Eastern Wayne drills West Carteret

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on August 19, 2007 2:05 AM

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MOREHEAD CITY -- Before the season started, Eastern Wayne coach Jeff Price expected big things from his young running back Hassan Best.

Still, Price could have never expected a performance like the one the sophomore gave his coach on Friday night. Best rushed for 218 yards and four touchdowns in the Warriors' 56-0 shelling of West Carteret.

"Hassan had a great night," said Price. "We rushed the ball really well."

Best wasn't alone. Lamar Lamb carried seven times for 42 yards, while Eric Brofft accumulated another 40 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Altogether, the Warriors and their big, experienced offensive line dominated the point of attack. Eastern Wayne accumulated 314 rushing yards on the night.

"We just did a great job blocking up front," said Price.

Dwight Ulmer (5-yard run) and Eric Brofft (22-yard run) accounted for Eastern Wayne's first-quarter touchdowns. Two successful PATs gave the Warriors a 14-0 advantage on a humid, breezy evening on the Crystal Coast.

Best got cranked up in the second quarter, scoring touchdowns on runs of 4 and 57 yards. The Warriors led 28-0 at halftime.

Eastern Wayne's defense continued to suffocate the Patriots' offense in the third quarter. Linebacker Anthony Williams scooped up a fumble and returned it to the end zone for a touchdown.

Best added scoring runs of 34 and 3 yards to make it 49-0.

The Warrior reserves flexed their muscle in the final period. Backup quarterback Dan Price connected with Will White on a 29-yard, fourth-down touchdown pass.

Will Hughes converted all eight PATs in the absence of starter Werner Wooten.

"Will really stepped up for us," said Price. "Special teams did really well tonight."

Price couldn't have asked for a better season opener.

"Any time you can get a win, it's good," said Price. "The good thing is we played our whole depth chart tonight. We still have a long way to go though in getting better."

Eastern Wayne (1-0 overall) returns home Friday for a contest against county rival Goldsboro. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Little Big Horn.

Eastern Wayne 14 14 21 7 -- 56

West Carteret 0 0 0 0 0 -- 0

First quarter

EW -- Ulmer 5 yard run (Hughes kick)

EW -- Brofft 22 yard run (Hughes kick)

Second quarter

EW -- Best 4 yard run (Hughes kick)

EW -- Best 57 yard run (Hughes kick)

Third quarter

EW -- Williams 5 yard fumble return (Hughes kick)

EW -- Best 34 yard run (Hughes kick)

EW -- Best 3 yard run (Hughes kick)

Fourth quarter

EW -- White 29 yard pass from Price (Hughes kick)

Eastern Wayne

First Downs 17

Rushes-yds 39-314

Passing yards 29

Total Yards 343

A-C-I 3-1-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Eastern Wayne -- Hassan Best 18-218, 4 TDs; Lamar Lamb 7-42; Eric Brofft 7-40, TD; Azaveus Dickens 4-10; Dwight Ulmer 1-5, TD.

PASSING -- Eastern Wayne -- Michael Mintz 0-2-0 0; Dan Price 1-1-0 29 (TD).

RECEIVING -- Eastern Wayne -- Will White 1-29, TD.