Cougars lose opener to West Craven

Staff Report

South Brunswick lost 27-13 at West Craven in a season-opening high school football game Friday in Vanceboro.
South scored the first points. A long run by Cedric Daniels set up a touchdown by Damani Johnson. Gavin Dail kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
West Craven then went on to score four touchdowns in taking a 27-7 lead through the fourth quarter.
West Craven scored its first touchdown on pass from Demetres Abrams to Torrey Jackson. The Cougars blocked the extra point.
On the ensuing drive, West Craven blocked a punt for a safety and an 8-6 lead.
West Craven unsuccessfully attempted a Hail Mary pass 20 seconds before halftime. After a timeout, Abrams saw the South Brunswick defense playing deep to prevent another long pass. He took the snap and sprinted up the middle on a 50-yard touchdown run for 14-7 halftime lead.
The Eagles scored a touchdown in the third quarter and led 27-7 in the fourth quarter when South scored its final touchdown on a 62-yard run by Omar Jones.
The Eagles finished with 358 total yards, 177 of them via the pass. The Cougars gained 159 yards on the ground but were held to 12 passing yards.
South Brunswick was penalized seven times for 35 yards and the Eagles eight times for 65 yards. South also had three turnovers on fumbles.
“We’re a young team and our guys don’t have a lot of speed or varsity experience and that really hurt us tonight against West Craven,” South Brunswick coach Josh Rusk told the Sun Journal. “Give them (West Craven) credit though, those kids played hard tonight for Coach Riggsbee and they have got a lot of speed and talent.”
South next plays on Friday at Ashley.