Gators endure first loss of season on gridiron

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on September 5, 2015 11:15 PM

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BEAUFORT -- Despite two missed scoring opportunities in the opening half, Spring Creek felt confident as it entered halftime against East Carteret on Friday evening.

The Gators dropped a pass in the end zone and caught another toward the back of the end zone, but the referee said the receiver was out of bounds.

"We didn't play bad in the first half. I felt like we had hung around," Spring Creek head coach Aaron Sanders said.

But mistakes hurt the Gators in the third. Three consecutive turnovers allowed the Mariners to pull away for a 61-14, non-conference victory.

"They're a very good football team, not going to take that way from them considering how ugly the night went," Sanders said. "We've got athletes, but our kids are young. Their athletes are mature and developed. Their front seven (defensively) were really strong."

SC managed just 36 yards rushing.

Scott Edmondson paced the Gators' passing game with 158 yards and a touchdown on 10 completions. He threw a first-half TD strike to Jameron Dawson, who hauled in five receptions for a team-best 126 yards.

Jessie Casper had three completions, including a touchdown pass to Najee Young.

Young emerged as the defensive leader with eight tackles. Spencer Jameson, Nick Strickland and Xavion Garcia logged six tackles apiece. Garcia recorded a quarterback sack and picked off a pass.

Strickland also had an interception.

The Gators (2-1 overall) continue their season-opening, five-game road swing with a trip to Wake Christian next Friday.