The first half of Saturday’s North Cross-Christchurch football game played out like each team’s nicknames.
North Cross ran up and down the field like battle-tested Raiders. Christchurch was left to fight the currents akin to Seahorses.
Putting up 35 points before halftime with efficient play on both sides of the ball, North Cross coasted to a 41-7 victory on a warm afternoon at Thomas Field.
“Our preparation was key this week,” North Cross head coach Stephen Alezander said after the unexpectedly easy win. “We knew it would be hot and we really focused on hydration. It showed.”
“Christchurch is top-notch and we respect their program,” Alexander added. “They came across the state and that’s tough for any team. We were focused on getting off to a fast start. That was a great first half for us, especially the defense. It was big to have Davis Call back on the line.”
Call, who played with a cast after a severe finger injury in week-one, made things miserable for the Seahorses all afternoon as the Raider front held the Christchurch offense to 104 total yards for the game. The Seahorses did not pick up a first down in the opening half.
“Games are won and lost up front,” Christchurch 24-year head coach Ed Homer said at midfield afterward. “They won it there, and played with a lot of intensity. It also came down to experience. North Cross is very talented. We have a very young team and have
to be patient with our players. Our kids are getting better.”
North Cross came out of the gate on fire.
Christchurch received the opening kickoff and fumbled on their opening series. North Cross drove for a score capped off by Jarion-Jenkins-Saunders’ 1-yard run on fourth down with just over 7 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Raiders added two more scores in the opening quarter on a Miles Lowman to Jordan Lowery 6-yard toss with 5:30 left and a Lowman to Justin Wright strike with 33 ticks left for a 21-0 lead.
After the Seahorses went three-and-out on their next possession, Lowery returned the Christchurch punt inside the Seahorse 20. Four plays later Jenkins-Saunders took it in from five yards out with 10:10 left in the second quarter to put North Cross up 28-0.
Wright finished the Raider first-half onslaught with 6:48 left on a 47-yard catch and run from Lowman that sent the Raiders to the break with the five TD advantage.
Christchurch got on the scoreboard late in the third quarter on sophomore running back Jamar Darboe’s 1-yard run that cut the Raider lead to 35-7, but North Cross completed the day’s scoring on their next possession when Lowman connected with Lowery
for a 65-yard touchdown pass.
North Cross returns to action at home next Saturday against Blue Ridge, before an off-week leads to the much-anticipated matchup with St. Anne’s-Belfield on Friday night, October 9th in Charlottesville.
Bill Turner
