By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
PLYMOUTH — The Vikings rode the wave of a 22-point first quarter to coast past the Panthers 42-15 on Friday.
Running backs Ronnell Blount, Elmer Cooper and Deshawn Allen carried the load for Plymouth (4-1), as the Vikings rushed for 296 yards and four touchdowns.
A shaky run defense, coupled with some untimely turnovers haunted the Panthers (2-3) in the first half.
Leslie Jones helped get the Vikings going when he was able to pick off a Darius Murray pass and give Plymouth possession on their own 43-yard line.
From there, the Vikings’ trio of backs took turns pounding through the Panthers’ defense. The drive ended when Blount was able to rip off a 33-yard run to the right side of the field, and with a diving effort, hooked the football inside of the right pylon to put Plymouth up 6-0.
The Vikings found the end zone two minutes later when quarterback Akiem Cooper hooked up with Jameze Simpson on a 20-yard out-route, which Simpson turned into a 85-yard score and took a 14-0 lead with 1:04 left in the first quarter.
Northside suffered another bad break on the ensuing kickoff, as Murray fumbled on the return, giving Plymouth the ball at the Panthers’ 20-yard line.
On the Vikings first play, Deshawn Allen slashed his way 20-yards to pay dirt and a 22-0 lead.
To make matters worse for Northside, Murray hurt his back during the fumbled kick return and sat out the second quarter.
Isaiah McCullor filled in for Murray and did a nice job in his place. McCullor helped the Panthers get on the board in the second, when he pieced together a drive that ended in a booming 40-yard field goal by Cecilio Cota that made the score 22-3.
McCullor was also involved in both of Northside’s touchdowns, as he ran for one in the second, and threw a nine-yard pass to D.J. Satterhwaite in the third.
Blount and Cooper led the Vikings with two scores a piece.
The Vikings will look to continue that progress next week when they host Roanoke, while the Panthers will look to rebound at home against Perquimans.
Northside Plymouth
10 First Downs 11
43-167 Rushes-Yards 38-296
26 Passing Yards 85
1-5-1 Pass-Comp-Int 1-3
3-33 Punting 1-10
7-2 Fumbles-Lost 2-2
x Penalties x
Northside 0 9 0 6 — 13
Plymouth 22 7 0 13 — 42
Scoring Summary
P — Ronnell Blount 16 run (Robert Clement kick failed), 2:57, 1st.
P — Jameze Simpson 85 pass from Akiem Cooper (Blount two points), 1:04, 1st.
P — Deshawn Allen 20 run (Blount two points), 47:4, 1st.
N — Cecilio Cota 40-yard field goal, 8:36, 2nd.
P — Elmer Cooper 7 run (Clement kick), 6:04, 2nd.
N — Isaiah McCullor 1 run (two points failed), 2:03, 2nd.
P — E. Cooper 3 run (Clement kick), 7:50, 4th.
N — D.J. Satterhwaite 9 pass from McCullor (two points failed), 5:14, 4th.
P — Blount 1 run, 2:37, 4th.