Prep notebook: Warriors struggle to move ball on Firebirds

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on November 25, 2013 1:47 PM

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Eastern Wayne struggled to consistently move the football against Southern Nash in their second-round N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A playoff game Friday evening.

The Warriors tallied just 105 rushing yards and had nine running plays that resulted in negative yardage.

The Firebirds led 339-221 in total offense.

"We didn't sustain blocks very well," Warriors' head coach Bubba Williams said. "We also missed some reads. But, when we needed to run the ball and melt some clock in the fourth quarter we were able to do that."

Handling adversity

CAMP LEJEUNE -- Losing streaks can test any team's mettle.

A seven-game skid made North Duplin work harder.

Once the Rebels got healthy and regained their competitive edge, they ended regular-season play on a two-game win streak and carried the momentum into the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A Mideast Region football playoffs.

Head coach Hugh Martin choked back tears as he described his team's heart and determination after a season-ending, second-round defeat to Lejeune on Friday evening.

"They didn't quit on me, or themselves or the team," Martin said. "A lot of teams go through seven-game losing streaks, and they have a lot of problems and issues come Monday. Never with this group.

"It's meant a whole lot to the coaches and to me as an individual. It says a lot about their character, and how much they wanted to play the game and play it the right way."

The Rebels finished the year 5-7 overall.

Line adjustment

WARSAW -- Princeton tailback Johnny Frasier broke a pair of long runs in the second quarter and got the Bulldogs back into the ballgame against James Kenan on Friday night.

Frasier took the direct snap in the single-wing formation, spun to his right and cut behind the center for touchdown runs of 66 and 67 yards on consecutive drives.

James Kenan shut the play down in the second half by adjusting its defensive line gaps.

"In the first half we were lining up wrong and (Frasier) was taking advantage," James Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr. said. "We shifted some guys around and closed those gaps up the middle. You can't expect to stop Frasier cold, but we knew if we were going to win we would have to limit his big plays."

Two workhorses

CAMP LEJEUNE -- Daron Goodman and Emiliano Mora each probably took a catnap during the bus ride back to Calypso on Friday evening.

The two North Duplin seniors certainly deserved the extra shut eye. Grass and dirt stains, and red marks from the Lejeune players' helmets marred their white jerseys.

Goodman logged a team- and game-high 37 rushes and cranked out 184 yards. He scored his lone touchdown as time expired in the fourth quarter. Mora grinded out a hard-earned 39 yards on eight carries, and played solid defense all night.

"I tell you what, that's two young men with big hearts who give you everything they've got," Martin said. "They were sure getting hit (tonight). Daron sat out one game and even now he's got a knee banged up.

"Eminem has never healed up with the foot injury he's had. Hat's off to guys like that. That's the kind of kids we've got."