CARY - Even without the services of UNC commit T.J. Thorpe, out with an ankle injury sustained in the previous week's game, Durham Jordan found enough big plays to get a 21-9 win over Green Hope on Friday.

A streaking 80-yard touchdown run by Jordan's Nate Williams -- past a surprised Green Hope defense still arriving to the line of scrimmage -- on the first play of scrimmage put the team on top 7-0 just 13 seconds into the game.

Although Green Hope took a 9-7 lead into halftime, but it was another senior, Afam Nwogalanya, who stole back the momentum for Jordan.

On the fourth play of the third quarter, a pass from Green Hope junior quarterback Will Nassif ricocheted off the hands of wide receiver Drew Lloyd and right into Nwogalanya's. Nwogalanya's 40-yard pick-six was the turning point for both squads.

"It was a big boost to our energy. It definitely got us hyped," Nwoagalanya said.

Jordan's defense, which had struggled with Green Hope's option attack in the first half, didn't allow its opponent past its own 46 in the final two quarters.

"We've got to play complete games. Taking away penalties, that's probably the best half of football we've played tonight in the second half," Jordan coach Mike Briggs said. "[The pick-six] was hug because the defense needed some confidence to show us and themselves that they could stop them.

Losers of their previous 29, it seemed like Green Hope could be on the verge of handing off the title of "longest active losing streak in North Carolina" to another squad when it ended halftime with a wild score to take the lead.

Nassif scrambled 10 yards to the 7 before fumbling. As time ran out, the ball tumbled torward the end zone, where Marcus Williams recovered and crossed over the goal line for Green Hope's first touchdown.

But the momentum didn't extend to the second half.

"We played with great effort. These kids are giving everything they absolutely," Green Hope coach Steven Katz said. "We made too many mistakes, too many penalties -- we gave them two touchdowns. And you can't do that and expect to win."

Ronald Parker's sack of Jordan's Joey Mangili in the end zone had the score at 7-2 in the second quarter. Jordan tacked on the final touchdown of the game in the fourth as John Brown scored on the ground from 18 yards away.