Staff reportThe Rowan Rampage, a semipro football team featuring many local prep and college standouts, stayed unbeaten Saturday at Knox Middle School with a 43-6 win against the Monroe Mustangs.
D’Andre Hopper was 9-for-18 passing for 182 yards and two touchdowns. Justin Davis and James Allen combined for 154 yards in receptions. Willie Hosch rushed 12 times for 63 yards and three TDs. Tackle Garette Knight, outside linebacker Maurice Swaringen and middle linebacker Nichael Hill sparked Rowan’s defense.
Monroe moved the football between the 30s, but the Rampage defense didn’t break often and came up with four turnovers.
“It was a more competitive game than it sounds like,” Rowan owner/coach Larry Bryant said. “But when you look back at a competitive game that you still won by a dominating score it shows you’re growing as a team. We made a lot of unselfish plays. I felt like a proud papa.”
The Rampage, defending champs in the Central Carolina Football League, improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the CCFL. The Iredell Warriors, Catawba County Hornets and Greenville Seminoles also are 2-0.
The Rampage had to travel 90 yards for its first score. Hopper’s completions to Justin Davis and Antonio Sullivan got the Rampage out of a hole, and Hopper hit Allen for a 68-yard scoring strike.
The Rampage defense forced a three-and-out and a bobbled snap and hurried punt set the Rampage up at the Monroe 7 to start its second possession. Hosch scored immediately, and it was 14-0.
After Monroe fought back to 14-6, Rowan answered with the game’s key drive. After Charles Scott and Hakim Pearce moved the chains on fourth-down carries. Hosch broke a 15-yarder for a 21-6 halftime lead.
A third-quarter interception by Phillip Brown halted a solid drive by Monroe, and Rowan used runs by Bobby Lee, Antonio Davis set up Hosch’s third TD of the day.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Hopper’s 32-yard TD pass to Justin Davis clinched victory. Hosch tacked on a two-point conversion run.
Corby Jones intercepted a pass and lateraled to Mark Sturgis, who sped 71 yards for the Rampage’s final TD.
Rowan is home on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the High Point Ravens.