By DAVIS POTTER / Staff Writer

Briarwood Christian School (3-0, 2-0 in Class 5A, Region 5) got yet another dominating performance from its defense and a steady output from the offense to defeat Erwin High School (2-1, 1-1 in Class 5A, Region 5), 29-0, on Sept. 10.

Junior quarterback Ben Craft led the Lions’ attack, completing 14 of his 26 pass attempts for 149 yards and a touchdown.

When Craft wasn’t pitching the ball around, the ground game was racking up the yards.

Running backs Sam Whitaker and Matthew Furuto combined to rush for 107 yards on 15 carries. Craft also chipped in with 36 yards of his own on the ground and scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to put Briarwood on the scoreboard first with 1:29 left in the second quarter.

Craft found Furuto from 16 yards out with 8:05 remaining in the third quarter for the Lions’ first touchdown of the second half to increase the lead to 22-0 after a failed two-point conversion.

Both offenses then went silent until late in the fourth quarter, when Furuto used his arm to find tight end Canon Smith in the end zone for a 3-yard scoring strike with 5:50 left in the contest.

The Lions also scored on a blocked punt.

The Briarwood defense didn’t need much of a cushion, however, as the Lions limited the Erwin offense to 169 total yards and pitched their first shoutout of the season.

Briarwood has allowed just 19 points through its first three games.

The Lions will look to stay perfect on the season as they host Chelsea in their next game Sept. 17. Erwin will travel to Pinson Valley for another Class 5A, Region 5 contest.