STANHOPE, N.C. — Southern Nash has always had an embarrassment of riches at running back.

In the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A football playoffs, the 14th-seeded Firebirds showed off their depth in the backfield, running over 19th-seeded Harnett Central 56-14.

Ten different running backs got at least one touch, with five backs scoring touchdowns. Southern Nash finished with 474 rushing yards and did that without the services of senior Tylik Mitchell.

The Old Dominion commit and No. 12 player in the state only had three carries, for 115 yards and a score, but left the game with a lower body injury in the first quarter.

Mitchell , who missed the last two games, went for 86-yards and a score on his first touch of the game. After his third carry on the next drive, Mitchell limped to the sideline and didn’t return.

Not that the Firebirds needed him.

Thanks to a healthy dose of Jonathan Hines, Jaden Hartsfield, Luke Faulkner, Israel Whitaker and Camron Lyons, the Firebirds (9-2) ran out to a 50-7 halftime lead.

“With what we do on offense, that’s kind of how we’re built anyway,” Southern Nash head coach Brian Batchelor said. “You never want to lose a kid, but we got three kids in the backfield who start, so they all need to be able to block and carry the ball. It was good to see all of them respond.”

Hines, a senior, scored three times, while Hartsfield, Faulkner and Lyons each had one score.

Southern Nash also picked off two passes – one by CJ Tyler in the first quarter and another by Whitaker in the second quarter. Whitaker’s interception led to the second score of the night by Hines, which made it 40-7.

With 32 seconds remaining in the first half, Whitaker caught a 21-yard touchdown from Kwamaine Battle for the 43-point halftime lead.

Southern Nash came into the game averaging 352.6 rushing yards per game. The Firebirds had 414 at the half. This was the fourth time this season they rushed for more than 400 yards in a game. The 474 was the second-highest total of the season.

Harnett Central (8-3) came into the postseason with a potent passing attack, but could never get going against the Firebirds. Their lone score in the first half came when Koby Howard hit Landon Culbreth for a 7-yard score. That made it 14-7 with 6:42 remaining in the first quarter. That would be the last time the game would be close.

“We were fortunate that our guys got up to speed on what they (Harnett Central) were doing,” Batchelor said. “Our defensive coaches had a great game plan and they followed it, and our backs and offensive line kept rolling … just happy we got our team back.”

Southern Nash scored on the next five possessions to end the first half. The Firebirds blocked a Trojans’ field goal attempt on the first drive of the second half and got right back to the ground game with their reserves, saving the starters for next week.

Harnett Central blocked a punt, the first of the game by the Firebirds, to get just their second possession in Southern Nash territory. That led to a 4-yard touchdown run by Cody Ammons. The Firebirds led 50-14 after the extra point, ending the sped up third quarter.

Marley Alston scored with 3:28 left from 4-yards out to make it 56-14.

Southern Nash will take on 30th-seeded J.H. Rose, who upset Northern Nash, 32-25.

Batchelor wasn’t aware of his next opponent at the conclusion of his game, but knows the path isn’t easy moving forward.

“They are all tough,” Batchelor said about playoff games. “There’s no more easy games this time of the year for sure.”

Mitchell’s lone score gave him 21 for the season and his ninth 100-yard game of the season. Hartsfield led the way with 152 yards rushing. Hines had 71 yards.