Davis throws 4 TDs to lead Northwest past Hillsboro in opener

(Cedar Hill) The Northwest Lions got a breakout performance from their senior quarterback and racked up the points to start a new football season, knocking off the Hillsboro Hawks 37-27.

Northwest took the opening drive and marched right down field behind QB Trey Davis, who completed a 20-yard pass to Andrew Lenzen to get into the red zone before finding his fellow senior again for the game’s first points.

The Lions would get a stop thanks to a 3rd-down sack by Vincent DeMarco to end the first quarter with a 7-0 lead.

Northwest would add to the lead when Davis found Lenzen for a circus catch.

Davis made the deep bomb pay off on the next play.

Already down 14-0, Hillsboro started to contribute to its own struggles with a special teams miscue.

But the Hawks would bounce back from the safety.

Sophomore running back Austin Romaine ripped off a 51-yard run to get Hillsboro on the other side of midfield for the first time, then fellow sophomore star Jaxin Patterson finished off the drive.

The Hawks seized momentum by getting another stop, and getting another big run from Romaine.

Following a two-point conversion pass from Griffin Ray to Tyson White, Hillsboro suddenly found itself only down two late in the first half.

But there was just enough time for Davis to make another big play.

Northwest took a 23-14 lead into halftime, but Hillsboro remained undaunted.

The Hawks took the opening drive of the second half and found pay dirt again, as the sophomore quarterback Ray started to use his legs.

But even up 23-21, the Lions kept taking shots down field, and Davis kept throwing darts late in the third quarter.

Leading 30-21 as the final quarter of play began, Northwest forced a fumble and had a chance to go up even further but didn’t score.

Griffin Ray responded with his first career touchdown pass.

Northwest only led 30-27 with less than 7 minutes to play.

But Davis stayed in a groove, hitting one more deep ball to seal the win.

Davis finished with 242 yards passing and 4 touchdowns.

Lions head coach Corey Toenjes was beaming afterwards.

Davis was under duress for much of the night when he dropped back to throw, but he said he likes working under pressure.

Hillsboro finished with almost as many total yards as Northwest but had more penalties and the game’s only 2 turnovers.

Hawks head coach Bill Sucharski said they have to correct those mistakes.

Northwest will look to build on the season-opening win when they visit St. Charles next week.

Hillsboro is on the road at Jackson next Friday.

To hear the full game broadcast again, click play below.

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