By Kelly Snow
Editor

The Elkin High School football team turned the ball over on just its third play from scrimmage.

The next time the Buckin’ Elks ended a drive with anything less than a celebration in the endzone, the game was well in hand.

The second-seeded Elks posted five first-half touchdowns en route to a 52-0 blanking of 15th-seed Union Academy in the opening round of the 1A West Region playoffs.

Elkin (10-2) will host No. 10 seed North Duplin (5-7) Friday after the Rebels upset Cherokee 14-7. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Grissom Stadium.

The Elks defense smothered the outmanned Cardinals throughout the game, allowing just 130 yards of total offense and only four first downs in the first half.

Elkin racked up 330 yards rushing for the game, led by Aaron Rabin’s 151 yards on 11 carries. The senior three touchdown runs, including two of more than 50 yards. Grayson Kimrey rushed for 53 yards on eight attempts and a touchdown, while Ethan Creed and Nick Phillips added scoring runs.

Creed connected on 5-of-8 passes for 147 yards including a 73-yard scoring strike to Damon Smith. Smith hauled in the pass over a Cardinal defender, made a couple of dazzling cuts and raced in for the second-quarter touchdown that stretched the Elks lead to 29-0.

Elkin’s defense pitched in some points as a host of Elks tackled Union Academy’s Rasheed Rushing in the endzone for a safety late in the fourth quarter.

NOTE: Elkin led at the half 36-0 and the entire second half was played with a continuously running clock.

Union Academy, a charter school from Monroe, is new to football. The Cardinals won their first-ever varsity level game in October.

Elkin 52, Union Academy 0

Friday • at Elkin

Union Academy 0 0 0 0 — 0

Elkin 15 21 7 9 — 52

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

Elkin — Grayson Kimrey 1 run (Ethan Creed kick) 6:13

Elkin — Aaron Rabin 9 run (Kimrey run) 3:10

Second Quarter

Elkin — Rabin 59 run (Tanner Hardy kick) 11:49

Elkin — Damon Smith 73 pass from Creed (Hardy kick) 7:32

Elkin — Creed 1 run (Hardy kick) :06.1

Third Quarter

Elkin — Rabin 51 run (Hardy kick) 9:45

Fourth Quarter

Elkin —Safety 9:33

Elkin — Nick Phillips 14 run (Hardy kick) 4:55

PASSING: Union Academy — Jackson Hargett 11-21-0 100. Elkin — Ethan Creed 5-8-0 147

RUSHING: Union Academy — Rasheed Rushing 10-40, Marlon Young 2-0, Tyree Drakeford 2-(-2), , Jackson Hargett 6-(-30). Elkin — Aaron Rabin 11-151, Tre Hayes 10-84, Grayson Kimmey 8-53, Ben Kramm 5-22, Nick Phillips 3-22, Ethan Creed 2-5, Jermaine Hayes 1-(-6)

RECEIVING: Union Academy — Jarred Hill 3-44, Brenden Fassen 5-39, Daniel Betico 3-17. Elkin — Damon Smith 2-91, Cass Wilkins 2-36, Cody Brown 1-20