North Brunswick flattens Fairmont

LELAND—The North Brunswick Scorpions football team stung the Fairmount Golden Torpedoes 32-0 in the first game of the high school football season Friday.

The penalty-filled first half started with a fumbled kickoff recovered by Fairmont. North Brunswick’s Jesse Riley began the Scorpions’ first possession with a 35-yard run from scrimmage. But a 62-yard run by Kiara Robinson was nullified by a penalty. And in the second quarter, a 35-yard pass play from quarterback A.J. Perkins to C.J. Holiday was also nullified.

North’s first touchdown was set up when Fairmont fumbled a punt in its end zone late in the second quarter. The two-point safety led to a possession for the Scorpions, and they took advantage of the opportunity. They scored with a minute and 10 seconds left in the half on a 32-yard catch by Bud Lennon.

Perkins’ two-point conversion gave the Scorpions a 10-0 lead at halftime.

Despite the lead, coach Garry Bishop was displeased with the errors.

“We will make no adjustments,” he said. “We just have to stop making stupid penalties.”

After the sluggish and penalty-filled first half, the Scorpions kicked it into high gear in the second half with a great showing from Anthony “Move The Chains” Gaines. The night belonged to Gaines and his electrifying runs. He gained 118 yards and scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Perkins, who threw two touchdown passes, showed poise in running the offense. He scored on a quarterback sneak in the third quarter. His two-point conversion run gave the Scorpions an 18-0 lead. Later in the quarter, Robinson scored on a 32-yard pass from Perkins. Gaines ran in the two-point conversion to give North a 26-0 lead.

Despite the shutout, Bishop was concerned about the mistakes.

“Penalties killed us in the first half and we really shot ourselves in the foot,” he said. “However, it was a typical first game.”

The Scorpions play their next two games on the road, the first this Thursday at West Columbus and the second Sept. 12 at Northside. North’s next home game is Sept. 19 against Lejeune.