Northwestern football runs past Catawba Ridge, wins SCHSL playoff opener
Northwestern football is moving on.
It was a strong night for the top-seeded Rock Hill power’s defense throughout its 42-7 victory against Catawba Ridge in the SCHSL Class 5A D2 football playoffs second round on Friday night at District 3 Stadium.
The Trojans (10-1) will host fifth-seeded Gaffney at 7:30 p.m. next Friday in the Upper State semifinals.
The Copperheads finish the season with a 6-6 record.
Northwestern junior quarterback Xavier Means threw for a touchdown and rushed for another during a 28-point third quarter. The Trojans’ lead at halftime was 6-0.
“We knew we had the plays to conquer this game,” Means said. “All smiles on the sideline. There were a little frowns there in that first half, but we picked each other up. It felt good. We actually played Northwestern football in the second half.”
How the Trojans defeated the Copperheads
The game remained scoreless into the second quarter.
Catawba Ridge moved downfield on its first possession with several tackle-breaking rushes from junior running back Boston Halpin and a deep pass to junior receiver Colten McCauley, But the Copperheads were stopped as Northwestern defensive back Jayden Baxter picked off a pass in the end zone.
The Trojans broke into the red zone early in the second quarter and were held to a 32-yard field goal by junior kicker Alex Bendt.
Catawba Ridge got right back into plus territory on its next possession and lined up for a field-goal attempt. But Northwestern defensive back Khalil Williamson came up with a huge block, maintaining its 3-0 lead.
Bendt drilled a 21-yard field goal late in the second quarter, giving the Trojans a 6-0 advantage they took to halftime.
“That game could have gone bad real quick,” Northwestern head coach Page Wofford said. “We were struggling on offense to move the ball there in the first half. Those gray uniforms kind of snuck up on them, you'll never see those again on a Friday night. Really set us back, but defensively, just kept getting the ball back and coming off the field.”
Northwestern senior Kameron Vance, the speedy wide receiver, took the opening second-half kickoff to the house — 96 yards — for the game's first touchdown. The Trojans converted the two-point attempt on a rush from junior Amarian Coleman and went up 14-0.
Means continued using the sides of the field to find his receivers, as well as rushing effectively himself, and threw the ball over the top several times. Vance rushed in for a 4-yard touchdown.
Means tossed a 43-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver David Flood on Northwestern’s ensuing possession.
The Copperheads got on the board during the third quarter. Sophomore quarterback Will Gambrill — called up from JV because of starter Will Griggs’ injury — threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Isaiah Thomas, making it 28-7.
Northwestern struck right back as Means took it in himself from 2 yards out and made it 35-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
Means found junior wide receiver Payton Vining for a 39-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Sophomore kicker Xan Wofford made the extra point.
Notable
- Northwestern advances to the Upper State semifinals for the fourth consecutive season. This marks the school’s longest such streak since its 2013-2015 run, which included two state titles.
- The Trojans also took down the Copperheads at home in a 56-20 win Sept. 26. Catawba’s offense was solid Friday night and moved downfield several times, but Northwestern continually made stops.
He said it
“I didn’t count (Gaffney) out. I want that on the record,” Wofford said. “I didn't count those guys out. Everybody was thinking it was going to be the other team they were playing, and I said, ‘When it comes to Gaffney, you've got to throw their record out the window’ in the playoffs, because those guys know how to win. They know what they're doing. I'm sure it’s going to be a great game here next week.”
What’s next for Northwestern?
The Trojans play Gaffney — which posted a 38-31 win at fourth-seeded Greenwood — at 7:30 p.m. Friday at District 3 Stadium in the third round of the SCHSL Class 5A Division II football playoffs and Upper State semifinals.
Scoring summary
SECOND QUARTER
NHS: Bendt 32-yard FG (3-0, Northwestern)
NHS: Bendt 21-yard FG (6-0, Northwestern)
THIRD QUARTER
NHS: Vance 96-yard kick return TD, Coleman 2-point conversion (14-0, Northwestern)
NHS: Vance 4-yard TD (21-0, Northwestern)
NHS: Flood 43-yard TD (28-0, Northwestern)
CR: Thomas 18-yard TD (28-7, Northwestern)
NHS: Means 2-yard TD (35-7, Northwestern)
FOURTH QUARTER
NHS: Vining 39-yard TD (42-7, Northwestern)
This story was originally published November 14, 2025 at 10:10 PM.
