fast and tough, knew the Cavaliers had a chance to be a factor statewide in 1A with a four-year standout at quarterback, and knew his team was facing a serious challenge against a program that has dominated the Mustangs over the years.

Still, the magnitude of North’s 46-6, running-clock victory on Friday’s opening night surprised Flynn. East didn’t scratch until Nolan Strozier put the ball in the end zone on the final play from scrimmage against a North defense that had subbed in quite a few clean shirts.

The gap between East and North was wider than Flynn believed it would be after seeing North knock heads with Carson in the Rowan County Jamboree.

“I didn’t expect that at all,” Flynn said. “Hats off to North Rowan. They are very talented. Our guys were in the right spots, but we just didn’t make the plays. Against a team like that, you have to make more plays than we did. It’s really hard to find any bright spots for us right now.”

East started the game well enough, a solid kickoff return, followed by an explosive completion from Will Klingler to PJ Butler down the seam that had a huge crowd roaring, but that’s where the Mustangs peaked.

North’s defense eventually stopped the Mustangs, and Jeremiah Alford, that record-setting, fourth-year quarterback, led the Cavaliers on a 69-yard drive to take a 6-0 lead. Alford got the touchdown himself from the 9-yard line, the 38th rushing TD of an illustrious career.

It was still 6-0 after a quarter and looked like it might be a ball game, but the Mustangs had two accidents in the kicking game — an errant snap on a punt, and then a 3-yard punt. Both issues presented the Cavaliers’ offense with short fields to work with, and North took advantage, with Yasir Wactor and Jo Jo Tarver punching in rushing TDs. North tacked on 2-point conversions after both, and it was 22-0.

Tarver scored another touchdown 36 seconds before halftime to finish an 81-yard drive. That was the dagger, and North took a comfortable 30-0 lead to the break.

In the second half, Alford fired a 33-yard touchdown pass to Dyzarious Carpenter, the 61st TD pass of his career, while Tarver added his third rushing TD.

It was a coming-out party for Tarver, who is being counted on to replace the production of Jaemias Morrow, who broke school career records for rushing yards and touchdowns during his senior season. Tarver had 13 carries for 172 yards.

Alford was 10-for-17 through the air for 153 yards and ran four times for 44 yards, a routine night for him, while also playing inside linebacker on defense.

Emari Russell, an electric transfer from Central Cabarrus, was the leading receiver for North with three catches for 60 yards.

North’s kicking game is a work in progress, but that wasn’t much of a factor in the opener. North went 5-for-6 on 2-point conversions.

Defensively, North was stout and steady, especially up front.

“We made a lot of mistakes in the Jamboree,” North’s second-year head coach Josh Sophia said. “We challenged our guys on Monday to correct those mistakes and we improved a lot from the scrimmage to our first game. That’s always the goal — get better every week, week after week.”

Klinger was 5-for-19 passing for 100 yards and rushed for a team-high 33 yards to lead East.

Butler had two catches for 64 yards for the Mustangs.

Linebacker Jayden Peters and DB Jaden Reid made seven tackles each.

North has won 10 straight against the Mustangs — East’s most recent victory was in the 2010 season opener. North leads the all-time series 45-16-1.

North takes on Forest Hills this Friday in what should be an exciting home opener. Forest Hills opened with a 29-13 loss to Ashbrook.

East will be home again next week against North Stanly. The Comets won 28-6 at Anson.

“We’ll right this ship,” Flynn said. “We may be barely treading water, with our head barely above it, but we’re going to start swimming. I believe in these guys.”