BY JOE JOHNSON

jjohnson@heraldsun.com; 419-6667

DURHAM -- Afam Nwogalanya scored touchdowns on runs of 20 yards and 40 yards for Jordan as the Falcons held off Orange in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.

The heat forced other Jordan tailbacks to the sideline, so Nwogalanya got a chance in the backfield in the second half and showed some running instincts that Falcons coach Mike Briggs liked.

"I think we'll find a place for him in the backfield," Briggs said. "We were using him mainly as a wide receiver, but when he got his chance, he made good. It will only help us."

Nwogalanya's first touchdown came with 11:07 left in the fourth quarter to give the Falcons a 10-0 lead. He took the ball on a sweep around the right side and beat Orange's defense to the end zone, capping a 64-yard drive in which he carried the ball on six of the eight plays.

Up until that point, the game was played close as the teams took turns pummeling each other but without scoring.

The first points of the game came early in the first quarter when Rex Downey kicked a 28-yard field goal.

Jordan got the ball deep in Orange territory after Ryan Waters recovered an Orange fumble at the Panther 12 on the third play of the game, but the Falcons were not able to take advantage and settled for the field goal with just over five minutes gone in the first quarter.

"We gave them their first points," said Orange coach Pat Moser, who returned to coaching for the first time since leaving Graham High's sideline in 2004. "I'm pleased with the way we played, but we made too many mistakes and had too many turnovers."

The Jordan lead held up even though Orange was able to move the ball effectively until it got within sight of the goal line. The Panthers had a pair of other drives stall that prevented Orange from taking the lead.

"It was a good close football game," Briggs said.

Jordan's next chance to extend its lead came midway through the third quarter thanks to a 24-yard punt return by T.J.Thorpe to the Orange 36. The Falcons drove it to the 5 but got no farther. When Downey lined up for a 22-yard field goal attempt, which was blocked by Adam Foster and returned to the Jordan 47.

Again the Panthers were unable to take advantage of their good fortune and trailed 3-0.

But after giving up the touchdown to the Falcons on their next possession, Orange fought back to make the score 10-7. Donovan McCulley gave Orange great field position with a 60-yard kickoff return to the Jordan 25. From that point the Panthers went into a power backfield lineup and ran the ball seven straight plays until Drevis Torain crashed in from the 1 with 7:37 left in the game.

When Jordan got the ball back, the Falcons milked about three minutes off the clock before having to punt. Orange got the ball back at their own 20 with 4:17 left in the game but was unsuccessful getting a first down. Twice quarterback Fred Blanks competed passes for short gains but Orange was unable to get a first down and had to punt away with a little over three minutes left in the game.

"There just wasn't enough time to try to run the ball from the power offense," Moser said. "We had some success with it but we didn't think we could make it down the field in time."

Nwogalanya, who finished with 87 yards on 14 carries, put the game out of reach when he scampered 40 yards for a touchdown on a second-and-2 play with 2:44 left in the game.

Torain led Orange with 55 yards on 12 carries.

Jordan 17, Orange 7

Orange 0 0 0 7-- 7

Jordan 3 0 0 14--17

J--Rex Downey 28 FG

J--Afam Nwogalany 20 rush (Downey kick)

O--Drevis Torain 1 run (Connor Kileen kick)

J--Nwogalanya 40 run (Downey kick)

Individual Statistics

RUSHING--Orange: Thomas Jones 7-17, John Kenion 3-19, Drevis Torain 12-55. Jordan: C.T. Williams 8-38, Josh Williams 5-12, J.J. Chambers 7-26, Afam Nwogalanya 14-87.

PASSING--Orange: Fred Blanks 16-29-145-1. Jordan: Chambers 5-20-67-1.

RECEIVING--Orange: Donovan McCulley 4-62, Kenion 2-9, Torain 6-31, Jamaal Owens 3-14, Jones 1-29, Jordan: T.J. Thorpe 3-43, Brad Sherrod 2-19.

Records--Orange 0-1, Jordan 1-0.