RALEIGH – For the past two years, Northeast Academy has huffed and puffed.

Last night (Friday), the Eagles finally blew the house down.

In a stunning upset, Northeast turned loose its offensive juggernaut, accounting for 554 total yards, and sent shockwaves through the 8-man football ranks with a 44-20 spanking of perennial state heavyweight St. David’s School.

With the win, the Eagles, who haven’t fared so well vs. St. David’s over the past few seasons, improved to 2-0 for the young season.

Led by the efforts of Brandon Futrell (25 carries for a game-high 181 rushing yards), Hunter Deloatch (98 yards on the ground and 49 through the air) and Davis Harrell (139 total yards; 78 passing, 61 rushing), the Eagles sent a message to the rest of the league that they are a force to be reckoned with.

Northeast trailed only once (6-0 in the 1st quarter after St. David’s opened the scoring with a 9-yard TD run by Forrest Brandt).

The Eagles took the lead for-keeps at the 4:09 mark of the opening period after Deloatch capped a 12-play, 80-yard march with his 1-run run to paydirt. Arch Harrell added the conversion run for an 8-6 lead.

After more than a one-hour delay due to lightning, the Eagles “thundered” ahead 16-6 late in the 2nd quarter where NEA reached the endzone on a 49-yard TD pass from Deloatch to A. Harrell. Deloatch added the conversion run.

The Eagles padded their lead to 28-6 in the 3rd period. There, D. Harrell reeled off a 10-yard scoring run followed by a 1-yard TD blast by Futrell. The latter score was set-up by a blocked punt by Zach Mize at the St. David’s 32 yardline.

The home team crept to within 28-12 with less than one second left on the 3rd quarter clock thanks to a 60-yard TD pass from Brandt to McMillian.

However, the Eagles weren’t about to let this monumental win slip away as Northeast got 4th quarter TD’s from D. Harrell (26-yard run) and Deloatch (32-yard run) respectively followed by conversion runs from Futrell and Jay Baugham.

The Northeast defense, sparked by key plays from Russ Flythe, Josh Rose and Jud Smith, made sure that cushion stood until the final whistle.