Northwestern football back on track behind Xavier Means to Kameron Vance route

Northwestern bounced back after suffering its first loss in more than a year, winning 75-21 against Nation Ford on Friday night.

After a falling to South Pointe a week earlier, Trojans coach Page Wofford reminded his team about the importance of preparation and attention to detail.

“We’re trying to win seasons, not just one game,” Wofford said. “That loss doesn’t define us as a program. We have to get better. We thought the things that we made mistakes on, we need to correct if we’re going to get to where we want to go. And that’s why we play games like that. That’s why we schedule the opponents we schedule. We scheduled (South Pointe) for a reason ... because we know we’d be playing against good athletes and we’re gonna have to play clean, and we didn’t do that. So, it’s a reminder to us of the things we need to correct and get better.”

Against Nation Ford, Trojans quarterback Xavier Means went 18-for-23 for 236 passing yards and three touchdowns. He added 53 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown. Kameron Vance, Means’ primary receiving target, was on the receiving end of two of the touchdowns and 72 yards. Wofford praised both players’ efforts and said they have built a good connection on the field.

“Xavier is getting better every week,” Wofford said. “There are a couple of things to work on week in and week out. We’ve got kind of some goal setting things with him, just in the pass game and some of the things we are trying to get completed. But, even Kam has stuff he can work on. … Everyone has things they need to work on and they are coming to practice every day and doing just that. We know what we’ve got with Kam and we know Xavier can get him the ball, so why not? So, we’re going to try and keep doing that.”

For Means, he stepped into a role after previous Trojans quarterback Finley Polk graduated and was faced with immediate pressure. So far, he has carried the torch well and he is eager to keep improving. Having the confidence of the coaching staff has been key for Means.

“It helps me a lot knowing that they are putting their trust in me,” Means said. “They always tell me that I can do what is being asked of me and if I believe in myself I can do what is asked. I feel like I filled (Polk’s) shoes and my teammates and everybody believes in me. That really helps boost my confidence.”

What many might not know is that the camaraderie between Means and Vance was built long before this year.

“Xavier has always been there, even when Finley was the quarterback,” Vance said. “I was catching passes from him in practice, he was already getting used to the program and the plays and all of that stuff. So, we never missed a beat once this season started. During the summer I would come to the field with Xavier and even sometimes the other receivers and just start building the chemistry. So, that is how we’ve already got such a good connection.”

Both Vance and Means said the loss to South Pointe stung, but they believe it got them going back in the right direction.

“The loss obviously hurt,” Vance said. “But, it motivated us more. It was like a big slice of humble pie. We had some guys thinking that it was going to be easy because we were coming in as the undefeated state champion. Everybody isn’t going to be scared of us. We have to keep our head down and keep working which is why we came out against Nation Ford and put up 75 points. Everyone was doing their jobs. I feel the loss (to South Pointe) made everyone hungry again.”

“To add to what Kam said, I believe not only did it motivate us, but it showed we can take a punch in the mouth and handle it,” Means said. “We can bounce back from it and learn from our mistakes. That is what we did last week against Nation Ford and that is what we are going to keep doing moving forward.”

More top Rock Hill-area performers

Tayshon Freeman, York, senior quarterback: Freeman led the Cougars to a 35-28 win over Columbia’s Dreher. He accounted for all five of the Cougars’ touchdowns, three passing and two rushing. Freeman finished 16-for-21 for 197 yards and added 18 rushing yards. His third passing touchdown was the go-ahead touchdown to put the Cougars ahead late in the third quarter.

J’Zavien Currence, South Pointe, senior athlete: Currence led the Stallions to a 35-12 win against Columbia’s AC Flora. The South Carolina commit had three touchdowns, one passing and two rushing. Currence is called on to do everything for the Stallions and he does. Along with his offensive output, he also added in seven total tackles and an interception. He could be described as the Travis Hunter of high school football.

Joshua Dobson, Catawba Ridge, defensive back: Dobson — the No. 5 player in the nation for the class of 2027 — did not allow a reception to any receiver he was matched up against in a 14-10 win over previously unbeaten Fort Mill. On top of doing what he does best in locking down receivers, he also played a little receiver himself catching the go-ahead 65-yard touchdown reception to put the Copperheads ahead for good.

Top Rock Hill-area games to watch

Catawba Ridge (4-1) at Northwestern (4-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday: Catawba Ridge is coming off a defensive masterclass against Fort Mill, holding the Yellow Jackets to 10 points. Fort Mill had scored more than 30 points in each of its previous games this season. This will be the tallest task to this point in the season facing Northwestern who scored 75 points against Nation Ford and averages 45.4 points per game. Both teams are 1-0 in Region III 5A play and look to separate themselves.

Rock Hill (3-2) at Indian Land (4-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday: Indian Land is coming off a bye week while Rock Hill narrowly defeated Clover, 35-34. Rock Hill, along with Catawba Ridge and Northwestern, is 1-0 in Region III 5A play while Indian Land had yet to play a region game. In Indian Land’s past two games, the Warriors shut out Parkwood (N.C.) and Andrew Jackson. Indian Land has given up just 13 points all season.

Clover (3-2) at Fort Mill (4-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday: Both the Blue Eagles and the Yellow Jackets are coming off close losses and will be hungry to get back into the win column. Fort Mill running back Broden Mitcheson will be looking to have a big game against Clover, which has been susceptible to giving up big rushing performances this season so far giving up more than 200 yards on the ground to Chambers (N.C.) and 180 to Palisades (N.C.).