The Chargers’ offense overpowered Carrboro as Ti Pinnix threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more in a 56-14 win Friday night at Northwood.
The Northwood offense came out of the gate clicking on all cylinders. Senior quarterback Pinnix, coming off a concussion, looked to be in top form throughout the game, throwing for 310 yards and rushing for 82.
With under a minute in the first quarter, junior running back Montel Goods set up the Chargers with a strong run down to the seven-yard line. Senior running back Kadarus Rone punched it in from there for Northwood’s first points of the game. Following the touchdown, Michael Queen recovered an onside kick, and the Chargers drove down the field, capping off the drive with a six-yard TD run by Rone.
Carrboro respond with 9:31 left in the second quarter on a Trai Sharp 63-yard run to make the score 14-7. After senior Darius Cole set the Chargers up with great field position on the kickoff return, Pinnix scrambled down the sidelines into the end zone to extend the Chargers lead. Pinnix would add two more scores through the air as he connected with senior Jared Worley and junior BJ Harrington to make the score 35-7 at the half.
The Chargers received the kickoff to start the third quarter and wasted no time scoring. Northwood drove down the field and Goods powered into the end zone on a four-yard run to make the score 42-7.
Carrboro showed some life with three minutes left in the third quarter after the Charger turned the ball over on downs. Sharp broke off a 53-yard run down to the goal line. Carrboro then threw a four yard pass to cut the deficit to 42-14. In the fourth, Goods added another score on a reverse from 15 yards out and Pinnix raced down the field on a 70-yard keeper to seal the victory. The Chargers went on to win 56-14 behind a powerful offensive performance.
“The offensive line really stepped up tonight and allowed me time to make some throws. Everything clicked at the right time and really helped us tonight,” Pinnix said.
Northwood has outscored its opponents by an average of 35.75 points over the first four games. The defense has only allowed an average of 7.25 points over this span.
The defense was able to hold Sharp and the Carrboro offense relatively quiet over the course of the game, allowing Sharp, one of the state’s top backs, only two big gains.
“The defensive line played contain really well tonight and allowed us to stop Sharp and Carrboro,” senior linebacker Trent Cline said.
Northwood has a bye week this week as it prepares to open up conference play the following week at Orange High School.
– By Jacob Sipe