Northwestern Prepares To Face South Pointe After 67-21 Win Over Berkeley To Improve to 3-1 On The Season
“We have also been blessed to have had a lot of amazing quarterbacks at Northwestern and Xavier Means is one of them,” said Coach Page Wofford.
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Moncks Corner---The Northwestern Trojans (3-1) invaded John Bradley Field at Berkeley High on September 18, competing like a team of storm troopers of Archilles in some Homerian epic, and before they departed, they had defeated the Stags 67-21, and they now take their team speed, and excellent coaching up against rival South Pointe.
The game featured a story line of Trojan head coach Page Wofford returning to the very field his father, Rufus, had coached on with Gerald Moody when he was a ball boy for the Stags. Even Coach Wofford’s brother, Lane, watched the game dressed out in Stag blue, as he broadcast the game from the top row of the home stands for a local television broadcast.
After the game, Coach Wofford shared some comments, “I told our team to stay calm, and I knew out style of play would show out after they went up 3-0,” said Coach Wofford. “We knew we would be in for a very competitive game, but I knew our team would stay focused and keep playing hard and that would win the game and that is what happened.”
Coach Wofford was proud of how the Trojan’s defense held Stag QB Henry Rivers in check for most of the game. “The defense did their job, and I think he got tired of running around against our defensive pressure, and our tight coverage on their receivers resulted in a few coverage sacks, and we need to keep playing like this in the future.”
Coach Wofford also cited the play of Malik Ratliff who had a great game as a return man. “He is special, special and we got him over here form South Pointe, and he is such an amazing return man and good receiver,” said Coach Wofford.
“We have also been blessed to have had a lot of amazing quarterbacks at Northwestern and Xavier Means is one of them,” said Coach Wofford. “We have a few more coming down the pike, but we are going to enjoy his talents during his senior year.”
When asked if he was pleased with putting 67 points on the board against Berkeley, Coach Wofford’s answer went in a different direction. “We didn’t play that well with our turnovers and penalties,” he said. “We need to clean up our game, and we will try to do better next time. Berkeley is probably a top- two team in the low country; them and James Island. They should both have deep playoff runs.”
Coach Wofford also cited the continued outstanding play of his defense. He noted the play of Dash Holley at LB, Ratliff at DB, along with KJ Burg at LB. He also cited the play of the defensive front led by ends Aiden Wilson, Jonathan Barber, and Malik Darby along with tackles Jordan Dye and Tristen Hall.
Berkeley head coach Eric Lodge also shared some comments after the game. “We will get back on the practice, field and do what we always do, and that is to practice hard and try to get better,” said Coach Lodge. “If we do that then we will be set up for success, and if we do not get better in practice, we will not be set up for success.
“We had plenty of opportunities in the first half that popped, and then we just fell down a couple of times almost like the grass monster got us,” said Coach Lodge. “I thought the first half was closer than what the score ended up being at half time.
“In the second half we pulled a little closer in the third period, but I was not very pleased with our effort in the second half for the most part,” said Coach Lodge. “I think the game really turned after our effort dropped. They do a great job on the other sideline, and they are very efficient and they execute their stuff very well. If you are not doing what you are supposed to be doing, they are a team that can put it in the end zone in a hurry against you.”
Northwestern was led in the game by senior quarterback/athlete Xavier Means and senior receiver and five star return man Malik Ratliff. Means accounted for four touchdowns completing 17-of-19 passes for 149 yards and two TD’s while rushing for 76 yards and two TD’s on runs of 11 and 8 yards. Means is committed to East Carolina.
Ratliff, currently committed to Coastal Carolina, caught six passes for 39 yards and a TD of 8 yards. His big contribution to winning was his 9 returns, on punts or kick-offs. for 209 yards that gave the Trojans excellent field position all night.
After Berkeley took an early 3-0 lead on a 34-yard field goal by Ryland Curwan in the first period, NW reeled off 24 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 24-3 lead at the half.
Means scored on an 11-yard run with 9:55 left in the half and Alex Bendt added the PAT to give NW the lead for good at 7-3. Bendt added a 27-yared field goal at the 6:37 mark to make it 10-3 and Peyton Vining caught a 39-yard scoring pass from Means with 4:07 left to extend the lead to 17-3 after Bendt’s PAT. Then with 22 seconds left in the first half RB Daylen Shankle scored on an 11-yard run to make the score 24-3, after Bendt’s PAT.
NW built a 31-3 lead at the 5”04 mark of the third quarter when RB Dash Holley scored on an a 15-yard run and Bendt added the PAT.
Berkeley scored on a 63-yard bomb to from Rivers to receiver Elijah Mitchell with 7:25 left in the third and the PAT was blocked to make the score 31-9 at that point. Then with 6:02 left in the third Rivers scored on a six0yard run and the PAT was blocked again to make the score 31-15.
Northwestern finished off the third period with three additional scores to take a 53-15 lead into the final period. Holley scored his second TD of the game on a one- yard run at the 5:04 mark, Ratliff scored on an 8-yard reception from Means with 2:15 left, and Means scored on an 8-yard run with 34 seconds left and Bendt added three extra PAT’s after each score.
The Stags scored their final score of the game on a 37-yard run by RB Bryson McGee with 11:08 left and the PAT attempt was fumbled.
At this point NW reserves provided the Trojan’s final 14 points. BJ Ervin scored on a three-yard run and X Wright-Meeks hauled in a 32-yard scoring reception from James Dixon. Reserve PK XAN Wofford kicked both PAT’s.
For the game NW rushed for 263 yards on 38 carries while both quarterbacks completed 18-of-20 passes for 181 yards. The Trojans compiles 444 net yards of total offense.
Shankle led rushers with 125 net yards on 13 carries with a TD. Means netted out 76 yards on 14 carries with two rushing TD’s. Tavion Rust gained 42 yards on seven carries. Holley had 16 yards on two carries and two TD’s. Ervin had one carry for a three-yard TD.
The NW top receivers were Ratliff with six catches for 39 yards and a TD along with Peyton Vining who caught four passe for 55yards and a TD. Kadin Vasse caught three passes for 12 yards and Ervin had two catches for 36 yards.
Berkeley totaled 289 yards of total offense.
Rivers completed 9-of-23 passes for 132 yards and one TD. He added 49 yards rushing an done TD. The Stags were led in rushing by McGee who netted 95 yards on 11 carries and one TD.
The top receiver was Mitchell with five catches for 115 yards and one TD.
The top two tacklers for NW were senior LB KJ Burg with six total stops, and soph LB Dash Holley had five tackles.
Berkely was led on defense by DE Chance Coleman who had two fumble recoveries.
After a bye week Berkeley will play Wando in two weeks.
