Benny O. Hodges

Randy Wrenn | The Daily Herald Northwest Halifax senior tailback Brandon Daniels picks up some tough yards during the Vikings, 22-14, conference win over North Johnston Friday night. Advertisement

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Correspondent

AURELIAN SPRINGS — Relying on the fleet feet of quarterback Sidney Hilliard and running back Brandon Daniels, the Northwest Halifax Vikings defeated North Johnston 22-14 Friday night as both teams raced to reach .500 in the Northern Carolina Conference.

It has been an up and down season for Head Coach Andre Stewart’s Northwest Halifax Vikings (5 – 4 overall, 2 – 2 NCC). Having lost to Bunn two weeks ago, the home standing Vikes were coming off a bye-week and were looking to reestablish a positive identity.

“I think the week off helped us, we needed a little rest,” Coach Stewart said, commenting on the bye week. “We’re not used to having a bye so late in the season but we’ve been playing since August 21, so we really needed it to get ready for the stretch run,” he explained   

The rest and extra preparation the bye week presented appeared to have benefited the Vikings. They were able to weather a North Johnson offensive surge in the first quarter, capture the momentum, and amass 278 yards of total offense.   

North Johnson (3 – 6 overall, 1 – 3 NCC) turned the games initial possession over on downs at the Northwest 25-yard line but regained possession on the 35 when the Vikings fumbled 3 plays later. After a short gain by quarterback Laquan Cox and a delay of game penalty, Cox pitched to Jacques Alston who skirted the left side for a 27-yard touchdown. Grady Harrison kicked the PAT   

The spirited play of the Panthers in the first quarter quieted the large Senior Day crowd and pointed to an evening of dominance for the team from Kenly.  Northwest Halifax had other ideas, however, and the Viking defensive stepped up to save the day. Hilliard, Daniels, and L. J. Whitehead all had interceptions, Angelo Boone rolled up 11 tackles and Demetry Jones made 9 stops.     

North Johnson lost offensive momentum after the second interception and the Viking ground pounders claimed the line of scrimmage. Antonio Alston, Dominque Daniel, Brian Hawkins, Cameron Richardson, Deonte Williams and Alfred Hilliard took turns opening gasping holes for 278 yards of total Viking offense. Daniels garnered 82 yards on 16 carries and Hilliard added 72 yards on 6 carries

Taking advantage of his offensive lines second quarter aggression, Hilliard turned the right corner for a 50-yard touchdown run. A halfback pass for the two-point conversion fell incomplete.

North Johnston led 7 – 6 at intermission but on the first possession of the second half, Hilliard circled left end from 2-yards out for his second touchdown, then passed to Alston for the two-point conversion. The Vikings led 14 – 7 and would not trail again in the game.

With 9:15 remaining, Hilliard registered his third touchdown on a 4 yard rollout left. He would duplicate that effort to the right for the two point conversion.

In the fourth quarter, quarterback Cox suffered an injury, eliminating the North Johnston passing attack and rendering the offense one dimensional. Cox was replaced by running back Alston who was also injured. In spite of these personnel losses, the Panthers scored another touchdown and mounted a largely impotent challenge behind sophomore quarterback Boone Langley.

Coach Stewart was cautious when discussing his team’s future. “We’re going to take it one game at a time,” he said.“I learned a long time ago, don’t start looking ahead too quick. I’m going to enjoy this about 36 hours, then Sunday afternoon I’ll get to work on Louisburg and get prepared to go down and play a tough Warrior team.”