Saints drop heart-breaking loss to Hawks

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on September 12, 2015 11:33 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- "27 points?"

That'll be a question Southern Wayne head coach David Lee plays over in his mind until the team's next game -- or for the remainder of the season.

The Saints lost a third-quarter touchdown that would have put them ahead 27-20 against North Lenoir. Instead, Lee's team lost 26-21 on Friday evening.

"You never know," Lee said.

Southern Wayne junior running back/quarterback Manny Walker returned a Hawks' kick for a touchdown at the start of the third quarter.

But there was a flag on the play. The Saints' holding penalty cost them the touchdown that could have boosted them to their first win of the season.

Though the Saints lost the seven-point lead, Lee was pleased with his team's performance.

"Valiant effort. Manny and Quentin (Carlton) did a good job," Lee said.

Walker rushed for 69 yards on 18 carries. He returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. One quarter later, Walker returned a kickoff 79 yards for his second touchdown of the game.

Carlton, a junior running back, had 10 carries for 36 yards. He threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Djimon Ward in the second quarter, which gave the Saints a 21-20 lead.

The Hawks fought back.

Junior running back Stephon Swinson rushed for a 56-yard touchdown before halftime. He scored from five yards out with 8:05 left in the game. North Lenoir led 26-21.

"A win is a win," said Hawks' coach Kimbo Brown, whose team won its first game of the season. "Let the guys enjoy the win."

The Saints (0-3 overall) don't plan to give up.

"We need to buckle down and ball up our fists," Lee said.