EAST BEND — North Surry won its first game on the road, downing Forbush 33-9.

The Greyhounds finished Friday as the only local football team to win as the Bears, Eagles and Cardinals lost.

“It was a close game at halftime, 7-3,” said Coach Brian Hampton. Forbush used a ball-control drive to march about 90 yards downfield for a chip-shot field goal, he said.

“Forbush is much improved over last season,” he said. “They played hard … but they had a lot of guys playing both ways, and we didn’t.”

Conditioning is often a factor in the first game, and more so with the Falcons playing both offense and defense.

As Forbush wore down, the Hounds broke loose for some long gains.

All four scores in the second half were from 50 yards or longer.

Quarterback Alex Ratcliff, who had a 15-yard TD run in the first half, added on a 65-yard gallop. He also completed touchdown passes to receiver Jacob Pelfrey of 50 and 60 yards each.

Jason King, a linebacker who also started at running back Friday, broke loose for a 70-yard run.

The Falcons’ lone score in the second half came on two long plays, also. Forbush got a kickoff return out to midfield, then hit a 50-yard bomb that cut the deficit to 20-9. Forbush missed the extra point, then North added the second long pass to Pelfrey and the second TD run by Ratcliff.

Pelfrey is a basketball and baseball standout who hadn’t played football at North before this season.

“We’re really tickled to start the season off with a win,” said Hampton. The team played with a lot of effort, which contributed to Forbush wearing down in the second half.

The Hounds have another away game next week against Elkin before their home opener Sept. 2 against Ashe County.

Contact Jeff Linville at jlinville@mtairynews.com or 719-1920.