Northwoods Moves Into The Semi’s With 35-10 Win
Northwood Academy senior Michael Polite rushed for 132 yards in win against Heathwood Hall.
By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Summerville – The Northwood Academy Chargers (9-2) scored two touchdowns in 39 seconds in the third quarter to break open a tight contest as they defeated Heathwood Hall Episcopal (5-6) 35-10 in the first round of the SCISA AAAA playoffs.
“It is always nice to get the win but we didn’t play a very good game. We had a turnover to start and I felt we played uninspired football in the first half. That’s on me, I need to challenge them more during the week,” said NA head coach Johnny Waters.
The win sets up a semi-final matchup between defending state champions as the Chargers (AAAA Champions) will host area rival Pinewood Prep (AAA). This will there second meeting in the last five weeks. NA won an overtime thriller 44-43.
“It should an exciting game. Glad we have them here,” said Waters.
The Chargers won the toss and elected to receive. The Highlanders defense forced a fumble on a fourth and three which was recovered by Liam Edwards at the 46 yard line.
The Highlanders moved quickly into the red zone after quarterback Harrison Harley hit wide out Keon McKinley with a 26-yard strike moving the ball to the Chargers 14. However, facing a third and three at the NA 7- yard line the Highlanders had a false start and then Harley was sacked by NA’s Mitchell Lanier and Memphis Varner for a 10- yard loss. Edwards nailed a 37-yard field goal to give the Highlanders a 3-0 lead.
The Chargers responded on the kickoff when Aiden Rutledge returned the ball 49-yards giving them a first down at the 50. A 40-yard completion from Kevin Johnson to Rutledge put the ball at the HHE three and on the next play the two hooked up again on three-yard scoring toss. Elliot Parrott added the point after giving the Chargers a lead they never relinquished at 7-0.
The defenses for both teams took control for most of the first half as they forced six consecutive punts (three for each team) and allowed only two first downs both by the Highlanders.
NA took over at their 7-yard line where they turned to senior running back Michael Polite. After a short completion to move the ball out to the 10, Polite carried the ball on five of the next six plays rushing for 56 yards on the drive. Johnson then hit Bryce Jenkins from the six and the PAT made it 14-3 Chargers.
“The plan was to keep Michael out because he was nursing an ankle sprain. We had to have a spark and he provided it. He is our guy,” coach Waters said.
The Highlanders do what all good teams do, they responded with a 6-play, 80-yard drive to cut the lead to 14-10. The big play on the drive was a 33-yard pass from Harley to Alan Rodriguez putting the ball at the Charger 12. From there Jayson Bolton carried the ball three times and finishing the drive with a two-yard touchdown run.
The Chargers got the ball back with 1:02 on the clock and quickly moved the ball to a first and goal from the Highlanders one with 3.2 seconds. Johnson pass was incomplete and the teams headed to lockers with NA 14-10.
The Charger defense made a statement on the Highlanders first possession of the second half as they sacked Harley on third down to force a punt.
The Charger offense then went 69-yards in 8 plays to take a 21-10 lead. Polite got it started with a 13-yard run and Johnson finished it with an 8 yard touchdown pass to Quentin Clay.
Three plays into the next HHE drive, NA’s Jenkins would pick off Harley setting up the Charger offense up at the HHE 37.
Johnson would hit Rutledge with a beautiful 37 yard post route to increase the Chargers lead to 28-10. Those two scores took 39 seconds and put the game away.
Polite would cap off the nights scoring when he burst up the middle for a 20-yard touchdown run. It finished a 66-yard drive. On the night Polite would rush for 132 yards and the score. He also went over 1000 yards on the year.
