Published: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 / Updated: Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 09:36 AM

'Air Raid' zeroes in

Trojans score on first seven possessions to advance to second round

Everything seems to be falling into place for Northwestern. The weather held out for Thursday's game, and the team's 0-4 start is a distant memory.

Northwestern got a head start on the Class AAAA Division II playoff field by jumping all over South Florence, 53-0. The Trojans (7-5) will play at home next week against the winner of tonight's T.L. Hanna/Hartsville game.

South Florence (6-6) made its first trip to the playoffs since 2003 a short one. orthwestern scored on its first seven possessions. They led 32-0 at the end of the first quarter and 46-0 and intermission. Justin Worley threw for 375 yards and seven touchdowns in less than three quarters of work.

Worley, a junior quarterback, said the team discovered some weaknesses watching film on the Bruins. Even on a windy night at District Three Stadium, Worley was on target most of the night.

“On film,(South Florence) did some unconventional things on defense,” Worley said as the team hustled to board awaiting buses after the game. “We knew we could exploit them.”

The Trojans started the game conservatively with three running plays and a 5-yard completion to Sanbobis McCleod, followed by two more short passes to Robert Joseph. Worley dodged a bullet when South Florence's Jeremiah Reaves nearly picked off a pass. Had he caught it, he might have scored.

Instead, Worley hooked up with Stewart Hunt on a 47-yard pass play. Hunt was left all alone on the home sideline with no Bruins defender within 15 yards. He scored easily, and it was just the start of a fun evening for the home team.

South Florence's best drive was its first of the game. Quarterback Kaleb Griffin completed his first two passes, a 20-yarder to Blake Vincent and an 11-yard slant to DeQuan Chamberlain. Running back Terrion Brown carried three times for 20 yards, and the Bruins were inside the Trojans 10-yard line.

An incomplete pass led to a 26-yard field goal try that missed wide.

The defensive stand pumped up the team.

“That was very big holding them on their first possession,” Northwestern defensive coordinator Mike Biddix said. “We always seem to be a little slow coming out of the chute on defense. (South Florence) moved the ball well.”

Northwestern needed just three plays to score again. Worley faked a handoff and ran for 39 yards on first down. One play later, he hit Brandon Lewis on a 41-yard touchdown pass. Lewis added an 8-yard TD catch just before halftime.

On the Bruins' next possession, Griffin threw a long pass, trying to score quickly. Griffin, also a junior, entered the game with 2,088 yards passing for 26 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Northwestern's Nick Cousar stepped in front of the receiver for the first of five interceptions for the Trojans' defense on the night.

Griffin finished 12-for-28 for 155 yards. Brown gained 86 yards on 20 carries.

Once the Trojans adjusted to the speed of the game, they dominated. Keon Stowers recorded an interception after teammate Collins Mauldin deflected a Griffin throw. Sophomore Josh Shelton had an interception and a long punt return in the game. Charles Heath and Keenan Orr had picks as well.

Twice the Trojans' defense preserved the shutout with picks in the end zone. Tyler Blake and Devon Locke each blocked punts for Northwestern.

The offense didn't slow down until late in the third quarter when coach Jimmy Wallace removed Worley and inserted several younger players on both sides of the ball. Tyler Williams and Matt Turney each took snaps under center in the second half.

“Winning this kind of game gives us that much more confidence going into the second round of the playoffs,” Worley said.

NORTHWESTERN 53

SOUTH FLORENCE 0

N–Stewart Hunt 47 pass from Justin Worley (kick failed)

N–Brandon Lewis 41 pass from Worley (pass failed)

N–Robert Joseph 53 pass from Worley (Ryan Foster kick)

N–Desmond Cunningham 15 run (Foster kick)

N–Lewis 8 pass from Worley (kick failed)

N–Joseph 19 pass from Worley (Foster kick)

N–Tyler Blake 57 pass from Worley (Foster kick)

N–Sanbobis McCleod 3 pass from Worley (Shamare Jones kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

RUSHING — South Florence: Terrion Brown 20-86, Caleb Griffin 1-1, Vincent Johnson 3-6, Brandon Lewis 1-6. Northwestern: Sanbobis McCleod 5-17, Justin Worley 3-45, Desmond Cunningham 2-18, Brandon Crank 3-(-7), Tyler Williams 1-(-11), Tavaraus Cherry 2-6.

PASSING — South Florence: Caleb Griffin 12-28-155-5. Northwestern: Worley 19-31-375, T. Williams 1-3-5, Matt Turney 2-2-25.

RECEIVING — South Florence: Charles Nettles 2-37, Blake Vinson 3-53, Trent Dowd 4-51, DeQuan Chamberlain 1-11, Te'von Johnson 2-3. Northwestern: Robert Joseph 7-104, Cody Craven 1-20, Stewart Hunt 2-55, Brandon Lewis 2-49, Maurice Hunt 2-6, McCleod 4-23, Demario Wilson 2-14, Tyler Blake 2-81, Cunningham 2-53.