FOOTBALL: Warriors knock off Saints

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on October 30, 2016 1:45 AM

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Darkness blanketed the stadium as Southern Wayne and Eastern Wayne prepared for second-half play Friday evening.

All of the field lights went out for an unknown reason right after kickoff.

The 20-minute delay turned into a test of mental strength -- a test the Warriors welcomed with open arms. Following the power outage, EW orchestrated a five-play, 48-yard TD drive.

The rest of the half was spent thwarting a SW comeback, which the Warriors completed successfully in their 23-20 victory in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play.

"I hate stuff like that," said EW head coach Leander Oates, referring to the blackout. "It's either when it's raining, thundering -- stuff like that can delay momentum, especially when you're getting ready to receive the ball. But our guys responded."

The absence of light provided a well-needed spark for the Warriors, but the Saints did land some punches.

With fewer than three minutes left in the third quarter, SW's Manny Walker drove the team 49 yards downfield in four plays. The drive concluded with a 14-yard TD pass to Jack Casbarro. The score cut the Warriors' lead to 20-13.

After EW's Brennan Dove added a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, the Saints once again responded.

Walker threw six passes for 73 yards on the following drive, and capped the possession with a five-yard TD scamper. It was now 23-20, Warriors and 31/2 minutes remained.

Similar to the power outage, the Warriors were faced with another mental test.

And again, EW responded thanks to sophomore running back Junious Tyson. On its next possession, Tyson carried the ball seven times for 35 yards and gained two first downs. He helped milk the clock and seal the victory for EW.

"(Tyson) was one of my JV running backs that I had last year," Oates said. "And I told him, 'It's your time.' He stepped up to the challenge. And there's more to come -- he's only a sophomore. Now that he has a sense of the field, I think there will be more to come."

Tyson finished the game with 22 carries for 188 yards and two TDs.

SW head coach Ronnie McClary Jr. said the Saints must now focus on their last game of the season, so it can end on a higher note.

"We have to finish up strong," McClary Jr. said. "This loss probably put us out of the playoffs picture. But we still have one more game to go. We have a bye next week, and we have to get ready for a great team in D.H. Conley."

EW's next test will be a pivotal 3-A conference matchup with crosstown rival C.B. Aycock. The winner will be declared unofficial champion of the county. More importantly, the game may have major playoff implications.

"We can't go in and lay down to them," Oates said. "They have a great senior group that has experience over our guys. We'll be able to say the same next year, but we just have to go in there and play ball. We're in our 3-A portion, and we need to take care of 3-A business."

SAINTS STRUGGLE

* Southern Wayne's first three drives of the game started on the Warriors' 47-yard line, the Saints' 42, and then again on the Warriors' 47. The possessions resulted in a turnover on downs, and fumbles by DeAndre Wright and Eron Ermilus.

EW SCORE

* With 1:43 left in the first quarter, Tyson sprinted nine yards into the end zone. That play marked the first time the Warriors have scored a point since their 25-24 win against South Central on Sept. 23.

NO CARLTON

* SW running back Quentin Carlton, who is second on the team with 477 rushing yards, sat out Friday's game due to a thigh bruise. "He just has to get treatment," McClary Jr. said. "And with this bye week, we'll have time for him as well as other guys to heal up."