ANGIER, N.C. — All-American 3A/4A Conference foes Terry Sanford and Harnett Central have seen a lot of each other in the past 370 or so days on a football field.

Friday night was the third meeting between the two schools in that time frame. The first seven quarters, Terry Sanford’s defense gave up 67 points to Central. In the last five quarters, the Bulldogs have become quite a bit more stingy, holding the Trojans scoreless.

Eighty percent of that span came Friday night as Terry Sanford (5-2 overall, 4-0 conference) grabbed control of the conference championship race with a 42-0 road win over Central.

The Bulldogs forced five Trojan (5-2, 3-1) turnovers and were never threatened, starting a two-game win streak over Central which started with a 43-22 win in the second round of the playoffs last season. The Trojans had taken the regular season meeting last season, 45-28.

Senior defensive back Benny Whiteaker set up his team’s first two scores of the night with interceptions to end both of Central’s first two drives. It was the 6-foot-2 defender’s first career two interception game.

Terry Sanford drove nine plays after the first pick, going up 7-0 on Christian Carter’s 19-yard catch from Jacob Moore. On the first play of the next Trojan drive, Whiteaker struck again as the ball sailed high over the intended receiver. A 40-yard connection from Moore to Carter keyed a quick drive that Isaiah Whittington ended with a 3-yard TD run.

Central’s offense came in averaging 36 points a game but was limited to 156 yards on the night. The Bulldogs’ defense created eight plays that resulted in a loss of yardage in addition to the turnovers.

The Trojans tried to get back in the game by going for a fourth-and-4 just across midfield midway of the second quarter, but Bulldog defenders Dillon Cromartie and Asa Robinson combined on a stop of Central’s Ethyn Muhammad short of the line to gain.

A Tucker Hayes’ 3-yard TD run was the end result of the ensuing Bulldog drive. Cromartie got right back in the action on Central’s next play from scrimmage, pulling down an interception with 2:24 to play in the first half. Five plays later, Izaiah Williams ran it in from 10 yards out and Terry Sanford was in complete control 28-0 at the half.

A fumbled punt — recovered by Bulldog junior defensive lineman Isaiah Keys — set up the fifth Terry Sanford TD of the  night, another short Hayes TD run. Central’s night was epitomized by the play that came before Hayes’ score. D.J. Brown tipped and picked off a pass in the end zone, then apparently returning it 102 yards for a touchdown. But a defensive penalty nullified the play.

Justice Clifton notched a strip sack (picked up by Robinson) late in the third quarter, giving the Bulldogs a chance at their sixth TD of the night (and 10th touchdown of the past five quarters agains the Trojans). That TD came via a Whittington 7-yard run with 8:41 to play.

Terry Sanford kicker Gibson Bray was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points. Moore went 10-for-16 passing for 130 yards and added 42 yards rushing. Whittington (71 yards) and Sebastian O’Keefe (68 yards) led the Bulldogs on the ground.

Muhammad ran for 78 yards in the loss for Central, which faces cross-country rival Overhills next week. Terry Sanford will visit Fayetteville rival Westover.

Terry Sanford 42, Harnett Central 0

TS 14-14-7-7-42

HC 0-0-0-0-0

Scoring Summary

TS—C.Carter 19 pass from J.Moore (G.Bray kick); TS—I.Whittington 3 run (G.Bray kick); TS—T.Hayes 3 run (G.Bray kick); TS—I.Williams 10 run (G.Bray kick); TS—T.Hayes 4 run (G.Bray kick); TS—I.Whittington 4 run (G.Bray kick).

Team Stats

Rushing: TS—36-210; HC—25-51

Passing: TS—10-16-130-0; HC—8-18-105-3.

Individual Stats

Rushing: TS—I.Whittington 13-71, S.O’Keefe 11-68, J.Moore 5-42, I.Williams 1-10, T.Hayes 2-7, Q.Ortiz 2-3, W.Kueny 1-12, K.Thames 3-(-1); HC—E.Muhammad 16-78, C.Ammons 5-9, J.Grice 1-(-4), L.Culbreth 1-(-8), K.Howard 2-(-24).

Passing—TS—J.Moore 10-16-130-0; HC—K.Howard 8-17-105-3; L.Culbreth 0-1-0-0.

Receiving—TS—J.Grice 3-10, C.Carter 3-77, I.Whittington 1-30, G.Kraut 1-7, J.Goodwin 2-6; HC—L.Culbreth 4-45, M.Smith 1-56, D.Brown 1-5, E.Muhammad 1-(-8).

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Source: highschoolot.com