APEX — For a half here on Saturday evening Northwood gave 4A Apex Friendship all they wanted and then some.
But eventually committed seven turnovers by the Chargers led to 41 unanswered points by the Patriots and a 50-14 lopsided win in a contest more competitive than the final score indicated
Northwood, in its initial contest under new head coach Cullen Homolka, falls to 0-1 on the season and will take on Lee County this Friday, August 30 at Charger Stadium in Pittsboro.
Apex Friendship, meanwhile, will take a 1-0 record over to Cary on Friday night in week two action.
The 41 points by Apex Friendship in the final three quarters blew open what was a tight game early with Northwood holding a 14-9 advantage.
Mistakes by Northwood began early as the locals muffed a punt on its opening series which led to Zach Johnson and Justin Reed combining for a sack of NW punter Ryan Fortunes in the end zone which resulted in a safety and a 2-0 lead by the Patriots.
“We were very opportunistic on defense,” said Apex Friendship head coach Adam Sanders remarked after the game. “Defense found a way to create some turnovers. We’re going to be very dynamic defensively this year.”
Two series later, Burk recorded the first of two interceptions in the game for Apex Friendship, diving to . Burk picked off a Jack Thompson pass and returned it deep into Northwood territory an two plays later, Dontay Hamer pounded in from eight yards out to send the hosts up 9-0.
Northwood responded, however, when Jack Thompson fired a stand up to Jalen Mcafee-Marion, who juked a defender and darted to the outside before picking up a nice block from Braden Meachem, and sprinting down the left sidelines for an 80 yard touchdown. Maxwell Mekemson added the PAT kick and the Chargers closed to within 9-7 with left in the opening period.
Apex Friendship countered with a long drive including a 24-yard diving catch by Drew Miller down the right sidelines from Sam Lersch. The Patriots advanced to the Northwood eight yard line before Kentrell Edwards and Mcafee-Marion had a meeting at the quarterback, jarring the ball lose from Lersch. Deuce Powell picked up the soggy pigskin and returned it to the Patriots 47.
Two plays later, Thompson found Justin Brower find open over the middle and Brower shook off the tackle going to the left, stopped and split a pair of defenders, and waltzed into the end zone standing up for a 35-yard touchdown to put the visitor’s on top 14-9.
That lead was short lived, however, as Apex Friendship erupted for 17 second quarter points to take a 26-14 lead at half.
Alan Josephson posted a 26-yard field goal and Sam Lersch found Payton Bloom from 10 yards out in the front right corner of the end zone before capping the onslaught with a 17 yard scoring pass to Bloom in the back left corner of the end zone.
After the break, Miller returned a punt 62 yards to the house that blew the game open at 33-14 with 4:03 left in the third quarter and Hamer found the end zone again, this time on a 12-yard score around the left end with 2:10 remaining in the period to up the lead to 50-14.
Josephson booted a 30 - yard field goal and Hamer tacked on a late rushing touchdown to wrap up their 50-14 victory over the Chargers.