North beats Trask 26-20, clinches playoff spot

LELAND—It was another rainy Friday night; however, this was a special night because it was homecoming for North Brunswick High School and because it clinched the Scorpions’ hopes of getting into the state football playoffs.

Josh Balloon, North Brunswick’s crushing running back the last few years, was at the game along with many other alumni. They saw an exciting game in which North Brunswick ran out to a 26-6 lead over Trask and then held on for a 26-20 victory.

The excitement began on the second play, when A. J. Perkins threw a pass to Jesse Riley, who used his electrifying speed to gallop 66 yards for the touchdown. The start of the second quarter saw a lot of option plays from the Titans’ quarterback, who ran 11 yards for the touchdown to tie the game. However, on the last play to end the first half, Perkins dropped back and hit a fleeting Riley sprinting down the left sideline. He caught the pass in stride and coasted to a 40-yard touchdown run. The extra point by Eric Spafford gave the Scorpions a 13-6 lead.

The Scorpions dominated the third quarter by running the ball with Anthony “Move The Chains” Gaines until he crossed the goal line on 5-yard touchdown run.

D. J. Graham also contributed with 11 carries for 95 yards, which included a 25-yard touchdown run to end the third quarter and give North a 26-6 lead.

Even though it rained in the fourth quarter, the Titans never gave up, and they quickly scored 14 straight points to make the final score 26-20.

North is 5-4 overall, 2-3 in the Waccamaw Conference. It plays on Friday at Whiteville. The Scorpions’ last home game of the regular season is Nov. 7 against West Brunswick.