Weston Angel punts for good field position while quarterback Austin Handy holds snap for him in an all out offensive effort against Cards

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PILOT MOUNTAIN — The 7-1 Greyhounds fresh off a 38-14 win last week against North Stokes came to East Surry out for blood.

The Greyhounds beat the Cardinals 33-0 in a shutout last night and mercilessly pounded away at East’s offense all night long.

North Surry quarterback Austin Handy has a quarterback rating of 83 and had thrown for 631 yards so far this year before last night’s match.

He was handing off to him all night again to Blaze Acord who came into the match having scored 18 touchdowns so far this season.

When opportunity presented itself, Acord delivered.

Acord carried the ball 22 times for 263 yards and scored on the Hounds’ opening drive after East Surry fumbled on the opening kickoff. He pounded away all night, running seam routes and getting to the outside. The offensive line threw hard and aggressive blocks against the Cardinals all night long.

After East Surry fumbled the opening kickoff, the Greyhounds recovered at the 20-yard line. Then running back Acord scored from 15 yards out. With an extra point, the Greyhounds led 7-0.

The Hounds special teams play was excellent. Corbin Utt blocked a punt by the Cardinals and Brady Kraft in an aware play ran the ball in, giving the Hounds the second touchdown of the night. That set the game at 13-0 Hounds.

Hounds kicker Carlos Flores was good all night except for one kick and so was punter Austin Barker.

Special teams play for East Surry hurt the Cardinals Friday night. The Greyhounds often started the drives with great field position several times at midfield, which started the Cardinals in a deficit against a tough running attack by the Greyhounds.

East Surry’s record dropped to 5-4 overall, and the Greyhounds went up to 8-1.

Defensively, the Greyhounds played aggressive with hard work by Jordan DeHart who threw hard blocks all night. R.J. Lawson and Jeremy Gilley had a good night for the Cardinals, but the Cardinal blocking and inability to stop the Hounds’ run did not let them ever gain momentum.

The score was 13-0 at halftime with the Greyhounds having all the momentum, with penalties and unforced errors hurting the Cards negating the few good downs and runs by Zach Koontz and Jeremy Gilley. The Card offense could not put up any points on the board.

In the third quarter, North Surry scored 20 points to go up 33-0. Then there were no scores in the fourth. Hound Kaitlin Sais had a great defensive game stopping anything in his path.

North Surry received the kickoff to start the third quarter. On the second play from scrimmage, Acord broke free for a 62-yard scamper. With the extra point, it was 20-0.

On the Hounds’ next drive, the offense went seven plays down the field, including a key third-down conversion from QB Austin Handy to Josh Cox for 23 yards. Acord capped the drive with a 1-yard run, making the score 27-0.

For the final score, Acord scored from 40 yards out to make it 33-0.

Lyons said, that defensively, the Greyhounds held East Surry to just 42 yards rushing on 31 carries. East’s passing attack was 5-14 for 54 yards, making a total of 96 yards gained.

“Our defense was amazing. I’ve said it all year,” said Lyons. This was the first shutout for Patrick Taylor, the defensive coordinator.

“When Coach Lyons took the job, he committed to defense. He told me to find some players that I needed,” said Taylor. This was the first coach that Taylor has worked with that has fully committed to D.

The defense has 11 starters, but no matter who goes in, they do their job. They don’t try to be a superstar, Taylor said.

East went five-wide with receivers and a few other wrinkles to try to throw the defense off-balance, said Taylor, but his squad responded.

North registered eight sacks and made a big fourth-down stand inside the 10-yard line.

North Surry hasn’t had a shutout since 2007. “These guys have wanted one, and they worked hard to get it,” said Taylor.

“Shawn DeHart and George Rumplasch blocked great for Blaze,” said Lyons. “The offensive line was physical up front. The running struggled against Mount Airy, but the boys got back to smash-mouth football Friday night.”

Acord had 22 carries for 263 yards for the night.

Handy finished 3-6 passing for 39 yards. DeHart one catch for 12 yards, Josh Cox one for 23 yards.

“This is the most complete game we’ve played all season,” said Lyons. “Our defense was the catalyst behind all that.”