Southern Wayne eases past Kinston

Published in Sports on October 21, 2007 2:03 AM

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By MICHAEL MOON

Kinston Free Press Correspondent

KINSTON -- Kinston High came up a little short against Southern Wayne on Friday night, falling to the Saints 36-23 and putting a damper on homecoming festivities.

"We played hard and gave a good effort," said Kinston coach Tony Edwards. "We still have a lot to work for. We just have to correct mistakes. It's the same old song and dance."

The Vikings turned the ball over three times on three interceptions from Bo Ingram. The senior quarterback, however, completed 13 of 30 passes for 145 yards and a pair of touchdown throws to junior wideout Damarcus Quinerly.

But the Vikings, playing without injured running back Michael Thompson for the fourth consecutive game, were held to a paltry 115 yards rushing, hardly enough to keep pace with Southern Wayne. The Saints racked up 282 yards of total offense, including 264 yards on 54 rushing attempts.

"They are one of the best run teams we'll face all year," said Edwards. "The wing-T is their bread and butter. If you stop the trap, they come back with the counter. If you stop the counter, they come at you with a buck sweep. It's complicated. They just pound and pound."

Southern Wayne (5-4 overall) improved to 3-0 in Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference play.

"Our O-line did a great job," said Southern Wayne coach Bob Warren. "Kinston is a talented team, and we feel fortunate to come away with a victory."

The Saints weren't able to match last year's 70-49 victory over the Vikings in Dudley, but their bruising running game was good enough for another win. Senior running back Tristan Bass ran 23 times for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead all rushers.

"Our line blocked really good," said Bass. "Everybody did what they were supposed to do, and some things went our way."

It didn't start out that way for Southern Wayne.

Kinston opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Ingram to Quinerly that was set up by a 59-yard run from senior running back Antonio Phillips on the Vikings' second play from scrimmage. The point after made the score 7-0.

"I did alright," said Phillips, "but we still came out with a loss. We had to step it up for homecoming."

Kinston freshman Sir'Tera Brewer intercepted an errant pass on the Saints' first possession, and Kinston looked to score again. But the Vikings' ensuing drive stalled at the 5-yard line, and Brewer's field goal attempt sailed wide.

The Saints marched 80 yards in just over six minutes to take the lead. The long drive was capped by a 6-yard touchdown run from junior running back James Jones. The conversion put the Saints ahead 8-7.

Following a Kinston punt, the Saints scored on a Bass run with 54 seconds remaining in the first half. Southern Wayne scored again 22 seconds later after forcing a Kinston interception. Saints quarterback Jordan Williams completed his only pass of the night -- an 18-yard touchdown strike to senior Kendrick Thompson.

"That play was huge," said Warren. "The pick put us in the position to score again, and we capitalized on it."

Said Edwards: "Football is such an emotional game. It's tough when you have a letdown like that. It's hard to bounce back."

Ingram found Quinerly again for a touchdown early in the third quarter to make it a one-possession game, but the Saints answered in the final minute of the third quarter to go ahead 29-15 on Bass's second touchdown of the night.

Jones, playing a game of anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better, punched the ball into the end zone for his second TD halfway through the fourth quarter to seal the win. Kewitt Koonce's 75-yard touchdown punt return for Kinston accounted for the final margin.

Southern Wayne 0 22 7 7 -- 36

Kinston 7 0 8 8 -- 23

First quarter

K -- Quinerly 7 pass from Ingram (Brewer kick), 9:40

Second quarter

SW -- Jones 1 run (Futrell run), 6:44

SW -- Bass 7 run (Williams kick), 0:54

SW -- Thompson 18 pass from Williams (Williams kick), 0:32

Third quarter

K -- Quinerly 13 pass from Ingram (Ingram run), 8:03

SW -- Bass 3 run (Williams kick), 0:19

Fourth quarter

SW -- Jones 1 run (Williams kick), 8:06

K -- Koonce 75 punt return (Quinerly pass from Ingram), 4:13

SW Kinston

First downs 15 14

Rushes-yds 54-264 28-115

Passing yds 18 145

Total yards 282 260

C-A-I 1-4-1 13-31-3

Fumbles-lost 3-1 2-0

Penalties-yds 2-20 7-60

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Southern Wayne -- Tristan Bass 23-124, 2 TDs; James Jones 16-81, 2 TDs; Dequan Cozart 7-59; Tyler Edwards 2-4; Corey Baker 1-0; Jordan Williams 5-(-5).

PASSING -- Southern Wayne -- Jordan Williams 1-4-1 18, TD.

RECEIVING -- Southern Wayne -- Kendrick Thompson 1-18, TD.