Anyone that likes to see an offensive display on the gridiron should have been in Denton last Thursday when the North Moore junior varsity football team took on South Davidson in a Yadkin Valley Conference contest.

It’s not often you see two high school teams combine for more than 600 yards of total offense, especially junior varsity clubs that play only 10-minute quarters. But in a game that had no punts, only six penalties and three total turnovers, host South Davidson outlasted the Mustangs for a 34-28 victory.

Trailing most of the game, the Mustangs had a shot at pulling out the win when they closed the gap to six points with 6:50 left in the contest. On the ensuing kickoff, North Moore came up with the onside kick at South Davidson’s 44-yard line, with plenty of time left in the game.

The Mustangs drove to the Wildcats’ eight-yard line, where they had a first down and goal. But North Moore couldn’t stick the ball into the end zone, allowing the Wildcats to run out the clock for their first win of the season. The Mustangs’ record falls to 0-4 overall and 0-2 in league play. Three of North’s losses have come by a margin of six points or less.

The Mustangs’ offense was triggered by freshman quarterback Jordan Maness, who was starting in place of Kirby Lambert. Lambert was moved up to the varsity squad after his performance in last week’s varsity game against West Montgomery.

North Moore finished with 291 yards of total offense, with four players rushing for 47 yards or more. However, South Davidson freshman Trent Shore had a career game, rushing for two touchdowns and 273 yards on 15 carries. Shore also returned a kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown.

Maness led the Mustangs’ offense, rushing for 81 yards on 16 carries, scored two touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Maness also completed three of six passes for 30 yards, with receiver Nick Rush having a reception for 28 yards. Aaron Richardson had 76 yards on 10 carries and scored a touchdown while Elisha Ross finished with 65 yards on 12 carries and scored a two-point conversion. Patrick Harner added 47 yards on five carries and scored one touchdown.

South Davidson received the opening kickoff and starting on its 35-yard line, marching 65 yards in seven plays for the game’s first touchdown. Shore ran 21 yards for his first touchdown with 5:31 showing on the first quarter clock.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Mustangs started a drive that ended with a fumble at midfield that was recovered by the Wildcats at the Mustangs’ 42-yard line. With less than a minute gone in the second quarter, Bleine Heinen scored on a reverse from four yards out.

Wildcat quarterback Corey Hartman ran for the two-point conversion, putting South up 14-0 with 9:14 left in the first half.

Maness took the ensuing kickoff 17 yards to the Wildcats’ 48-yard line. It took North eight plays to hit pay dirt with Richardson going the final seven yards for the score. The pass for two points failed, leaving North on the short end of a 14-6 score.

Shore struck again on the following kickoff, finding a seam to the right sidelines and going 81 yards for the touchdown. The run failed for two points, giving South a 20-6 lead with 4:55 left in the half.

North started its next drive at its 36-yard line after an 18-yard kickoff return by Maness. This time it took the Mustangs eight plays to go the 64 yards for the score with Maness scoring on a 24-yard run. Ross’ run for two points was successful, trimming South’s lead to 20-14 with 1:26 left in the half.

The Mustangs received the second half kickoff and Harner found an opening, broke a couple of tackles, running 54 yards to the Wildcats’ 25-yard line. The Mustangs couldn’t move the ball and faced a fourth down and 11 yards to go. North went to the air and Wildcats intercepted the ball at the eight-yard line.

On the first play, once again Shore found an opening up the middle, shook off a couple of tacklers, and raced 92 yards for the score. Ethan Clubb ran for the two points, boosting South’s lead to 28-14 with 6:46 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs responded with an eight-play drive in going 60 yards for Maness’ second touchdown of the game on a two-yard run. Maness ran for the two points, cutting South’s lead to 28-22 with 2:38 left in the third period.

The Wildcats returned the following kickoff to midfield and on the first play from scrimmage, Shore ripped off a 45-yard run to the Mustangs’ five. Hartman scored two plays later on a one-yard run. The two-point conversion run failed, giving South a 34-22 lead with 1:01 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs took the next drive from their 38-yard line to the end zone on an eight-play drive with Harner racing the final 21 yards for the score. The run for two points failed, leaving North behind 34-28 and setting the stage for the successful onside kick. After North failed to score on the fourth-down play, the Wildcats ran out the final 3:37 on the game’s clock.

The Mustangs try to get into the win column when they travel to North Rowan Thursday. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m.