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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

Davie’s three middle school football teams bludgeoned their season-opening opponents by an aggregate 98-6.

Whoa.

Ellis, a 28-0 winner at home against Corriher-Lipe on Aug. 20, only ran three offensive plays in the first half. All three resulted in touchdowns. They were:

• A 45-yard pass from Mason Driver to Cam James.

• A 55-yard run by Bowman Blakely.

• A 40-yard run by Driver.

Also in the first half, Driver had a pick-six for 60 yards.

The defense was equally dominant for the Jaguars, who are coming off a 5-2 record in 2023.

“We only had the ball for about two minutes in the first half,” coach Mike Morgan said. “We played good defense. During the second half, we were able to get some of our new players and backup players some experience.”

Morgan said Ellis has a beast up front in 6-2, 245-pound Brody Newman. “He was an anchor on both sides of the line,” he said.

Ellis has won 21 of 23 across four seasons.

SD 32, NR 0

William Sandoval showed his potential as a seventh-grade quarterback in South Davie’s rout at North Rowan. He hit 9 of 10 passes for 151 yards.

“He plays travel ball all year long,” coach Germain Mayfield said. “He’s further along than Chris Reynolds was at that age. Now, what he doesn’t have that Chris had is the football IQ. Teaching him the game is going to be the hard part, but as far as ability, he can make every single throw right now. We’ve got to protect him.”

Sandoval connected with seven targets – James Martin, Malachi Miller, Dreighton Lunnerman, Aiden Arnett, Wyatt Tucker, Bentley Caudle and Jared Vaughters – and running backs Connor Leonard, Khari McClelland and Tucker and QBs Sandoval and Vaughters combined for 100 rushing yards.

McClelland had the defensive play of the game, stripping the ball, scooping it and rumbling 47 yards to the end zone.

The margin could have been greater if it weren’t for three lost fumbles and the absence of Colsen Dulin, who is one of South’s most skilled linemen as a starter on both sides of the ball.

“North Rowan was so much more physical than we were up front,” Mayfield said. “We struggled, but we didn’t have Colsen. He got hurt in the scrimmage. He would have made a huge difference.”

The Tigers, who went 5-3 last year, have a four-game winning streak dating to 2023.

ND 38, SE 6

How utterly dominant was North Davie on the road against Southeast? It was 14-0 before the Wildcats touched the ball on offense.

Easton Stanley, an eighth grader who was deeply impressive in his first football action since third grade, immediately set the tone by returning the opening kickoff to the house.

“Easton was probably the player of the game,” coach Beau Byerly said of the receiver/linebacker. “We sent him on some blitzes and he got in the backfield and caused some problems. He had a heck of a game. He had close to 300 all-purpose yards. He went off.”

After Stanley scored in the opening seconds, Nathan Smith picked up a fumble and raced 50 yards to make it 14-0.

“I think Peyton Jordan made the initial contact – stood him up and poked it loose,” Byerly said.

Smith, a running back/defensive end, was another guy who shined on both sides of the ball, with two rushing scores among his three TDs.

“He’s a lineman-turned-into running back,” Byerly said. “He played excellent at end on defense. He had a lot of big tackles.”

Levi Morales’ fingerprints were all over the highlight-filled game. He threw for 200-plus yards, including a scoring hookup with Stanley, and ran for around 80. When he wasn’t quarterbacking, he was doing good stuff at safety.

“Levi did a good job holding it down at safety,” Byerly said. “He didn’t let anything get over the top.”

The Patriots had a hard time blocking defensive end Mason Sheppard, and Wade Ridenhour and Morales had interceptions.

“Mason had some great tackles and big contact,” Byerly said. “He had a great game for three quarters.”

This is Byerly’s second year at the helm. North went 4-4 in 2023.