Time ran out on the North Moore Mustang football team. South Davidson defeated the Mustangs 7-6 Monday in the conference opener for both teams.

Trailing by a point in the fourth quarter, the Mustang offense had the ball inside the Wildcat 30 twice and failed to score, turning the ball over twice.

The second came in the waning seconds.

North Moore sophomore quarterback Xavier Scotten hit senior wide receiver Patrick Gallager on a 35-yard completion to the Wildcat 25. Without a timeout left, Gallager attempted to get out of bounds to stop the clock. Officials ruled he didn't, and the final eight seconds expired before the Mustangs could run another play.

"In the second half we moved the ball well, but we'd get a key penalty that would put us out of reach on down and distance," Mustang head coach Butch Cleaveland said.

North Moore took a 6-0 lead when Corey Smith scored to cap a 90-yard drive. He rushed for 71 yards in the game.

South Davidson grabbed the lead for good early in the second quarter when it scored and added the extra point.

Defensively, Carl Thomas (16) Mark Forrest (16) and Rashad Brower (12) recorded double-digit tackles.

"Defensively we were great," Cleaveland said.

The loss was the second near miss for the Mustangs.

Earlier this year they dropped a 12-6 decision to South Robeson when a potential game-winning drive ended on a fumble at the South Robeson 7.

North Moore will host Chatham Central at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The game is homecoming for the Mustangs.

Contact Tom Embrey at 693-2477 or by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com