Seventy-First football blasts Richmond, Terry Sanford runs past Topsail, more from Week 1

Week 1 of NCHSAA football did not disappoint, with Cumberland County programs in action Friday to give us a taste of what 2023 will hold.

Here's a look at games involving Fayetteville-area teams and beyond.

Seventy-First 41, Richmond Senior 13

In Rockingham, Donovan Frederick scored twice in the first quarter to set the tone for the Falcons.

After Jaliel Green punched in a TD from the 1-yard line for Richmond, Seventy-First struck back as Zayvion Hill picked off a pass and recovered his own fumble for a touchdown.

The Raiders scored again to trail 29-13 at halftime, but they wouldn't score again after the break.

Falcons quarterback Deandre Nance drove into the end zone from a yard out in the third quarter and then sophomore Jayson Franklin scored on a five-yard carry for the final points.

The Falcons play at Pine Forest next week.

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Terry Sanford 41, Topsail 20

After giving up a kickoff return to its own 8-yard line, the Bulldogs buckled down as Emilio Glenn came up with a fumble recovery two plays later and Terry Sanford ran away on its home field.

Kamal Thames scored on a 79-yard play-action pass from Jaylen Wright on third down to cap the Bulldogs' first drive. After giving up a Topsail TD, Gavin Kraut intercepted the conversion pass attempt. Then, the Bulldogs bounced back with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Rashid Jones.

Topsail tied it up at 14-all in the second quarter, but Wright put the Bulldogs back on top with an 11-yard TD run. Johnathan Higgins-Simmons followed that up with a 63-yard run to the end zone off a pitch from Wright and then Kenyon Slaughter-Keen broke out with a 70-yard scoring run with just over six minutes left in the third quarter.

Asa Robinson had a huge stop for the Bulldogs on fourth down in the fourth quarter, part of a defense that spent most of its night on the field, showing speedy blitzes and unrelenting pressure.

Jones scored on a 26-yard pass from Wright to cap the Bulldogs' offense.

Wright accounted for four touchdowns — three passing and one rushing — while completing 12 of 17 passes for 251 yards. Thames led all receivers with five catches for 138 yards.

The Bulldogs have a playoff rematch against Scotland next week at home.

South View 47, Overhills 22

The Tigers' Christian Rutledge scored all six touchdowns for the Tigers in a season-opening win on the road.

Gray's Creek 29, E.E. Smith 21

The Bears jumped out to a 22-0 halftime lead but the Golden Bulls fought back to get within a touchdown. Gray's Creek managed to hold off E.E. Smith at home to set up a Week 2 game at Red Springs.

Other scores

• Westover 12, St. Pauls 9

• Hoke 7, Jack Britt 0

• Cape Fear 47, Pine Forest 6

• Red Springs 26, Douglas Byrd 22

• Clinton 40, Northside-Jacksonville 7

• Fairmont 14, Lumberton 12

• West Johnston 24, Harnett Central 16

• Midway 46, Hobbton 36

• Lee County 27, Northern Durham 6

• Pinecrest 48, Knightdale 0

• Purnell Swett 37, Seaforth 3

• Scotland 32, Southern Durham 29

• Triton 41, Union Pines 12

• West Bladen 29, South Columbus 22

• North Moore 27, Carver 0

• North Brunswick 59, East Bladen 13

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Seventy-First football blasts Richmond in Week 1