SOMERSET — North Laurel dropped its first district game of the season Friday, falling to Southwestern 28-0 in Somerset.
The first half was a defensive struggle as neither team could get its offense untracked.
The Jaguars’ defense dominated early, holding Southwestern to only one net yard of total offense in the first quarter and fewer than 20 yards through the first quarter and a half.
The North offense was its own worst enemy in the first half, turning the ball over three times on a pair of interceptions and a fumble.
Southwestern made the Jaguars pay after Southwestern junior Jonas Gallagher picked off a Hunter Morgan pass.
Southwestern quarterback Collin Burton hit senior Owen Campbell with a 52-yard touchdown pass to give the Warriors the 7-0 lead at the half.
After being shut down in the first half, the Warriors’ offense finally found its rhythm against the Jaguars’ defense to open the second half.
Southwestern drove 80-yards in five plays and took the 14-0 lead on a 20-yard Caden Cunnagin touchdown on the first possession of the half.
North had an opportunity to cut into the deficit early in the third quarter after recovering a Southwestern fumble, but the Warriors defense held the Jaguars to a four-and-out.
As with the first half, the two defenses once again took over as neither team found the endzone the rest of the quarter.
The Southwestern rushing game finally got on track in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdown, a 16-yard Walden TD that capped off a 10-play Warrior drive and the final score of the night, a 45-yard Kaeden Flores touchdown run with five minutes remaining.
The Jaguars offense looked to be on its way to snapping the shutout after a long kickoff return by Jude McWhorter set them up at the Warriors 33-yard line.
But the drive stalled out at the 11-yard line as the Warriors defense came up with one last stop.
North Laurel returns to action at home Friday taking on South Laurel in the First Priority Bowl.
