Northwestern football dominates: Trojans take down Catawba Ridge in SC on Friday night

It went up against a hungry offense, but Northwestern football remained dominant.

Catawba Ridge marched downfield and scored early at its home field, keeping its 59-17 loss to the Trojans close for much of the first half.

But it was all Northwestern.

Senior quarterback Finley Polk accounted for five of eight touchdowns, and sophomore running back Zymier Gordon-Miles rushed for more than 200 yards. Once halftime rolled around, the game had already become a trouncing.

The Trojans fired on all cylinders, shut down a strong opponent — the Copperheads saw a four-game win streak end — and their perfect record prevails.

“We talked it about all week: They were gonna do smart things, they were gonna be in the right position. And they were,” Northwestern head coach Page Wofford said. “Our guys came out a little flat, a little out of sorts. I don’t know if it was the hurricane that came through, or whatever it was.

“But once we got settled and started playing, we kind of put the game away, and I’m happy for another win.”

Notable

▪ The victory by Northwestern (6-0) came in one of just two football games — along with Cannon School-Charlotte Country Day — played Friday night in the Charlotte area amid Hurricane Helene. The sun was shining before kickoff, and it ended up being comfortable outside in Fort Mill.

▪ Catawba Ridge (4-2), which is rebounding from a 1-9 season, had its four-game winning streak snapped. The Copperheads, whose first loss came at the hands of Chapin in Week 0, wore their black jerseys and had a packed student section decked out in a USA theme.

▪ Northwestern, ranked No. 4 in the Charlotte Observer’s latest Top 25 in the Carolinas, has outscored its opponents 285-122 through six games.

They said it

“(Polk) has got his problems, too, he’s not perfect. He threw two interceptions tonight; his first two of the year. It’s like a no-hitter: You don’t talk about the no-hitter. We started talking about the fact he can’t throw an interception, and now he threw two. That’s how athletics work, right?

“I’m real spoiled with him now. We talk the same language. We know each other’s mannerisms. He knows what I’m looking for. I know what he wants to do, what he likes to do. He looks like a three-year starter on our offense. He’s put in the work, and he’s got a chance to be very, very good the rest of this year, and moving on in his future.” — Wofford on Finley Polk

Up next?

Northwestern returns home to host Clover next Friday at 7:30 p.m. Catawba Ridge looks ahead to its bye week before facing Indian Land for a road game Oct. 11.

Scoring summary

Northwestern 10 21 21 7 — 59

Catawba Ridge 7 7 0 3 — 17

FIRST QUARTER

CRHS: The Copperheads took an early 7-0 advantage with a CJ Couch touchdown pass to Preston Cooper.

NHS: Matthew Fish nailed a 25-yard field goal that made it a 7-3 game early.

NHS: Polk completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Tadarrian Knox, lifting the Trojans to a 10-7 lead.

SECOND QUARTER

NHS: A 28-yard pass from Polk was hauled in for a touchdown by Knox for his second score, making it 17-7.

CRHS: CJ Couch fired a short touchdown pass to Preston Smith that pulled the deficit to 17-14.

NHS: Polk hustled in for an 8-yard touchdown rush that gave Northwestern a 24-14 lead.

NHS: Sophomore Qua Mobley rushed home for a 1-yard touchdown that made it a 31-14 ballgame.

THIRD QUARTER

NHS: Jayden Nichols raced to the end zone for a 63-yard touchdown following a Polk screen pass to extend Northwestern’s lead to 38-14.

NHS: Kameron Vance caught a short touchdown pass from Polk following a Tamarion Watkins interception and run back, and the Trojans opened a 45-14 advantage.

NHS: Mobley punched it in from 5 yards out for his second touchdown to make it 52-14 Northwestern.

FOURTH QUARTER

CRHS: Senior kicker Camden Gifford drilled a field goal, making it 52-17.

NHS: Nigel Smith took a handoff from McCrea Knight for a fourth-quarter touchdown, and junior kicker Braeden Bybee made the extra point to give Northwestern a 59-17 lead.