Derion Kendrick threw two touchdown passes and Marice Whitlock ran in two scores to lead No. 12 South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) past Northwestern (Rock Hill) 40-7 in both team’s opener on Friday.

Savion Smith’s interception put the Stallions in position for their first touchdown. Kendrick tossed a long pass to Scott Robinson to get into Northwestern’s half of the field. A Kendrick run put the ball at the 2-yard line and Marice Whitlock took it from there. With B.T. Potter’s point-after, South Pointe led 7-0 with 5:47 to go in the first quarter.

RELATED: Derion Kendrick doesn’t mind the spotlight

Potter added a field goal just before the end of the first quarter to give the Stallions a 10-0 lead.

Northwestern scored its first touchdown midway through the second quarter on a 2-yard pass from Dustin Noller to Jamario Holley that Holley reached high for.

Kendrick connected with receiver Steven Gilmore for a touchdown pass just before the half. The extra point was blocked and the Stallions went into intermission up 16-7. After Whitlock’s second touchdown run, Kendrick had a short touchdown throw to B.J. Davis to make it 29-7 in the third quarter.

Donovan McClinton’s fourth-quarter touchdown run was followed by a field goal by Potter to complete the scoring.