VikingsHoldOnToWinFootball


 * Dozier, Vikings hold off Orange﻿ **



HILLSBOROUGH — Demontre Dozier ran for 232 yards and three touchdowns, leading Northern Vance to the win in a Carolina 3A Conference game against Orange Friday night.

Dozier had touchdown runs of 50, 45 and 3 yards.

For Orange (1-6, 0-1), Jalen Pittman rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns. John Evans caught four passes for 141 yards.

Northern Vance intercepted two of Orange quarterback Shawn Motley’s passes, including one late by Eric Jefferys in the fourth quarter.

It was the second straight week the Vikings had a big interception in the waning minutes. Last week, a Trey Elam pick sealed the 37-36 win over Louisburg.

D.J. Alston had the other Viking interception Friday night.

Northern had a chance to put the game away after Jefferys’ interception, but a penalty forced the Vikings to punt on fourth down.

Orange took over once more with little time left but couldn’t mount a big enough drive in time to set up a potential game-tying field goal.

The Vikings led 14-7 at the break, but Orange out-scored Northern 16-12 in the third to make it 26-23 Vikes heading into the fourth.

Both teams scored eight points apiece in the fourth.

Vincent Merritt rushed for 35 yards on nine carries and a touchdown.

Tyquan Bryant rushed for 18 yards on two totes and a score.

Bryant completed a 70-yard pass to Jefferys to set up his own short-yardage touchdown run to open the scoring in the first quarter.

Dozier’s 50-yard rumble made it 14-0 Vikings.

Bryant got the start at quarterback, but was relieved by John Nelson after suffering an injury in the second quarter. Bryant is expected to be a game-time decision for next week’s game.

Nelson started at QB for each of Northern’s previous games and split time with Bryant against Louisburg.

For the Panthers, Evans’ touchdown receptions were from 64 and 4 yards out. Pittman scored on two 3-yard carries.

Friday night’s contest was the conference opener for both teams.

Northern will travel to Chapel Hill next week. The Tigers were defeated by Cardinal Gibbons 50-30 Friday night.

Orange will face J.F. Webb in Oxford. The Warriors were defeated by Southern Vance 20-16 Friday night.

—WIZS 1450 AM contributed to this report

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