NRCA wins second straight game, takes down Wake Christian
By Nick Stevens, HighSchoolOT managing editor
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Raleigh Christian Academy picked up a road win over cross-county rival Wake Christian Academy onFriday in a rather convincing fashion.
Wake Christian scored a late touchdown in the final minute to avoid being shut out, but North Raleigh Christian claimed a 28-7 win.
Rogerick Ray had a big game for North Raleigh Christian, rushing for 261 of the Knights' 451 yards on the ground. Ray also had the first touchdown of the game. One play after a big 35-yard run by Ray, the senior scored a 12-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt was blocked, but North Raleigh Christian held a 6-0 lead.
The Bulldogs had a chance to get on the board late in the first quarter, but a 37-yard field goal attempt by Ross Burnette fell short. North Raleigh Christian led 6-0 after one quarter.
Ray carried the Knights once again in the second quarter. Ray broke a long run on fourth down, getting North Raleigh Christian down to the Wake Christian 1-yard line. He crossed the goal line on the next play, then Connor McGann found Connor Brennan for a successful two-point conversion try.
North Raleigh Christian led 14-0 at halftime.
The third quarter featured a handful of turnovers, but not much else. Wake Christian drove deep into North Raleigh Christian territory early in the third quarter, but the drive ended with a Colin Driggs interception. On the ensuing possession, a 67-yard run by Ray put the Knights on the Bulldogs' 23-yard line, but North Raleigh Christian fumbled it away on the next play.
Turnovers continued in the fourth quarter, and an early interception by Elijah Veale gave Wake Christian hope for a comeback with over nine minutes left. However, Nolan Rock picked off a pass on the next play and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, pushing North Raleigh Christian's lead to 21-0 with 9:11 left.
The Knights' Jackson Maye intercepted a Wake Christian pass on the next drive, but Jordan Bass got the ball back for Wake Christian with a fumble recovery of his own. Rock's second interception ended any hope of a comeback for Wake Christian though. Rock picked off another Bulldog pass with 4:55 left.
Rock's final interception setup a Chris Rivera 33-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes left in the game to add even more cushion for North Raleigh Christian.
Wake Christian was able to avoid being shut out though. Ross Burnette completed a 30-yard pass to Veale, putting the Bulldogs at the 4-yard line. A few plays later, Ross Burnette completed a touchdown pass to his brother, Jackson Burnette, from the 3-yard line with 34 seconds left.
North Raleigh Christian has now won back-to-back games and holds a 2-3 record. Next week, the Knights will host defending state champion Trinity Christian at 7 p.m.
Wake Christian falls to 0-3 on the season after the loss to North Raleigh Christian. The Bulldogs return to play next week at Harrells Christian Academy at 7 p.m.
By Nick Stevens, HighSchoolOT managing editor
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Raleigh Christian Academy picked up a road win over cross-county rival Wake Christian Academy onFriday in a rather convincing fashion.
Wake Christian scored a late touchdown in the final minute to avoid being shut out, but North Raleigh Christian claimed a 28-7 win.
Rogerick Ray had a big game for North Raleigh Christian, rushing for 261 of the Knights' 451 yards on the ground. Ray also had the first touchdown of the game. One play after a big 35-yard run by Ray, the senior scored a 12-yard touchdown. The extra-point attempt was blocked, but North Raleigh Christian held a 6-0 lead.
The Bulldogs had a chance to get on the board late in the first quarter, but a 37-yard field goal attempt by Ross Burnette fell short. North Raleigh Christian led 6-0 after one quarter.
Ray carried the Knights once again in the second quarter. Ray broke a long run on fourth down, getting North Raleigh Christian down to the Wake Christian 1-yard line. He crossed the goal line on the next play, then Connor McGann found Connor Brennan for a successful two-point conversion try.
North Raleigh Christian led 14-0 at halftime.
The third quarter featured a handful of turnovers, but not much else. Wake Christian drove deep into North Raleigh Christian territory early in the third quarter, but the drive ended with a Colin Driggs interception. On the ensuing possession, a 67-yard run by Ray put the Knights on the Bulldogs' 23-yard line, but North Raleigh Christian fumbled it away on the next play.
Turnovers continued in the fourth quarter, and an early interception by Elijah Veale gave Wake Christian hope for a comeback with over nine minutes left. However, Nolan Rock picked off a pass on the next play and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, pushing North Raleigh Christian's lead to 21-0 with 9:11 left.
The Knights' Jackson Maye intercepted a Wake Christian pass on the next drive, but Jordan Bass got the ball back for Wake Christian with a fumble recovery of his own. Rock's second interception ended any hope of a comeback for Wake Christian though. Rock picked off another Bulldog pass with 4:55 left.
Rock's final interception setup a Chris Rivera 33-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes left in the game to add even more cushion for North Raleigh Christian.
Wake Christian was able to avoid being shut out though. Ross Burnette completed a 30-yard pass to Veale, putting the Bulldogs at the 4-yard line. A few plays later, Ross Burnette completed a touchdown pass to his brother, Jackson Burnette, from the 3-yard line with 34 seconds left.
North Raleigh Christian has now won back-to-back games and holds a 2-3 record. Next week, the Knights will host defending state champion Trinity Christian at 7 p.m.
Wake Christian falls to 0-3 on the season after the loss to North Raleigh Christian. The Bulldogs return to play next week at Harrells Christian Academy at 7 p.m.
