Saints shock Hertford County, Rebels advance, Bulldogs fall
By From staff reports
Published in Sports on November 14, 2010 1:51 AM
* AHOSKIE -- Southern Wayne's fairy-tale season will have at least one more chapter.
Coming off two impressive wins over Wayne County opponents, the Saints rolled into Hertford County and walked off with a 35-19 upset victory in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A East football playoffs Friday evening.
Southern Wayne travels to South Brunswick on Friday.
"I thought we played as good a game as we have ever played," said Saints head coach Bob Warren. "Our guys were focused and they executed all of the things that we showed them in practice this week."
The Saints got on the scoreboard first when JaQuan Cobb broke a 48-yard run on the team's first possession. Hertford County quickly answered on its next drive with a 16-yard run by Aaron Thomas.
Southern Wayne (6-6) took control of the game in the second quarter with a pair of clock-consuming touchdown drives. Quintae Bradshaw busted a 23-yard run. Cobb capped the Saints' next series with a 30-yard scamper.
"Our defense did a great job of getting off the field quickly and that allowed the offense to take over," said Warren. "The offensive line opened a lot of holes and our backs found them."
Keith Jones opened the third quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Colton Chrisman that put the Saints ahead 29-7. After Hertford County rallied for a score at the end of the third quarter and another to begin the fourth, the Saints responded with a game-clinching, 12-yard run from Devondre Johnson.
The Saints' attack was led by Cobb, who finished with 187 yards on 24 carries. Bradshaw added 94 yards on 23 totes. Southern Wayne racked up 296 yards on the ground as a team.
Keith Jones completed four passes for 61 yards.
James Kenan 29, Union 28
* CLINTON -- James Kenan made the one play that truly mattered with just three seconds left on the clock Friday evening, and escaped Union 29-28 in opening-round play of the NCHSAA 1-A Mideast region football playoffs.
With 10 seconds left in the game, the Spartans trailed 29-22 with the ball at the Tigers' 20-yard line. Quarterback Zack Alphin found receiver Raheem Washington for a touchdown. Not wanting to risk overtime, the Union coaching staff elected to go for two points and the win.
Alphin rolled out of the pocket and hit Washington with a strike. Unfortunately for the Spartans, Washington was ruled down inside the one-yard line and the Tigers exited with the win.
"It was exciting, just how we like it," said James Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr.. "It seems like every week it comes down to one or two plays, and tonight we survived until the end."
Parker Jones led the Tigers with 58 yards on seven carries. The signal caller crossed the goal line three times. E.J. Smith raced for 206 yards on the ground on 17 carries. Jonathan Webster grabbed three catches for 41 yards.
James Kenan (7-5) travels to Goldsboro on Friday.
North Duplin 20, Weldon 6
* WELDON -- Four North Duplin players combined to rush for 256 yards in a 20-6 win at Weldon in the first round of the NCHSAA 1-A Midwest playoffs on Friday night.
Julio Mora's 3-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter gave the Rebels a 7-0 lead. Marcus Kornegay's 17-yard touchdown pass to James Kornegay in the third quarter increased the lead to 14-0.
Weldon pulled to within 14-6 on Victor Mallory's 20-yard touchdown pass to Devonte Harvey late in the third quarter.
Taderick Gadberry tacked on a 3-yard touchdown run for North Duplin in the fourth quarter. Mora rushed for 121 yards on 27 carries. Devin Oliver added 71 yards and Gadberry had 63 yards.
The Rebels earned their 31st playoff win in school history and advanced to the second round for the fifth straight year. North Duplin (5-7) visits defending state champion Wallace-Rose Hill on Friday.
Lakewood 35, Princeton 7
* ROSEBORO -- Princeton could not find the answer for the power running game emplyed by Lakewood on Friday night. The Dawgs suffered a 35-7 loss in their first-round, NCHSAA 1-A Midwest region football playoff outing.
Dashaun Newkirk opened the scoring for the Leopards in the first quarter with a nine-yard run. Lakewood added three scores in the second quarter that broke the game open. T.J. Sellers ripped-off a 50-yard run for a score, Newkirk hit Kenneth Davis on a 13-yard strike and Newkirk capped the first half with a 41-yard touchdown run.
The Leopards went back to work after intermission and Newkirk scored his third rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Austin Jacobs plunged in from one-yard out in the game's final minutes for Princeton's only score.
The Dawgs were led by Javontae Davis' 83-yard rushing performance on 19 carries. Jacobs completed six passes for 80 yards and Brad Williamson added five completions for 51 yards.
Princeton finished the season 2-10.