Northwestern routs Indian Land at Keep Pounding High School classic on Saturday
There wasn’t a hangover.
After battling nationally ranked Hough in a tough season-opening game in Rock Hill last week, Northwestern bounced back from that 5-point loss and served notice to South Carolina that the 5A Division II state title will still run through the purple and gold.
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The Trojans jumped on Indian Land with 19 straight points in an 54-7 win at the Keep Pounding High School Classic at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, and the Trojans reminded fans — and opponents — exactly what coach Page Wofford’s offense really looks like.
“Just being able to get back and playing our brand of football,” Northwestern coach Page Wofford said. “Last week we didn’t get a chance to do that. Hough is a very good football team. They’re really good. I was happy to play a team that wasn’t a Charlotte all-star team. So it was a good to play a team that has regular guys like we do, and has regular school like do and a regular attendance zone.”
Northwestern, with blinding speed among its offensive stars, jumped out to a 19-0 lead before Indian Land’s Kylan Foye burst the Trojans’ defensive line and ran 80 yards for a score.
But after that, the Trojan team that averaged 49 points in a 2025 championship season really got uncorked.
Northwestern, which scored just 10 points against Hough, began to score at will: Long passes, long runs; everything was working, and the lead ballooned to 47-7 by halftime.
— This was the first game in the Keep Pounding series that had been lopsided. Many of the matchups have come down to the last drive or last play.
— Northwestern had 23 first downs to Indian Land’s 7 in the decisive first half and had 429 yards of offense in the first half.
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— Northwestern was 5 of 5 on red zone chances in that first half.
— Indian Land won the student section of the game, picking up a $3,000 check from Belk’s for the school. Belk’s is one of the primary sponsors of the event.
Xavier Means, Northwestern: The East Carolina recruit damaged Indian Land with his arm and legs. In the first half alone, he threw for two touchdowns and ran for one. He finished with 98 yards rushing and a touchdown. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 243 yards and 3 TDs.
Malik Ratliff, Northwestern: Ratliff caught 7 passes for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Kylan Foye, Indian Land: Foye had an 80-yard touchdown run and had 101 yards in 6 carries.
“The key to my success is really my (offensive) line, protecting me back there and my playmakers at receiver and my running back.” — Northwestern QB Xavier Means
Indian Land 7 0 0 0 — 7
Northwestern 19 28 7 0 — 54
FIRST QUARTER
NW: Malik Ratliff 4 pass from Xavier Means (pass failed)
NW: Daylen Shankle 4 run (Alex Bendt kick)
NW: KJ Burg (run failed)
IL: Kylan Foye 80 (Blaine Plyler kick)
SECOND QUARTER
NW: Dash Holley 5 run (Bendt kick)
NW: Xavier Means 5 run (Bendt kick)
NW: Malik Ratliff 83 pass from Means (Bendt kick)
NW: Payton Vining 47 pass from Means (Bendt kick)
THIRD QUARTER
NW: Tavion Rust 5 run (Bendt kick)
This story was originally published August 29, 2026 at 6:17 PM with the headline “Northwestern routs Indian Land at Keep Pounding High School classic on Saturday.”
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