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Raiders run over Greyhounds
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Published: October 31, 2009
LANDIS - South Rowan was a model of efficiency Friday as the Raiders scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams — and that was just in the first quarter.
Yes, it was that kind of night for the Statesville Greyhounds.
Thomas Lowe scored four touchdowns and rushed for 138 yards in the first half as South ran Statesville out of town with a hard-to-believe 76-22 victory.
"I don't know what to say," Greyhounds coach Randall Gusler said. "I'm still in shock. I've never seen anything like it."
Few have. But on Senior Night, the Raiders (8-2 overall, 4-1 North Piedmont 3A) were particularly ruthless.
South Rowan was up 14-0 before things really started to unravel for Statesville. Backed up against its own goal line, a Statesville snap was a bit high, and soared deep into the end zone.
Running back Keyon Harris alertly scooped it up, but tried to make a few moves and escape the end zone. He was caught by a host of South players, fumbled, and Brandon Ledbetter fell on it for a touchdown that took the air out of Statesville.
The Greyhounds (3-7, 1-4) temporarily halted the bleeding when Harris scampered for a 35-yard touchdown with four seconds left in the first quarter, but Mark McDaniel responded with a 74-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that made it 35-6 after the first.
South Rowan added three more rushing touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 55-6 at halftime.
"We just came out here and, every mistake you can make, we made," Gusler said.
Harris rushed for 58 yards on five carries and senior Ty Bennett ended the game with a personal high.
Trailing 69-6, Bennett got a rare carry near the goal line and punched it in for a 4-yard score. Three plays later, he ripped the ball from a South running back and sprinted 41 yards for a score.
Statesville then went for an onside kick but, in an incredibly fitting ending, South Rowan returned it for a touchdown to finalize the scoring.
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