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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

The Ellis football team has blown out everyone in its path. The seventh victim was visiting Southeast on Oct. 2.

Defensive linemen Henry Migliarese, Wyatt Giff, Brody Newman and Colby Mason wreaked havoc as the Jaguars registered their sixth shutout, 36-0.

“Our line has been really solid all year,” assistant coach Mike Morgan said. “They’re not the biggest front four collectively we’ve ever had here, but man they’ve been tough. They’ve just really played with a motor all year. So far the results kind of speak for themselves.”

The offensive line has been equally dominant, with Migliarese, Giff, Newman and Mason joining Joseph Burchette and Vincent Clements on the OL and clearing the way for runners Bowman Blakley, Cam James, Wade Hefner and Mason Driver. Blakley rushed for two touchdowns, while the other three had one each.

“We’ve been able to win up front,” Morgan said. “At any level of football, that’s what you’ve got to do.”

The Jaguars (7-0), who have scored at least 28 points in every game, hosted Mooresville on Tuesday for the conference championship. They buried the Red Imps 38-0 on Sept. 17.

“They’ve had a lot of success in this league,” Morgan said of Mooresville. “After the first game, those coaches will have them ready to play. We’re expecting a knock down, drag out.”

N. Davie 26, N. Rowan 8

Workhorse running back Nathan Smith only played a half, but North Davie still had too much firepower for North Rowan on Oct. 1.

An under-the-weather Smith supplied 85 rushing yards and two TDs before sitting out the second half.

“He got overheated; he was sick at school that day,” coach Beau Byerly said. “He did all of his damage in the first half, really the first quarter. He probably could’ve had four touchdowns – at least – if he would’ve played the whole game.”

North didn’t miss a beat with Easton Stanley (50 yards, one TD) carrying the ball. With Levi Morales throwing for 100-plus yards, the Wildcats (4-3) extended their winning streak to three.

“Easton had a real good game. He can tote it pretty well,” Byerly said. “Levi’s got all the tools to be a good quarterback. He can move, he can throw, he knows the game. He plays every weekend; he’s on a travel team, too.”

North scored on its first possession. So did the Mavericks, who took an 8-6 lead before retreating.

“They had a receiver about 6-2 that jumped over two of our guys – both of them were in position – and he took it to the house,” Byerly said. “Other than that, they didn’t do anything.”

The headliners on defense were Mason Sheppard (four tackles for loss) and Peyton Jordan (two interceptions). Sheppard made a thunderous return after missing the previous two games with an injury.

“Mason got hurt when we played South Davie (on Sept. 10) and it took him two weeks to get an update and get a hard cast,” Byerly said. “He finally got a hard cast and a note to play, so we foamed it up. He played with a club and wore people out. He got after it; he was ready to run.”

Jordan is a versatile weapon who housed one of his picks with a 75-yard return. Morales also had an INT.

“Peyton was a nose guard initially, and then we put him at middle linebacker,” Byerly said. “He’s also our center and our kicker. He can move pretty good. I mean, he’s pretty athletic.”

South 20, West 8

Khari McClelland rushed for 97 yards, William Sandoval was effective through the air and on the ground and South Davie improved to 5-2 with a convincing win over West Rowan on Oct. 1.

Sandoval completed seven passes for 156 yards, including a TD hookup with Jared Vaughters, and he added 77 rushing yards and a pair of scores on the ground. Connor Leonard chipped in 57 rushing yards as the Tigers bounced back from a loss to Ellis.

And don’t forget about the lights-out defense. On that side of the ball, South got big games from cornerback Elijah Tatum, lineman Emanuel Cheek and linebacker Bentley Caudle.

“Elijah played great press coverage,” defensive coordinator Darius Wilson said. “He broke up a lot of balls.

“Emanuel gets in the backfield every game. He’s a monster. If he plays at the high school, he’ll probably be on varsity his sophomore year.

“Bentley made a lot of good plays. He was getting in the backfield because they were leaving gaps open.”