A 54-point loss is supposed to hurt. It’s supposed to sting.
In fact, Nation Ford head coach Jake Bentley said he would be more worried if he were coaching a team that didn’t take the lopsided result like Friday night to heart.
But following the Falcons’ 75-21 loss to Region 3-5A opponent Northwestern, Bentley challenged his team now 3-2 and 0-1 in Region 3-5A, to respond with toughness; they can either let the loss hamper them or motivate them to better things.
“They put in the work,” Bentley said. “It just didn’t bounce our way tonight. Obviously, we’ve got a lot to clear up. Missed tacklers and drops against a really good team. That’s how that score happens.”
Northwestern’s offense scored seven touchdowns, Kameron Vance ran back a 75-yard kickoff return for a score, and the Trojans’ defense recorded a pick-six and a fumble return for a TD on back-to-back drives.
Nation Ford’s Kason Canupp (18-of-36, 238 passing yards) threw three touchdown passes and one interception for the Falcons, including two scores to Jayden Scott (165 receiving yards). Canupp had started the season with 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions through four games.
Meanwhile, Northwestern running back Nigel Smith (15 rushes for 103 yards) totaled three touchdowns on the night, while quarterback Xavier Means (232 yards on 17-of-22 passing) threw for three scores and ran for another.
The game got off to an electric start and never slowed down in the first half.
Canupp connected with Scott five times on a 10-play, 80-yard drive as Scott scored from 12 yards out to give Nation Ford an early lead. A botched point-after play led to a surprise 2-point conversion and an 8-0 lead with less than 4 minutes gone.
Northwestern quickly responded on the next drive less than two minutes later.
Means led his team downfield with short throws before Smith rumbled into the end zone from 9 yards out to cut the lead to 8-7.
Nation Ford was forced into a punt soon after, but a botched snap pinned the Falcons inside their own 20-yard line.
The Trojans needed just five plays before Smith scored his second rushing touchdown of the night, this time from just a yard out, to take a 14-8 lead.
Northwestern took over the ball again early in the second quarter. Smith and Means combined for multiple chunk plays on the ground to push inside the Nation Ford red zone.
Means then found receiver Kameron Vance in plenty of space on first and goal from the 8-yard line. A two-point conversion pushed the Trojans to a 22-8 lead with 9 minutes left in the first half.
Still, Canupp and Scott’s connection proved dangerous. Despite missing on a route on the first play of the next Falcons’ drive, the duo tried again on second down, and Scott raced 80 yards into the end zone to cut the lead to 22-14. Nico Arosemena’s PAT was blocked.
But the celebration was short-lived. Vance took control of the ensuing Nation Ford kickoff on his own 20, beat the defense to the far sideline, and comfortably ran 80 yards himself for a lightning-quick kickoff return for a touchdown.
The Falcons gave up a 3-and-out midway through the second, and Northwestern took over on the Nation Ford 31 with plenty of time. Means found Jonathan Spurgeon for a 15-yard completion that set up the quarterback for a short QB sneak from 3 yards out to push the lead to 36-14.
Again, Canupp and his receivers worked hard to respond. Canupp connected with Scott and Patience Andrews for important first downs, and the Falcons benefited from two pass interference calls on Northwestern.
Canupp called his own number on the ground to push inside the Northwestern 20, then found Ja’Mari Gore in the end zone on a crossing route from 10 yards away. Arosemena’s kick cut the lead to 36-21.
On the ensuing kickoff, Vance ran another huge return for 50 yards and set Northwestern up on the Nation Ford 20 with 5:25 left.
But the Falcons’ defense did well to hold Means from scoring. Kicker Alex Bendt notched a 31-yard field goal to extend the Trojans’ lead to 39-21 with 4 minutes left.
The visitors had one last chance to score, starting on the 50 with 2:12 left in the half.
And Northwestern reached as far as the Nation Ford 3, but the Falcons rose up on four straight downs to cause two incompletions and negligible rushing yardage.
Northwestern jumped out of the halftime break and never looked back. The Trojans scored five unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter alone. By the time the game hit the fourth quarter, the press box started a running clock.
Smith scored his third rushing touchdown of the night from a yard out on a drive that was aided by a Nation Ford horse collar flag.
Bentley said he’ll use the upcoming bye week to help his team become more disciplined. He said there were too many uncharacteristic penalties throughout the game that affected the game and made it too easy for Northwestern to take advantage.
“We’ve got to understand that we can’t let the emotions dictate the response,” he said.
Means found Payton Vining open in the end zone on the next Northwestern drive from 27 yards out to push the lead to 52-21.
He later connected with Vance for another score from 25 yards away, less than two minutes later.
Canupp took over on his own 15 with 5:30 left in the third quarter. He tried to find a receiver to his right, but Northwestern’s Dash Holley came up with the ball and easily walked into the end zone to score.
Scott then fumbled on a pass play on the next drive, giving the defense the chance to score the final touchdown of the night.
Bentley said his team will grow in belief as he continues to mold the program.
“You’re going to see that belief become more accessible,” he said. “It doesn’t take a single play. I am in no way satisfied with the outcome of the game, but there were bright spots. We’ll build on those and get the tougher things fixed.”
Nation Ford next plays at Indian Land Friday, Oct. 3. Northwestern next hosts Catawba Ridge Friday, Sept. 26.
