Timberwolves overpower Junior Lions 30-6

Cedar Ridge remained unbeaten on the season behind Tyler Northcutt's 216 yard, three touchdown rushing performance, as the Timberwolves blew past Manila 30-6 in 3A-3 junior high football action Thursday night at Newark.

Northcutt shredded the Lion defense, scoring on touchdown runs of 10, two and 21 yards. The freshman running back finished the night with a 12-yard per carry average in helping the Timberwolves improve to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play.

Cedar Ridge took an early 8-0 lead, scoring on their first possession, with Northcutt plowing into the end zone at the 6:20 mark of the opening quarter. Northcutt added the two point conversion run.

Lion Logan Hamilton eyes a Timberwolve defender while heading up field in Thursday night's junior high football game with Cedar Ridge.

Manila answered on its opening drive, marching 65 yards in eight plays, capped off by Kris Kerley's 29- yard touchdown scamper on a fourth and 17 play. The touchdown was set up by Logan Hamilton's 21- yard run earlier in the drive. The two point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Lions with an 8-6 deficit with 2:38 left in the first quarter.

Cedar Ridge threatened again on its next possession when Northcutt raced 58 yards to the Lion five yard line, but the Timberwolves running back fumbled on the next play, with the Lions recovering at their own seven.

After a Manila punt, Northcutt bulled his way 27 yards, giving Cedar Ridge a first down at the Manila 11. Northcutt barreled into the end zone three plays later, and added the two point conversion for a 16-6 lead with 6:08 left in the half.

Manila took possession at their own 44 following the Timberwolves kickoff, and marched to a first and goal at the Cedar Ridge four behind Hamilton, who carried nine times on the 14-play drive. With time running out in the first half, Hamilton was stripped on a second and goal with the T-Wolves recovering the ball and running out the clock, ending the first half with a 10-point lead.

Cedar Ridge increased its margin to 24-6 when John Bennett galloped 27 yards for a Timberwolves touchdown with 2:45 left in the third quarter. Northcutt added the two point conversion.

Cedar Ridge capped off the scoring on the night with Northcutt's 21-yard touchdown run with 6:30 left in the game.

The Timberwolves finished the night rushing for 285 of their 316 total yards.

Manila (2-3, 1-2 3A-3) finished with 169 yards total offense, all on the ground. Hamilton led the Lions with 21 carries for 97 yards while Kerley picked up 67 yards on 12 carries.

"Cedar Ridge is just a very good football team," said Manila Coach Jerry Castor. "There's a reason they are 5-0. We had a couple of opportunities to stay in the game but we couldn't get the ball in the end zone."

Manila will return to action Thursday night when they play host to Osceola. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.