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**Check below the story for video highlights and interviews from Friday's game**
After scoring less than 100 points for the past three seasons, and struggling to a mere six points in a decisive season-opening defeat, Northwestern-PG was due for an offensive breakout. The Wildcats tallied 18 first quarter points and forced three safeties to coast a 47-0 mercy rule shortened victory over struggling High Point.
Northwestern sophomore tailback running back Augustine Sahr eclipsed the century mark, rushing for 106 yards on nine carries. Sahr, who averaged a career-best 11.8 yard per carry, also recorded a touchdown -- his first of the season. Wildcat wing back Anthony Young and fellow senior Tony Landsowne both turned in solid performances, helping Northwestern dictate the tempo and control the clock.
Wildcat junior quarterback Guillermo Herrera, who completed 2-of-6 passes for 86 yards, hooked up with sophomore Daniel Adams for the second week in a row. Adams was the recipient of the lone touchdown against Oxon Hill, and corralled both balls to bring his season totals to four catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
The offense was a 180-degree turn for what has been a sputtering unit over the past couple of seasons, especially in 2007 when the Wildcats finished 1-9 and managed only 71 points. With a 33-6 season-opening defeat to Oxon Hill in head coach Bryan Pierre's fifth season, it was vitally important that Northwestern secure the league victory.
"It was very important for us to snap back this week," Pierre said. "We started to believe in ourselves, believe in each other and believe in the offense and defense that we're running."
Young, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound wing back and corner, echoed Pierre's sentiments.
"The loss last week was tough, but I think we bounced back this week," said Young, a senior captain. "Last week, [Oxon Hill] had a few plays that we should have made. We didn't come out there prepared. We stayed focused this week."
With Tropical Storm Hanna delaying Saturday's slated games until Monday, Northwestern needed to bounce back, especially with only three days to prepare for High Point, who had the same fate after dropping a 62-0 decision to Henry Wise on Sept. 8.
"It was kind a crazy week because we were a little dinged up on Tuesday because Oxon Hill was really physical," Pierre said. "We couldn't go back to our regular schedule. We worked on the mental game and made sure our guys understood some of the nuances that we need in order to be successful."
While Pierre was certainly excited about his team's attitude, he was willing to accept the game be terminated midway through the fourth quarter because of the mercy rule . And he made sure to illustrate that the decision was out of respect.
"High Point has a lot to be proud of... those gentlemen out there kept playing football," Pierre said. "They kept coming after us and their coach should very of those guys."
For High Point, it's been a rough start to the season, having been outscored 109-0 through two games. But with a coaching staff that was hired just four weeks before the season, the Eagles are aware they are likely in for a long season. High Point athletic director Shirley Diggs appointed 39-year-old Gary Dandridge as head coach in June. Dandridge, an Appalachian State alum, was a fifth round selection of Seattle Seahawks in the 1992 NFL Draft. A 6-foot, 213-pound safety, Dandridge, who still holds part of 20-plus year Bristol, Tenn. high school record in the 4x100-meter relay, only played one year of high school football, but eventually made 270 tackles and six interceptions in college.
He was placed on injured reserve during his rookie season after suffering a dislocated left elbow in a preseason game. Dandridge has coached at East Tennessee State, Wingate and N.C. A&T, but his biggest toughest job might be turning the Eagle program around. High Point has only won nine of their past 35 games.
The early-season woes were punctuated by third-year starter Alex Diasgranados' injury. Diasgranados, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound safety and wide receiver, was carried off by the medical staff and didn't return.
The lone bright spots were defensively, where High Point's Terrance Glasgow picked off two Northwestern passes, including a drive-killing interception in the second quarter. Alex Tucker and senior outside linebacker Benton James recorded a team-high seven tackles apiece, while George Chuba tallied six tackles.
The Eagles committed an unprecedented three safeties, two of which were bad punt snaps, while the other was a poor snap in the shotgun. The margin of victory would have been far less, but High Point refused to punt, often pinning its defense deep within its own territory. Northwestern was there to take full advantage.
"We can't underestimate any team," Young said. "If we do make mistakes, they could have been thinking that they could come out and beat us. We had to have the same mentality we had against Oxon Hill, but better. We knew what we had to do."
With Henry Wise and Suitland, two of the tougher teams in the Prince George's County Class 4A division, looming on the schedule Northwestern will need to prove its blowout victory was no aberration.
"After tonight, we showed we can bounce back and that we can actually compete in the 4A," Young said.
Northwestern-PG 18 9 20 0 47
High Point 0 0 0 0 0
E-mail: egilmore@digitalsports.com
