North Rock Creek stopped Marlow on downs inside the 10yard line just before the half Friday night and went to win the season opener, 17-7.
After a wild first half that featured an 18-yard flip pass for a Cougar touchdown and a blocked punt to set up Marlow’s only score, the Cougars had a punt attempt go awry that set up Marlow first and 10 on the NRC 17 with 1:30 left in the half and the score tied 7-7.
The Outlaws pushed inside the five, but North Rock Creek stuffed a fourth-down play as the half expired, preserving the tie. NRC’s defense shut out Marlow in the second half, spurring the win.
“We never wavered,” said NRC coach Jason Murray. “We had some things that went against us, the blocked punt and another mess-up on a punt, and it never fazed these guys.
“They never wavered and kept playing. I’m super proud of them.”
Marlow, a traditional power, was a late addition to the schedule. The Outlaws reached the Class 3A state semifinals last year and were 15-0 and the Class 2A state champions three years ago.
“We had a different opponent that dropped us,” Murray said. “We were scrambling, looking for a game, and they were looking for a game.
“It’s a huge shot of confidence. We have more seniors this year than we’ve ever had. They’ve been there, they’ve done that, not wavering with the ups and downs and all that, which helped us out tonight.”
NRC scored first when Landon Kelough found Hunter Bertram for an 18-yard scoring pass with 8:03 to play in the first period. The kick made it 7-0, but Marlow scored later in the period after blocking a Cougar punt and scoring three plays later.
Fisher Wilson booted a 30-yard field goal to put the Cougars up 10-7 early in the fourth period and Caleb Hawkins ran 45 yards on a third-down play to finish the scoring.
Hawkins did most of the ball-carrying for the Cougars, packing it 23 times for 165 yards.
Kelough was 14 of 30 for 146 yards passing, with Memphis Burdine being his favorite target, catching seven balls for 82 yards.
Hawkins pulled in three passes, good for 37 yards. NRC is back in action on the 13th, when the Cougars host Prague.