The Northwood Academy Chargers will face off against the Heathwood Hall Episcopal Highlanders at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Northwood Academy barely beat Pinewood Prep the last time the pair played, but that sure wasn't the case this time around. The Chargers blew past the Panthers 45-20 last Friday. The win was nothing new for the Chargers as they're now sitting on five straight.
Northwood Academy's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Kaven Ford, who rushed for 168 yards and two scores while picking up 7.3 yards per carry. Ford showed off some serious burst, turning on the afterburners on one carry for 53 yards. Aydan Hogan was another key pass catcher, picking up 59 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Northwood Academy proved: they limited Pinewood Prep to a paltry 3.5 yards per carry. The team can thank Dominic Russell for the heroic effort on defense: he. Northwood Academy didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 6.2.
Special teams played a big role in the game for Northwood Academy, adding 15 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Jordin Carter, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Heathwood Hall Episcopal got the win against Camden Military on Friday by a conclusive 35-12. The Highlanders haven't had any issues with the Spartans recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.
Northwood Academy better keep an eye on Patrick Belk. He was instrumental in Heathwood Hall Episcopal's win, throwing for 285 yards and five TDs on only 18 passes. Those 285 passing yards gave Belk a new career-high.
Heathwood Hall Episcopal's victory bumped their record up to 7-2. As for Northwood Academy, their win bumped their record up to 8-1.
Everything went Northwood Academy's way against Heathwood Hall Episcopal in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, as Northwood Academy made off with a 34-14 victory. Will the Chargers repeat their success, or do the Highlanders have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
