Rocky Mount Academy has been away from home for two games now, but on Thursday they'll finally make their return. They will welcome the St. David's Warriors at 7:00 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Rocky Mount Academy is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of North Carolina's top teams: Liberty Christian Academy, who was ranked 15th in their home state at the time (Rocky Mount Academy was ranked tenth). Rocky Mount Academy claimed a resounding 65-0 win over Liberty Christian Academy on the road. The Eagles' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Rocky Mount Academy's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Gehrig Miller led the charge by rushing for 67 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing for 101 yards and two touchdowns while completing 77.8% of his passes. The dominant performance gave Miller a new career-high in rushing yards. Cam Dawkins was another key back, rushing for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, St. David's came up short against Halifax Academy on Friday and fell 42-35.
St. David's loss shouldn't obscure the performances of Benjamin Young Iii, who rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries, and Hutch Marshall, who picked up 144 receiving yards and three touchdowns. That high mark didn't come from nowhere: Young Iii posted at least 131 rushing yards in the fifth games prior.
Rocky Mount Academy's victory bumped their record up to 2-4. As for St. David's, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-2.
Everything came up roses for Rocky Mount Academy against St. David's in their previous meeting back in September of 2023, as the team secured a 62-19 win. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Marshall, who picked up 149 receiving yards and a touchdown. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Rocky Mount Academy still be able to contain Marshall? There's only one way to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
