Southern Wayne drops Louisburg for first win
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on September 18, 2010 11:17 PM
DUDLEY -- "Make a play."
Those words were shouted from the Southern Wayne sideline from the opening kickoff to the final whistle on Friday night.
When the Saints needed to make a play they did. They capitalized on two early turnovers and overcame penalties in a 33-20, non-conference win over Louisburg at the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex.
The Saints recovered a fumble by Warriors' quarterback Sport Williams on the third offensive play of the game. Southern Wayne took over near midfield and Kenyon Nembhard's 13-yard touchdown run capped the drive.
Louisburg fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Andrew Matthews scored on a 2-yard run three plays later. Southern Wayne missed the extra point and led 13-0.
The Saints' defense forced a three-and-out and Southern Wayne began its next drive in Warriors' territory. JaQuan Cobb's 3-yard touchdown run capped the 48-yard drive.
"Those 19 points were huge because that's all we scored in the first half," said Saints' head coach Bob Warren. "We took advantage of the situation and responded to it, and put points on the board."
Southern Wayne's offense was stalled by 60 yards of penalties in the second quarter. Ervin Hunt's 43-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left in the half trimmed the lead to 19-6.
Louisburg recovered a Saints' fumble and Ervin's 26-yard run as part of a hook-and-lateral as time expired in the first half cut the margin to 19-12.
Southern Wayne responded by beginning the third quarter with a six-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Matthews' 30-yard touchdown run.
"Our kids came back in the second half and took the opening drive just like we told them we needed to," said Warren. "We're still young and we have to learn to win. When times get tough you have to be able to respond. I think we took a big step forward in that tonight."
Matthews added a 51-yard score early in the fourth quarter. He finished with 149 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Cobb added 137 yards and a score on 22 carries. The two backs combined for 12 runs of 10-plus yards.
"The offensive line did a great job tonight," said Warren. "Give credit to the kids. To be 0-4 and respond when the times got tough is what it takes to become a great football team."
Rommaine Gobourne scored a fourth-quarter touchdown for the Warriors.
The Saints' defense intercepted Williams' twice and also recovered three fumbles.
Southern Wayne (1-4 overall) entertains Goldsboro on Friday.