Northwestern football ended its regular season with a statement.
The Trojans ran up the score in their 51-13 victory against Indian Land, which had entered Friday night’s finale unbeaten through the first nine games.
Northwestern (9-1, 6-0) wins the Region 3-5A championship and earns a bye in the South Carolina High School League playoffs.
Trojans quarterback Xavier Means threw for six touchdown passes and rushed for one.
“It’s always good to win a game,” Means said. “The most important game is the next game, whoever we've got next, whoever we play in the playoffs, that's what we're focused on right now.”
How Northwestern defeated Indian Land
Both sides found the end zone on their first possessions.
Indian Land senior Jayden Clyburn returned the opening kickoff for a 92-yard touchdown.
The home team answered with a quick scoring drive of its own. Means found senior wide receiver Jonathan Spurgeon for a 6-yard touchdown pass, and kicker Alex Bendt made the extra point to give Northwestern a 7-6 lead.
More chances were found early, and the Trojans capitalized. Means connected with Spurgeon once again for an 8-yard touchdown late in the first quarter.
The Warriors fumbled the ensuing kick return and were pushed back near their own goal line, and Northwestern’s defense came up big.
Junior defensive back Jaylon Richardson brought down Indian Land quarterback Matt Kucia in the end zone, posting a two-point safety for the Trojans.
Northwestern stayed in control.
Senior wide receiver Kameron Vance hauled in a grab on third down from the opponent’s 36-yard line. It was initially ruled a touchdown as he appeared to reach across the plane, but was then deemed to be short. Means hit Vance for a 3-yard score on the next play, and Bendt hit the extra point, making it 23-6.
“We do what we do,” Means said. “We only focus on ourselves, we don’t focus on nothing else. If we do our job, we know we're going to win the game.”
Means led the offense on another drive downfield before punching it in himself for a 1-yard score. The Trojans drove downfield once again before halftime, and Means connected with junior Payton Vining for the score, making it 37-6 at the break.
Vining snagged a 49-yard touchdown catch less than 90 seconds after the second half began.
Northwestern forced the running clock as it took a 51-6 lead, according to SCHSL rules, after Means had dropped a fine 39-yard strike into Vining’s hands for the receiver’s third touchdown of the night and fourth this season.
Notable
They said it
“We’ve expected that all year from (Vining),” Northwestern head coach Page Wofford said. “Just what defenses have been doing to us the last couple games, or for the beginning of the season, it just wasn’t gonna open up for him. But (Friday), they gave us some things that we like to take advantage of, and we saw it and at halftime said, ‘If we get a chance in the second half, we’re gonna try to hit him with one or two deep balls.’ And thankfully, you know, Xavier threw a very nice ball, and Peyton doesn’t know any better but to run under and catch it. Great game for him, and we’re happy for him.”
Up next
The first round of the South Carolina High School League playoffs begins Friday.
Scoring summary
FIRST QUARTER
IL: Clyburn returns opening kick for TD (6-0, Indian Land)
NHS: Spurgeon 6-yard TD (7-6, Northwestern)
NHS: Spurgeon 8-yard TD (14-6, Northwestern)
NHS: Richardson safety (16-6, Northwestern)
SECOND QUARTER
NHS: Vance 3-yard TD (23-6, Northwestern)
NHS: Means 1-yard TD (30-6, Northwestern)
NHS: Vining 3-yard TD (37-6, Northwestern)
THIRD QUARTER
NHS: Vining 49-yard TD (43-6, Northwestern)
NHS: Vining 39-yard TD (51-6, Northwestern)
FOURTH QUARTER
IL: Hayden Morris touchdown (51-13, Northwestern)