Northside used three second quarter touchdowns to overcome an early deficit, and the Vikings methodically ground out a 28-7 win over cross-county rival Cave Spring Friday night at JIm Hickam Field.
Both teams entered the night undefeated after Northside had easily defeated Amherst County 40-11 in week-one and Cave Spring had been equally successful at home in a 33-7 win over William Byrd.
The Knights were looking to reverse a shutout loss in 2013 to the eventual Group 3A state champion Vikings.
Northside came into 2014 needing to replace standout quarterback Dominic Dunnaville under center, and the Viking line has taken an early season hit with the preseason foot injury to 6”6″, 300-pound all-state lineman and University of Tennessee signee Chance Hall.
Hall was in a walking boot and warmup pants Friday night, although he did walk to midfield to participate in the pre-game coin toss.
Cave Spring has high hopes with returning quarterback Alex Emery and the impressive week-one performance of running back Jon Roach, who has quickly become the workhorse of the Knights running game.
Cave Spring wasted no time getting the attention of the sizable crowd on a picture-perfect night.
After both teams stalled on their opening possession, Cave Spring took over after a long Northside punt pinned the Knights deep at their own 10-yard line.
Cave Spring promptly went on a methodical 90-yard drive that was capped off by Roach’s 4-yard touchdown run midway through the opening frame. Senior Tyler Garner added the PAT for a 7-0 Knights lead.
Northside got its offense in gear in the second quarter.
Senior running back Austin Fisher got things going when he plunged in from one yard out to tie things at 7. The score had been set up moments earlier by senior quarterback Josh Hardister’s 75-yard bomb to sophomore Tra’ Jackson that escaped the Cave Spring secondary.
After a Northside interception of an Emery pass, Hardister struck again through the air, this time on a 27-yard toss to junior Hayden Porterfield that culminated a 69-yard Viking drive.
Northside took control on their next possession when Fisher scored on a nifty 65-yard run that sent the Vikings to the halftime break up 21-7.
The Vikings added some insurance on the first play of the fourth quarter when Hardister again hooked up with Jackson on a 21-yard touchdown pass. Cameron Murray’s fourth straight point-after secured the final margin.
Northside has not lost since last October when they fell to Lord Botetourt in an overtime thriller in Daleville.
Bill Turner