Football digest

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on September 7, 2014 12:02 AM

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staff reports

RED SPRINGS -- Eastern Wayne scored twice during the first 21/2 minutes after kickoff and KK Best accounted for five touchdowns during a 56-7, non-conference conquest of Red Springs on Friday evening.

Best capped the Warriors' first possession with a 60-yard touchdown toss to Malik Richards. The Red Devils fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Richards broke off a 10-yard touchdown run two plays later.

Best threw for 209 yards in the opening half.

"Every week, he gets a little bit better, the reads are getting a little more comfortable now," Warriors head coach Bubba Williams said. "Now he's envisioning the things we've been talking about. He took what they gave him, didn't pressure anything or try to force it and that made us a little more successful."

Eastern Wayne's defense permitted one touchdown. Red Springs quarterback Cody Freeman hooked up with Wade Monroe from 12 yards out late in the opening half.

The Warriors led 49-7 at the break.

"We got to the ball well most of the night, tackled well, just have to fine-tune some coverages to get them right," Williams said. "I thought we finished the game strong because Red Springs scored 30 points in the second half against White Oak a couple of weeks ago.

"The focus for our kids was you have to keep playing and they did that."

Eastern Wayne (3-0 overall) returns to Little Big Horn on Friday for a non-conference game against Greene Central. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

C.B. Aycock 55,

North Lenoir 26

* La GRANGE -- Charles B. Aycock piled up 520 yards of total offense in a 55-26, non-conference romp over North Lenoir at Bullock Field on Friday evening.

Senior quarterback TJ Morrow threw for 229 yards and five touchdowns, and rushed for 140 yards and another touchdown for the Golden Falcons. Backup quarterback Jake Flowers completed eight passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Morrow and Flowers distributed their 22 combined completions among 10 different receivers. Senior Jimmy Ellis led the receiving corps with 103 yards on four receptions and a touchdown. Damien Darden hauled in a pair of TD passes.

"We bounced back, did the things we talked about all week," second-year CBA head coach Steve Brooks said. "We played a really good game offensively and defensively. Last night the kids did a great job of doing what they're coached to do.

"They made the plays happen and that's a credit to the kids."

Senior Blake Merrill emerged as the defensive leader with 11 stops. Senior Joshua Jones recorded nine takcles, while Darden had six tackles. The unit recorded three sacks and recovered a fumble.

"I'm really proud of the defensive effort from my coaches and my players," Brooks said. "We're still learning, adjusting and making mistakes from time to time (and) still have to get better at tackling.

"But I'm seeing the effort and want-to from our coaches and players, and I can't be more happier."

The Golden Falcons (2-1 overall) entertain Goldsboro next Friday. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Hardy Talton Stadium.

Midway 28, Rosewood 27

* Midway recovered a late fumble and escaped Rosewood, 28-27, in a non-conference affair contested at Branch Pope Field on Friday evening.

"We hung in there," said RHS head coach Robert Britt, whose team almost erased a 14-point deficit.

"We stopped them (late), got the ball back with no timeouts, so we went no huddle. When we went to spike the ball, our quarterback fumbled the snap."

Mike Woodard paced the Eagles' rushing attack with 115 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Cameron Helt completed 10 passes for 178 yards, and threw TD strikes to Quan Joyner and Marquail Almontaser.

"We're getting better, that's probably our best game that we've played," Britt said. "We still have a turnover issue, but we cut down on them."

Rosewood (0-3 overall) entertains Lejeune on Friday.

East Carteret 35, Spring Creek 14

* SEVEN SPRINGS -- East Carteret erupted for 21 fourth-quarter points and knocked off Spring Creek, 35-14, in "The Swamp" on Friday evening.

The Mariners improved to 6-0 all-time against the Gators.

"It was a ballgame that was a lot closer than the score indicated," SC head coach Arron Sanders said. "I felt like the kids played hard. We moved the ball a little better offensively, but we still have some work to do there.

"East Carteret is a good football team. I felt like they had athletes all over the field."

Logan Miller's 3-yard run created a 7-7 deadlock heading into halftime.

The Mariners moved back in front 14-7 before the Gators answered with Jordan Hicks' 5-yard touchdown reception from Miller. Miller completed four passes -- two each to Hicks and Jessie Casper.

A botched snap help East Carteret break open the game in the fourth quarter. The Gators' two-way starters began to show some fatigue and struggled to stop the Mariners' offense on key downs.

"We ran out of steam," Sanders said.

Spring Creek (1-1 overall) concludes its season-opening, three-game homestand Friday against Wake Christian. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

South Lenoir 23, North Duplin 20

* DEEP RUN -- Cody Ladich kicked a 29-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in regulation, and South Lenoir turned back North Duplin, 23-20, on Friday evening.

The Rebels recovered a Blue Devil fumble with 31/2 minutes to go, but returned the favor two plays later. David Morales pounced on the loose ball for South Lenoir, which eventually moved into North Duplin's red zone and set the table for Ladich's heroics.

Daquan Goodman paced the Rebels' offense with 141 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. Quarterback JP Payton rambled for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

The Blue Devils forced four turnovers.

North Lenoir (1-2 overall) entertains Dixon on Friday.

James Kenan 57, Union 8

* WARSAW -- Ken Avent III threw four touchdown passes and rushed for two more during James Kenan's 57-8, non-conference whipping of Union at Bill Taylor Field on Friday evening.

Greg Washington pulled in three TD passes from Avent III, while John Brooks reeled in a 44-yard, first-quarter touchdown reception. A sophomore quarterback, Avent III finished 6 of 11 for 194 yards with no interceptions.

Avent III has thrown 10 TD passes this season.

The Tigers compiled 412 yards of total offense, including 218 on the ground. Avent III supplied touchdown runs of 5 and 63 yards, and ended up with 71 yards on the night. JaQuan Williams contributed 48 yards and a touchdown on four carries.

Williams also returned a kickoff 92 yards for a TD.

Junior linebacker Donta Mason led the defense with four solo stops, three assists, one fumble caused and one interception.

The No. 5-ranked Tigers (2-1 overall) entertain East Duplin on Friday.