Eastern Wayne defense dominates North Lenoir

By Bryan C. Hanks
Published in Sports on August 23, 2014 11:36 PM

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For a team hoping to repeat the success of its 2013 season -- and even surpass the outstanding accomplishments from last year -- Eastern Wayne certainly got off on the right foot in its 2014 season opener Friday night.

The Warriors had little difficulty with North Lenoir, winning 43-6 in a contest that exercised the new running clock mercy rule that was instituted in the offseason by the N.C. High School Athletic Association.

Eastern Wayne also earned its 10th straight win over the Hawks.

Senior Dayshawn Pridgen and junior quarterback KK Best rushed for two touchdowns apiece for the Warriors, while backup quarterback Robert Gonzalez and senior defensive back Romello Hamilton added the other touchdowns in the rout.

Eastern Wayne led 21-0 at halftime and took a 43-0 lead on a 43-yard touchdown run by Gonzalez with 10:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. That started a running clock the NCHSAA instituted in the offseason -- if a team takes a 42-point lead in the second half, the clock runs on everything but touchdowns or called timeouts.

But while the Warriors offense was clicking to the tune of 440 total yards, its defense was the most impressive part of the game.

The Hawks were held to 88 yards of total offense, including 65 on the Hawks' final offensive drive of the game with the Warriors' second-team defense on the field. Sophomore quarterback Zach Turner scored North Lenoir's lone touchdown on a 1-yard run with 5:19 remaining in the game.

North Lenoir opened the game with an eight-play, 36-yard drive that ended with an interception thrown by Turner. After that, the Warriors held the Hawks to minus-15 yards and no first downs on their next possessions.

"Our guys did a good job flying around to the football," Eastern Wayne coach Bubba Williams said of his team's defense. "That's something we preach and that's something we did well last year."

Eastern Wayne finished with 326 yards on the ground and 114 through the air. One of 10 Warriors to carry the ball, Pridgen racked up 113 yards rushes and two TDs on just 10 attempts. Senior halfback Larry Newsome added 74 yards on 10 rushes, while Best had 51 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.

Best finished five of 10 passing for 103 yards, including three completions for 88 yards to senior wideout Malik Richards.

"There haven't very many, if any, back-to-back winning seasons at Eastern Wayne and that's something we've talked about with our kids," said Williams, who is in his sixth season. "We've got a big senior class, the biggest I've had here. We've got a good group."

The Warriors travel to Goldsboro next week.