Defending state 4-A champ topples Southern Wayne

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on September 27, 2015 1:52 AM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- Junior running back Manny Walker raised his arms, grabbed the ball and returned the interception 98 yards to the end zone in the second quarter.

The pick six would be Southern Wayne's lone score on a rainy Friday evening. Defending state 4-A champion New Bern held the Saints off the board the rest of the way in a 39-7 win at the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex.

It was the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference opener for both teams.

"The effort was there," said Saints head coach David Lee. "We made progress in the first half, but we put our head down."

The Saints (0-5 overall, 0-1 ECC) trailed the Bears by nine at halftime. A safety and three lost fumbles in the second half slowed down Southern Wayne's momentum.

New Bern's defense held Southern Wayne to minus-51 yards on the ground. Saints quarterback Quentin Carlton completed three passes for 39 yards -- two to Walker and one to Daniel Curtis.

Senior linebacker Ryan Gochner and junior running back Donald Howard each had a rushing touchdown for New Bern. Senior running back Rayshi Bolds rushed one yard for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

The Bears' defense recorded two safeties.

"We were focused," said Bears head coach Bobby Curlings. "We tweaked our offense, used the I-formation and played power football."

New Bern (2-3, 1-0) travels to Eastern Wayne next Friday, while Southern Wayne faces county rival Charles B. Aycock in Pikeville.

"New Bern is a one-dimension team," Lee said. "We were just as physical."