Northwestern’s offense sets the tone as the Trojans notch 600 yards total offense
Northwestern had an extra week to digest its first loss of the season, despite approaching Hurricane Ian making the break one night shorter by forcing a move of its Region 3-4A opener against Lancaster to Thursday.
The bye week was just what the Trojans needed.
Turbo Richard tallied 210 rushing yards and three scores, as Northwestern broke the 600-yard mark for total offense in a 58-16 win over Lancaster to start region play.
“We worked on a lot of tackling,” said Northwestern coach Page Wofford in assessing his team’s effort during the extra week of preparation. “They do some things and run different formations that we had to work on. We really just worked on Northwestern. It paid off a little bit.”
It appeared for a moment in the first quarter that there may have been an offensive shootout. Northwestern went 66 yards in just over two minutes to take a 7-0 lead at the 9:46 mark. Lancaster (3-3, 0-1 Region 3-4A) needed just two plays to counter, when Mikal McCollum busted a 73-yard scoring sprint over the right guard to even the score 43 seconds later.
Northwestern (5-1, 1-0) cashed in twice more in the first quarter to claim a 21-7 advantage.
However, Ian’s approaching winds blew away the offensive burst from the first period. Lancaster drew two points closer in the second quarter on an errant punt snap that sailed into the end zone, and Northwestern notched a 19-yard field goal from Matthew Fish for a 24-9 halftime lead as the half expired.
The running backs again traded scores in the third quarter. Richard sandwiched touchdown runs of five and 45 yards around a 27-yard jaunt from McCollum to extend the home side’s lead to 37-16 after three periods at District 3 stadium.
Conditions on the field continued to deteriorate, but that didn’t slow down the Trojan offense. Elijah Caldwell’s second touchdown grab of the night was the first of Northwestern’s three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
“I told them before the game that we had to be bigger than the wind and bigger than the elements, and we proved that,” Wofford said. “There wasn’t a time when I was afraid of making a throw or anything like that with Finley or (receiver and backup quarterback) Greer (Hopkins) where the wind was gonna be a problem. Those guys did a great job.”
The Trojans turned in a balanced offensive effort, throwing for 310 yards and rushing for 293. Lancaster had 305 yards of total offense.
Northwestern embarks on its first road trip in region play next week.
The Trojans will travel to Indian Land, who won a thriller at York to open its region slate Thursday.
“We’ve heard a lot about them,” Wofford said. “Their defense is outstanding. They’ve got some really good players over there. Coach (Adam Hastings) is doing some good things with them. We look forward to hopefully having a good football game.
“I’ve never been to Indian Land for a football game in my life, so I’m looking forward to heading over there, experiencing that, and trying to have some fun.”
Lancaster returns home to Memorial Stadium next Friday, where the Bruins face South Pointe. Kickoff for both games is set for 7:30.
Box score
Northwestern 58, Lancaster 16
Lancaster 7;2;7;0;-9
Northwestern 21;3;13;21;-58
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
N – Turbo Richard 5 run (Matthew Fish kick) 9:46
L – Mikal McCollum 73 run (Daniel Vincent kick) 9:03
N – Zilon Arnold 5 run (Fish kick) 7:10
N – Elijah Caldwell 9 pass from Finley Polk (Fish kick): 21.8
Second quarter
L – Safety (punt snap into end zone) 6:56
N – Fish 19 field goal :00
Third quarter
N – Richard 5 run (conversion failed) 7:44
L – McCollum 27 run (Vincent kick) 4:17
N – Richard 45 run (Fish kick) 2:37
Fourth quarter
N – Caldwell 12 pass from Polk (Fish kick) 9:55
N – Jaylen Burris 39 pass from Greer Hopkins (Caleb Rodriguez kick) 4:48
N – Kamari Chiles 13 run (Rodriguez kick) :48
This story was originally published September 29, 2022 at 10:44 PM.