Staff report

CONCORD — Now this was a serious delay of game — a six-day postponement.

A varsity football game on a Thursday is a weird occurrence, but lightning last Friday, combined with an open week for two neighbors, led to unusual things.

Northwest Cabarrus probably would like to do Thursdays more often. A.L. Brown probably hopes it never happens again.

Jarlon Drye, a backup on a stout Trojan team a year ago, enjoyed a breakout effort with 277 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He scored the touchdown that put the Trojans ahead to stay on NWC’s second play from scrimmage.

The Trojans bounced back from a stunning opening-week lost to West Cabarrus and rolled to a 47-21 victory on Thursday over an A.L. Brown program that once went 40 years between losses to NWC.

Northwest (1-1) took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never trailed.

The Wonders, who had an exciting win against West Rowan in Week 1, got back to 14-7 early in the second quarter when Keith Kellam recovered a fumble inside the NWC 5.

A.L. Brown’s athletic QB CJ Gray put it in the end zone, running to his right and making a dive for the pylon.

Northwest answered, went ahead 21-7

The Wonders (1-1) came back to 21-14. Again, Gray got the touchdown with a 3-yard sprint to the right edge.

Northwest kicked a field goal right before halftime for 24-14.

Down 31-14 and desperate, the Wonders scored on a well-timed pass play with 2:28 left in the third quarter. Jason Brown was in the slot on the left side, but he took a few steps to get into position for a middle screen that had a wave of blockers. Gray delivered the ball to him, and Brown’s wheels did the rest.

It was 31-21 at that point, but Northwest owned the fourth quarter, scoring two more touchdowns before tacking on a safety in the final minute.

Gray had 135 passing yards and 51 rushing yards, but the Trojans held Mekhi Herron to 40 yards on 13 carries.

AJ Settles also had a fumble recovery for the Wonders.