From staff reports
The Rowan Rampage used its first fake punt attempt of the season to spark a 14-8 victory against the Thomasville Titans on Saturday.
When its opening drive stalled, the Rampage tried a fake punt on fourth down. Quarterback D’Andre Hopper also serves as the punter, and he connected on a 40-yard pass to Benji Greene for a first down at the Thomasville 8-yard line.
Hopper, who finished 9-for-13 for 145 yards, then threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Hakim Pearce and found Justin Davis for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.
The Rampage (2-1 overall, 1-1 Northern Division) pushed its lead to 14-0 in the second quarter on Anthony Davis’ 10-yard run and held on after the Titans took advantage of a fourth-quarter turnover to get within 14-8.
Anthony Davis finished with 79 yards on 11 caries, while Justin Davis had five catches for 79 yards.
Defensively, Jay Lewis had six tackles and a fumble recovery, Nichael Hill had three tackles for loss and a sack, Corby Jones had a sack, two tackles for loss and an interception, and linebackers Greg Jones and Randy Glover combined for nine total tackles, four quarterback hurries and a sack.
The Rampage’s next game is at the Catawba County Hornets next Saturday.
n Wonder to enter Elon Hall
Maurice Blakeney, who quarterbacked A.L. Brown’s 1989 state-championship football team, will be inducted into the Elon Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 8.
Blakeney was a four-year starter at quarterback for Elon and was Elon’s male athlete of the year in 1994.
Blakeney rushed for 1,035 yards and threw for 3,732 yards in his college career and accounted for 41 touchdowns.
Also an exceptional baseball outfielder, Blakeney played three seasons for Elon and was all-conference in 1994.
He was drafted by the Montreal Expos. He played five years in the minors and was a minor-league hitting instructor for three seasons.
He is now lives in Graham and is a P.E. instructor at Wesleyan Christian in High Point.
n Legion baseballRowan County plays defending state champion Morehead City at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the first round of the double-elimination state tournament at Garner High School.
Morehead City is 29-3, while Rowan is 39-6.
n Intimidators winThe Kannapolis Intimidators erupted on offense and spanked Lakewood 11-5 on Sunday for a road victory.
The Intimidators overcame an early 4-0 deficit. Lee Cruz and Chris Carter homered for Kannapolis. It was the 23rd for Carter, who leads the SAL.
n Coastal Plain LeagueGastonia’s Seth Waller (West Rowan) went 3-for-3 and hit his seventh homer on Thursday.
Tim Smith (Catawba) pitched eight strong innings and beat Wilson 8-2 on Thursday to boost his record to 4-3.
Thomasville’s Blake Ketner (Catawba) pitched six sharp innings, beat Spartanburg 8-1 and raised his record to 3-2.
n McCanless tournament
McCanless held its Adult/Child Golf Tournament recently.
Todd and Logan Shuping won the 9-under division with a 29 for nine holes. Thad and Bryson Sprinkle shot 32. Roger and Nicholas Lyerly were third at 33.
Ron and Zach Blythe shot 71 to win the 10-13 division. Ken and K.J. Pressley shot 73 for second. Gene Seaford and Kyle Leslie shot 77.
Tyler George and Daniel Plummer shot 71 to win the 14-17 division. Mark Eller and Preston Rogers were second at 72. Don and Devin Smith shot 81 for third place.
In the adult championship division, Bobby and Kevin Thompson won with a 66, Gilbert and Tad Sprinkle also shot 66. Don and Drue Davis shot 68.
In the adult first flight division, John Rowland and Jini Blythe won with a 72. Bruce Rogers and Julie Eller shot 77 for second place.