Tigers stay perfect in Tri-County 1-A Conference play
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on October 8, 2011 11:10 PM
Varsity football
James Kenan 21, Lakewood 7
* SALEMBURG -- All James Kenan needed to do was wait for Tri-County 1-A Conference play to start.
Following an 0-3 no-conference campaign, the Tigers ripped off their fourth consecutive win with a 21-7 triumph over Lakewood on Friday evening.
"This is the time of year is when you want to be playing your best football," said James Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr. "Our guys have been playing some outstanding football on defense and we have been able to keep teams behind once we get them there."
Marcelias Sutton opened the scoring for the Tigers on the team's second possession with a 35-yard run to the end zone. The celebration was short-lived however as Lakewood ran the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown and tied the game at 7-7.
Dominique Barnes put the visitors ahead for good on the final play of the first quarter with a one-yard scoring plunge. Barnes added a second one-yard scamper in the fourth quarter to seal the game for the Tigers.
"I was glad to see our guys come out focused and pick up a conference win on the road," said Avent Jr. "Coming off an emotional win on Monday night at Pender, I was glad to see they picked up where they left off."
Sutton led the Tigers with 68 yards rushing on 15 totes. Barnes added 22 yards and Devon Best completed the offensive total for James Kenan with 88 yards on 21 carries. The Tigers did not complete a pass in the victory.
James Kenan (4-3 overall, 4-0 TCC) entertains Midway on Friday.
Cleveland 42, C.B. Aycock 6
* CLAYTON -- Cleveland High School enjoyed its first-ever homecoming game with a 42-6 rout of Charles B. Aycock on Friday night in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference action.
The Rams, led by quarterback Tre Joyner, scored 35 points in the first half. Joyner tossed three touchdown passes and kicked all five extra points before the intermission.
C.B. Aycock got on the board in the third quarter when Jeremy Hooks found daylight and raced into the end zone for a six-yard touchdown. Joyner answered with a 55-yard scoring scamper that capped the Rams' total.
Austin Snowden paced the Golden Falcons' offense with 125 yards on 16 rushes. Snowden added 66 yards passing on six completions. Hooks finished with 43 yards on the ground. Cody Garris added 26 yards on four carries.
C.B. Aycock (2-6 overall, 1-3 ECC) entertains Eastern Wayne on Friday.
South Johnston 49, North Lenoir 7
* FOUR OAKS -- South Johnston continued its hot start to the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference campaign with a 49-7 win over North Lenoir on Friday night.
The Trojans broke free on the opening kickoff and seized a 7-0 lead. After surrendering a second touchdown to the potent Trojan offense, the Hawks briefly rallied. Landon Baker hit Zongio Troy with a 14-yard touchdown pass and Caleb Baird nailed the extra point to make the 13-7 early in the second quarter.
That would be as close as North Lenoir would get.
South Johnston rattled off 36 unanswered points to close out the contest.
The victory pushed South Johnston to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Trojans are now essentially in a three-team race with Triton and Cleveland, both of whom are also undefeated in league play, for the conference title.
South Johnston visits Southern Wayne on Friday, while North Lenoir (1-7, 0-4) steps outside ECC play for a non-conference game at Davidson Day School.
Ayden-Grifton 60, Spring Creek 0
* AYDEN -- Spring Creek had no answer for the talented backfield at Ayden-Grifton in a 60-0 loss on Friday night.
Charger quarterback Brandon Larry, who rushed for 140 yards, opened the game with 75-yard touchdown run that sparked the home team's offense. Larry finished with 140 yards rushing on the night. The Chargers finished with 279 yards on the ground as a team.
Spring Creek was led by Trey Hammonds 51 yards on the ground on 14 carries. Eric Moseley completed four passes for 58 yards. Luke Miller caught two balls for 44 yards.
The Gators tallied 91 total yards of offense.
Ayden-Grifton (6-1 overall, 2-0 CC) plays host to North Duplin on Friday, while Spring Creek (1-6, 0-2) is the guest of Rosewood.