North Cross opened up Virginia Independent Conference play Saturday afternoon by pounding visiting Blue Ridge School, 35-14.

The Raiders (1-1, 1-0), who were thrashed 54-0 last week by Greensboro Smith, N.C., took a 6-0 lead in the opening quarter on a 2-yard run by Antoine Martin on a play which was set up earlier by a Blue Ridge (0-1, 0-1) fumble.

North Cross had a chance to score right before end of the second quarter. However, the Barons stopped quarterback Thomas Weaver in the backfield to keep the score at 6-0.

In the third quarter, a 27-yard scoring strike from Weaver to Fuller Clark would give the Raiders a 13-0 lead.  Blue Ridge would finally light up its side of the scoreboard when Robin Moore hauled in a 51-yard pass from Andre Roberts to make it 13-7 heading into the fourth quarter.

A 15-yard pass from Roberts to Cameron Anderson early in the fourth quarter gave the Barons a 14-13 lead. However, the lead was short-lived, as the Raiders would use a 28-yard pass from Weaver to Clark, a 4-yard run by Martin and a 3-yard scamper by Myles Poindexter to score 22 unanswered points and give new head coach Stephen Alexander his first win, as the Raiders claimed the 35-14 win.

Blue Ridge, who had 106 yards on the ground, was led by 56 yards from Mayn Francisco and Andre Roberts with 43 yards. Roberts also completed 7-of-13 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

North Cross tallied 210 yards rushing. Antoine Martin led the ground game with 188 yards on 28 carries. Thomas Weaver threw for 165 yards on a 16-for-24 afternoon, including a pair of touchdowns.

Click here to see additional photos from this game in our Photo Gallery.

Photo: North Cross's Antoine Martin (#4) ran for 188 yards Saturday afternoon against Blue Ridge. (Photo by David Grimes)