HobbsDailyReport.com
HUNTERSVILLE – North Lincoln High’s 1-2 punch in the backfield knocked out Lake Norman Charter on Friday night in South Fork 2A football.
With running backs Clayton Cribb and Jake Sorrus rushing for nearly 400 yards together, visiting North Lincoln steamrolled Lake Norman Charter 49-14 to share first place in the conference with Bandys and East Lincoln.
N. LINCOLN 49
LN CHARTER 14
Cribb ran 14 times for 199 yards and Soorus had 11 carries for 181 yards and four touchdowns as North Lincoln improved to 4-2, 2-0 and left Lake Norman Charter at 2-4, 0-2.
Lake Norman Charter had an early 14-7 lead after Jaden Goodman sandwiched scoring runs of 7 and 84 yards around Soorus’ first score (34-yard run). Soorus’ 33-yard run with two minutes, five seconds left in the opening quarter and a PAT tied it 14-all.
North Lincoln went ahead for good when Soorus broke a run for 22 yards and a score. When quarterback Landon Beard ran for two TDs over the final 5:22 of the half, North Lincoln led 35-14 at the half.
The only scoring in the second half came in the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Soorus and a 45-yard interception return by Sam Brady.
North Lincoln finished with 557 yards of offense, including 528 rushing yards on 54 carries.
Lake Norman Charter ran for 86 yards and had 177 yards of total offense, but had four turnovers (three lost fumbles).
Goodman had 121 yards on 14 carries for Lake Norman Charter, both season-highs, and quarterback Jeff Womack threw for 91 yards.
Cribb’s 199 yards was a season-best, and Soorus’ 181 yards is his best game of the season. Cribb now has three 100-yard games and Soorus’ two have been back-to-back (he gained 126 on 11 carries in a win over West Lincoln).
The victory was the 133rd in an 18-year career for North Lincoln head coach Nick Bazzle, coming in his 220th game.
North Lincoln needs a win at East Lincoln – Bazzle’s alma mater — on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The winner will either share first place with Bandys, if the Trojans beat Lincolnton, are will be alone atop the standings if the Wolves were to upset Bandys.
Lake Norman Charter has lost three straight games heading into Friday’s 7:30 p.m. home game against conference foe Maiden.