Mount Airy moves to 7-0 with 28-13 win over East Wilkes

Mount Airy fended off a scrappy East Wilkes squad to keep its undefeated season alive.

Mount Airy was held to 15 first-half points, and East Wilkes managed to cut the lead to 15-13 midway through the third quarter. Mount Airy pulled away with a touchdown late in the third quarter and another early in the fourth.

The Granite Bears improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in the Northwest 1A Conference with the 28-13 victory. The Oct. 4 victory marked Mount Airy’s second-straight over a previously undefeated opponent, having defeated then 4-0 Starmount on Sept. 28.

“I proud of the guys for showing a lot of toughness,” said Mount Airy coach Austin Taylor. “The past couple of weeks we’ve had games against quality opponents that we couldn’t put away, but our guys continue to find ways to win and that says a lot about them.”

Every possession was crucial as each team used run-heavy offenses. Both teams chewed the clock with their drives, and big plays were harder to come by with the field still soaked from a downpour earlier in the day.

Even with the swampy environment the teams combined for nearly 400 rushing yards. Mount Airy led the way with 249 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries. Taeshon Martin extended his streak of 100-yard performances by carrying 20 times for 171 yards and a touchdown. Martin also scored on a fumble recovery.

DJ Joyce added 70 rushing yards and two touchdowns, followed by Landon Gallimore with 15 yards and Zach Goins with -7 yards.

Gallimore also passed for 62 yards. Goins led the Granite Bears with 30 receiving yards, followed by Saul Oakley with 25 and Ethan Clabo with 7.

The Bears got on the board first as Martin recovered a fumble and took it 38 yards for a touchdown. Bryson Taylor added an interception late in the game. Mount Airy has forced at least one turnover in all seven games this season.

Martin’s touchdown, which he followed by running in the 2-point conversion, came less than four minutes into the first quarter, but the Bears wouldn’t score again until the final four minutes of the second quarter. In-between the touchdowns Mount Airy had a long drive that stalled out, but the Bears were still able to contain the Cardinals.

Joyce scored on a 34-yard rush and Clabo nailed the PAT to put the two-time defending 1A State Champions up 15-0. East Wilkes countered with a 45-yard passing touchdown less than a minute later to make it 15-7.

“East Wilkes did a good job of running the ball and keeping the clock running – they always do,” Taylor said. “They’re tough up front and got after us a bit. At times we didn’t capitalize where we could’ve to get the defense off the field. We’d struggle a little on second and third down and left the door open, and they took advantage on that drive with two big passes.”

East Wilkes cut the Mount Airy lead to 15-13 by scoring again with 5:06 left in the third quarter. Mount Airy halted the 2-point conversion to prevent the tie.

Martin capped off the Bears’ next drive with a 3-yard rushing touchdown with 2:14 left in the third quarter. Joyce then scored on a 4-yard rush less than two minutes into the fourth quarter.

The Bears didn’t commit any turnovers against the Cardinals.

Mount Airy and Elkin are the only two NW1A teams still unbeaten in conference competition. Alleghany, Starmount and East Wilkes each have one loss – the latter two teams suffered their only losses against Mount Airy – while South Stokes has two losses and North Stokes has three.”

Mount Airy goes on the road Oct. 11 to face South Stokes before taking a bye week. Mount Airy then closes the season at Elkin and at home against Alleghany.

“It’s going to be a big month for us,” Taylor said. “We’re definitely not content where we’re at right now. The boys do a good job of understanding that we need to improve every week in order to do what we want to do and what we’re accustomed to.”