CHAPEL HILL — Chapel Hill had enough discipline, execution and strong line play to defeat Pittsboro Northwood 28-7 at Culton-Peerman Stadium in a non-conference game.
-- Chapel Hill had enough discipline, execution and strong line play to defeat Pittsboro Northwood 28-7 at Culton-Peerman Stadium in a non-conference game.
Most importantly, Chapel Hill had Darius Allen. The junior running back scored on a touchdown catch and a touchdown run to spark the Tigers, who are now 4-0. The Chargers fell to 2-2.
“We had too many penalties, so the discipline is going to be an on-going thing for us over the next two weeks as we get ready for conference play,” said Chapel Hill head coach Issac Marsh. “Down in the trenches, I thought we were a little more physical than they were up front. I thought we executed pretty well but we have to do better.”
Chapel Hill scored on its second possession of the game when quarterback T.J. Johnson tossed a screen pass to Allen, who raced 73 yards untouched for the touchdown. The extra point by Emmett Thorpe put Chapel Hill up 7-0 midway through the opening period.
The Tigers scored again early in the second period after taking possession at the Chapel Hill 42-yard line. Allen set up the touchdown by rushing 53 yards on five straight running plays. Allen had to come out of the game with a minor injury after carrying the ball to the Northwood 5-yard line. Jeremy Peck raced around end untouched to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead with 11:30 left in the second quarter.
Allen rushed for 69 yards on eight carries to go along with the 73-yard touchdown catch-and-run in the first half.
The Tiger defense picked off Northwood passes on the next three Charger possessions, one of the interceptions was by Peck and the other two were by Alex Duncan.
Duncan’s second pick gave Chapel Hill possession at its own 38-yard line. With Allen on the sidelines, Johnson took over by gaining 56 yards on two quarterback keepers. The third touchdown came on a Peck run from four yards out, giving the Tigers a 21-0 lead with 35 seconds left in the first half.
The Tiger defense held Northwood to 46 total yards on 29 plays in the first half.
“Defensively, we have to do a little better watching the football,” Marsh said. “We don’t ever want to go on cruise control. When you go on cruise control, injuries happen when you get lackadaisical on the field.”
Duncan picked off his third interception midway through the third quarter. That interception set up the Tigers’ final touchdown. The drive went 51 yards on five plays, with Allen racing up the middle untouched from 19 yards out. That touchdown put the Tigers up 28-0 with 3:02 left in the third period.
“Our offensive line came through tonight and that is what we want to do,” Marsh said. “We want to control the game by establishing our running game. I am very proud of the fact that we were able to do that. We cannot have those small penalties that set us back, we had a couple of delays of game and a false start.”
