By Mike London

mike.london@salisburypost.com

LANDIS — When South Rowan’s open week suddenly became a home game week, a lot of things had to come together in a couple of days.

A Friday night varsity football game involves more than two football teams and two coaching staffs. There are refs, bands, cheerleaders, administrators, PA men, concession stand workers, gate workers, and on and on.

South pulled it off, and everyone is glad the Raiders did.

The game turned out to be a thriller. The Raiders lost 13-9 to Hickory Grove Christian in a game filled with momentum swings and turnovers.

The Lions aren’t slouches. They’re 4-0 after winning two games last week.

“They’ve got some great players and great coaches,” South head coach Chris Walsh. “We fought. Our defense played lights out again. Our kids believed they were going to win right down to the final seconds.”

South (1-1) had every chance to win, even with freshman star Jayden Arthur being injured on the first play. Arthur missed the majority of the game, but he returned late in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he scored South’s only touchdown.

Jadon Moore’s 29-yard field goal provided South’s only points in the first half. The Raiders trailed 7-3 at the break.

South was down 13-3 after the Lions scored a touchdown in the third quarter.

Arthur’s short TD run came with a little under 9 minutes left. South still had plenty of time and plenty of possessions, but couldn’t make it happen down the stretch.

After Arthur scored, an interception by Zion Archie got the ball back for the Raiders.

South couldn’t take advantage but got the ball back again when Tristian Littlejohn blocked a punt.

Hickory Grove intercepted a pass to stop the Raiders with 3:29 left.

South got the ball back after another stop, but had 80 yards to go and only 1:27 to do it. Hickory Grove held on for the victory.

The key Lions were running back Anthony Hawkins Jr. (155 rushing yards) and Kevin Powell. They scored the touchdowns and also made interceptions.

South QB Brooks Overcash was limited to 80 passing yards on 10 completions in 28 attempts.

After Arthur went down, a committee of South backs ran the ball. The Raiders totaled 108 yards, getting about 4 yards per carry.

Marshal Faw intercepted a pass in the end zone for the Raiders on the last play of the first half.

Littlejohn made nine tackles. Brayden Mahaley made eight, and Macon Fuller had seven.

South takes on A.L. Brown (1-1) on Friday. The Wonders edged West Rowan on opening but were creamed by Northwest Cabarrus last week.