By Mike London

mike.london@salisburypost.com

CONCORD — West Rowan couldn’t hold a two-touchdown lead in Friday’s South Piedmont Conference football game at Northwest Cabarrus.

It was a loss that West head coach Louis Kraft characterized as “gut-wrenching.” It was painful, for sure, as the Falcons had every opportunity to take their biggest league win in several years.

After Northwest (5-1, 3-0) played a superb last five minutes to pull out a 30-21 victory, West (3-3, 2-1) could only talk about what might have been.

“We’re so close to knocking the door down in these big games,” Kraft said. “Yeah, we’re 3-3, but a couple of little things from 5-1.”

West’s effort, especially on the defensive side, was impressive, as two of the team’s tougher defenders — end Kevin Toomer and linebacker Cameron Martin — sat out the game based on the altercation with South Rowan. There were some running plays where Martin’s absence was clearly felt.

West set a hard, physical tone right away. The Trojans got a good taste of Evan Kennedy’s shoulder pads, as the Falcons drove for a 7-0 lead. Kennedy bounced a 33-yard run outside to set up the score, and Brant Graham finished it with a 9-yard toss to Ja’mih Tucker, who went in motion and flared out of the backfield.

Northwest got back to 7-all, but the Falcons made it 14-7 when Kennedy made a diving catch in the end zone, near the back and side boundaries.

Northwest celebrated homecoming at halftime, but fans knew they were in for a fight.

West surged ahead 21-7 with 9:13 left in the third quarter when Jaylen Neely scooted right up the middle for a 25-yard score.

Northwest, which got 121 yards and two TDs from standout back Jarlon Drye, didn’t fold and answered West’s touchdown three minutes later to get back to 21-14.

It stayed 21-14 until deep in the fourth quarter. When West recovered a fumble in Northwest territory with under six minutes left, the Falcons had a chance to put the Trojans away.

On fourth-and-7 at the Northwest 33, the Falcons were going for it.

The execution was good. Graham hit Brennon Stevenson on a slant, but a Trojan made a great solo tackle less than a yard from the first-down stick with 4:05 left.

“We were about 10 yards from field goal range there,” Kraft said. “Came up a yard short. Frustrating.”

West was still only one stop from victory, but couldn’t get it. Northwest made plays, broke tackles and tied the game by surprising the Falcons with a double pass with 2:30 left.

That’s when it all unraveled for the Falcons.

Northwest had excellent coverage on the ensuing kickoff and pinned the Falcons back. Northwest scored a decisive safety when a blitzing linebacker hit Neely in the end zone just as he took a handoff from Graham.

West had to kick from its 20 following the safety, and with only 1:27 left, the Falcons had little choice but to try an onside kick.

Northwest recovered it and broke a right-up-the-gut rushing TD for the final margin.

Kennedy had 26 carries for 129 yards, but was sidelined at the end by an ankle injury.

Kraft does believe he’ll be able to play against Robinson this week and Martin and Toomer also will return to the field.

“We should be at full strength,” Kraft said. “Robinson is really good, state-championship good, but we believe we’ll be the best team they’ve played so far. Our guys have bounced back all year. We’ll be ready.”