Northwood's Shannon Peppers shares the acclaim

The Pittsboro Northwood offensive line played well Friday night in a 62-34 victory over Carrboro.

If you don't read any further, you have seen the message that running back Shannon Peppers wanted to convey after rushing for 414 yards and scoring seven touchdowns.

"Basically, they opened the holes and I just ran," Peppers said.

The seven touchdowns tied for third on the all-time single-game list (Donnie Davis of Hope Mills in 1960 and Mike Hill of Harnett Central in 2003 each had eight), and his 414 yards rank 12th all-time. The yardage and the touchdowns are school records, however.

But Peppers, who is a cousin of former North Carolina standout Julius Peppers, wanted to share the credit. Peppers mentioned the offensive line's play at least four times during an interview Saturday.

"Make sure you get that part in, OK?" he said.

So, for the record, Peppers' primary interior blockers were left tackle Dalton Brown, left guard Keith Berger, center Preston Roberson, right guards Doug Horton and Trent Harris and right tackles Paul Shackelford and Caleb Morris.

Because some of the Northwood offensive linemen also play defense, coach Bill Hall substitutes frequently, and all of them played well. Just ask Peppers, who scored on all sorts of plays, including the Chargers' first play from scrimmage.

Northwood came out in a no-back set with two tight ends and three wide receivers. Peppers came in motion, took a handoff and ran 55 yards to the end zone.

"We scored on isolations up the middle, the no-back look, a couple of sweeps, just about everything thing you can think of," Hall said.

Northwood quarterback Sam Griffin holds all of the school passing records, but he didn't feel well Friday. When Hall saw Griffin at school Friday, the coach immediately threw away his game plan.

"Sam looked terrible," Hall said. "Forget everything we had planned to do. I knew we were going to have to run the ball. Then, once the game started and I saw how Peppers was running, we kept giving it to him."

Peppers said it was his best game ever.

"It was the first time I've gained 400 yards," he said.

Had you ever gained 300? "No."

Been over 200? "No."

What was your best? "About 169."

Peppers said he didn't feel particularly good or motivated during the game.

"What I try to do is to do my best on every play," he said. "I really worked hard in the offseason. I wanted to have a great senior year."

Hall said he wasn't surprised by Peppers' breakout game. The Chargers are undefeated, and Hall hopes the club can make a strong playoff run. He believes Peppers could put up big numbers if he was given the ball more often, but Hall prefers a balanced attack.

Griffin has passed for 1,119 yards, and Peppers has 1,213 yards rushing.

"I'm not going to run him to death," Hall said. "He is very capable of getting 200 yards most nights, but we're in for the long-term, not just one game."

Northwood needed almost every yard and touchdown against Carrboro. The score was 34-27 late in the third period.

"It was back and forth," Peppers recalled. "We'd score and they'd score. But I had good holes all night."

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior is playing his first season at Northwood after his mother moved near the Chatham County line close to Apex. He got his first scholarship offer, from East Carolina, when he was a freshman linebacker at Chapel Hill. The Pirates tell him the offer is still good.

Friday night, Peppers and his blocking escort play at home against South Granville, which has Ian Bosley, one of the most productive backs in the area with 1,233 yards.

Hall expects his offensive linemen to have a little extra motivation for the showdown of running backs.

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