Prep football digest

By From staff reports
Published in Sports on October 28, 2012 1:50 AM

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staff reports

TEACHEY -- A pair of perennial Duplin County powerhouses staged yet another classic affair in their historic rivalry at Thell B. Overman Field on Friday evening.

James Kenan stuffed Wallace-Rose Hill on a two-point conversion with 1 minute, 55 seconds remaining and clinched the Tri-County 1-A Conference championship with a 21-20 victory.

The No. 2-ranked Tigers finished unbeaten in regular-season play for the first time since 2008 -- ironically the last time they defeated their archrival. The victory also assured James Kenan (10-0 overall, 7-0 TCC) of a No. 1 seed in either the East or Mideast Region for the upcoming N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-AA playoffs.

"It's good to win the conference again," said seventh-year Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr. "It was a really good game by both teams."

Marcelias Sutton paced James Kenan's offense with 191 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Sutton scored second-quarter TDs on runs of 15 and 53 yards.

Backfield mate Ja'Quan Williams provided 52 yards and the game-winning touchdown on 13 totes.

"Marcelias had some hard-earned yards the whole way and he played good on defense all night," Avent Jr. said.

Tied 14-14 in the third quarter, the Tigers orchestrated a 16-play, 80-yard drive that consumed eight minutes. Williams capped the possession with a 14-yard touchdown scamper and Max Hernandez booted his third PAT of the game.

Wallace-Rose Hill (7-4, 6-1) answered on a fourth-and-3 play when fullback Dijon Kenan scored from 11 yards out. The Dogs opted to go for two, but couldn't get past the Tigers' trio of Jaylan Williams, TK Owens and Justen Boney, who combined to stop the two-point conversion.

"We made the big play when we had to," Avent Jr. said.

Eastern Wayne 13,

North Lenoir 0

* Eastern Wayne scored a pair of second-half touchdowns and turned back North Lenoir 13-0 in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference regular-season finale both teams Friday evening.

Warrior quarterback Mitch Pike completed 15 of 28 passes for 204 yards, including six straight to open the third quarter. His 4-yard strike to Micah Smith broke a scoreless tie midway through the third quarter, and capped a 10-play, 68-yard possession.

Lamorris Pridgen's 25-yard reception set up Lavoris Vick's 4-yard scamper with 6:41 remaining in the final period.

"We were able to finish drives, didn't commit as many penalties ... shoot ourselves in the foot like we did in the first half," Eastern Wayne head coach Bubba Williams said. "In the second half, we were running short routes with the receivers. Mitch did a better job of getting the ball to those guys and letting them make the plays, which is what we have to do."

The Warrior defense coaxed the Hawks into five turnovers.

"Hopefully we have some guys growing up a little bit on that side of the ball," Williams said. "That win was big because I think that gives us a shot to make the playoffs."

North Duplin 42,

Spring Creek 14

* CALYPSO -- Tyler Royal rushed for 221 yards and five touchdowns, and North Duplin defeated Spring Creek, 42-14, in the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season finale for both teams Friday evening.

Royal scored on runs of 7, 2, 19, 22 and 1 yards.

"You game plan for them, but you can't simulate what he (Royal) brings to the table in practice," SC head coach Aaron Sanders said. "In the blink of an eye, he gets past you. He does a great job running the offense."

Daron Goodman provided 127 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Julio Mora returned to supply 83 yards and a touchdown on 12 totes.

Six different backs carried the ball for the Rebels, who piled up 503 rushing yards and 519 yards of total offense.

"They're very effective in what they do and I feel like they're going to be a tough out (in the playoffs) for somebody," Sanders said.

Tre Hammonds returned to the Spring Creek lineup and accounted for both touchdowns. He threw a 47-yard half-back option touchdown pass to Rodney Lanier in the second quarter, and added a 12-yard scoring run in the fourth.

Anthony Russo successfully converted both PATs.

Spring Creek (0-10, 0-6) accumulated 234 yards of total offense.

"We had Tre back, which makes a huge difference," Sanders said. "We did some things well that gives us a lot of build off of going into next year."