By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Friday, November 06, 2009
Updated: Saturday, October 10, 2009 4:08 AM CDT

BONNE TERRE — The North County Raiders had much trouble moving the ball on the Fox Warriors defense, collecting only 173 yards and never entering the Red Zone. The Warriors prevailed for a 35-0 win.

Fox established its running game on the Warriors first possession, marching methodically 66 yards in nine plays and capping off the drive with a 30 yard pass from quarterback Bobby Mahoney to Mike Rademacher for the touchdown. Nick Bartallata was good on all five of his extra points.

Jake Smith gave an early spark for North County fans as he hit Seth Caldwell with a 24-yard pass on the Raiders’ second offensive play. The Warriors aided the Raiders first drive, jumping off sides on a third-and-four, and again on the very next play, but the Raiders stalled on the first-and-five. It was the closest to the goal line in the game for the Raiders before turning the ball over on downs at the 25.

Smith was 6-15 for 88 yards and one interception. North County only coughed the ball up twice to Fox’s once.

Fox (6-1) again marched the length of the field with running back D.J. Chambers carrying most of the load, and a Raiders’ facemask penalty helped the Warriors reach the 30-yard line, where Chambers broke loose for the score.

The Raiders ran the ball for two first downs on the ensuing possession and it looked like they had the break they needed as Aaron Parker pulled in a pass from Smith at Fox’s 25, but the ball was stripped and Fox’s Cody Long recovered the ball to end the threat.

The Warriors took only nine plays with the help of a North County penalty for a blow to the head to march the ball into the end zone again. Jordan Clerkley ran it in from five yards out.

Clerkley carried the ball 15 times in the first half for 104 yards, but on his second carry of the third quarter he suffered a back injury to end his yardage at 112.

The Raiders were awarded excellent field position on the second half kickoff as Fox was penalized for a personal foul, but on a fourth and five, defensive back Kyle Dunning came up with pass from Smith to give Fox the ball.

Chamber took over the lead rushing-position for the Warriors scoring his second touchdown on a nine yard run with 5:04 left in the third quarter. Chambers finished the night with 19 carries for 139 yards and three touchdowns.

The Warriors mixed their passing and rushing game with good balance as Mahoney was 9-17 for 139 yards and the one touchdown with only one pick.

The interception came as Fox was again threatening to score early in the fourth quarter. Defensive back Brian Jaco cut in front of the receiver to haul in the pass and would have been gone but the ball slipped away and he was able to recover it himself.

Time and time again, North County’s offense could put together a constant drive as punter Seth Caldwell services were called upon seven times. Even when a roughing the kicker penalty was called on Fox, Caldwell punted again only four plays later.

Fox’s last score came late in the fourth quarter. Mahoney competed two straight passes with receiver David Jenkins taking an outlet pass and streaking down the sideline for 40 yards. Chambers broke loose at the line of scrimmage and slipped two tackles for 18 yards and the last score.

North County (1-6) will start district play on Friday at Festus.

Fox  14  7  7  7 - 35

North County  0  0  0  0 - 0

First Quarter:

Fox (7-0) Rademacher 30 yd pass from Mahoney (Bartallata kick), 8:26

Fox (14-0) Chambers 30 yd run (Bartallata kick), 1:01

Second Quarter:

Fox (21-0) Clerkley 5 yd run (Bartallata kick), 7:34

Third Quarter:

Fox (28-0) Chambers nine yd run  (Bartallata kick), 5:04

Fourth Quarter:

Fox (35-0) Chambers 18 yd run (Bartallata kick), 2:26