By Danny Lyon
PLYMOUTH — When No. 6 Manteo traveled to No. 8 Plymouth Friday night, many believed the matchup would determine which team would take the Four Rivers Conference. The Vikings left no doubt that they feel it is their title for the taking as they rolled past the Redskins 44-8 on Homecoming Night.
With the win, Plymouth handed Manteo it’s first loss of the season and took command of first place in the conference.
Coming into Friday’s game it was evident that both teams could score. Manteo did just that, taking the opening drive 71 yards on seven plays to take the early lead 8-0 on a QB sneak from a yard out by John Lilley.
That was the only time the Redskins would see the end zone, as it was the Plymouth defense that answered the call all night.
“The defense really came off the ball, we tried to play them straight up that first drive and they were hitting big holes.” said Vikings coach Robert Cody. He continued, “We have a lot of speed on defense…we had to switch some things up.”
Plymouth slid their defensive line into the gaps and then contained the outside running lanes and really bottled up the Redskins’ ground game the rest of the way.
All of that speed also translated into offense. Plymouth answered Manteo’s score with a score of its own on the ensuing drive. Midway through the first Kendrick Pitt’s 17 yard run had the game tied 8-8. On their next drive, it was the speed of wing back Quadree Pettiford from 53 yards out to put Plymouth up 14-8.
In the second it was more Plymouth Vikings. Senior Carl McCray scored two of his three scores early in the quarter. The first on a 4-yard run up the gut, and the second on a 15-yard scamper off the right tackle. McCray would end his homecoming night with 224 yards on the ground on 12 carries.
Before the end of the half, it would be Pettiford’s speed again as he broke loose for 42 yards and found pay dirt to extend the Vikes’ lead to 36-8 at the break.
The Manteo defense tightened in the second half and both teams were held scoreless in the third.
The Redskins offense had several drives into Vikings territory but couldn’t capitalize, partly due to the three turnovers in the second half alone.
McCray later capped off the scoring with some quickness of his own on a 65-yard sprint around the left side to finish off his stellar night.
“I’ve some years where I’ve had that speed and it makes it easy to be a coach,” said Cody. “As long as they stay healthy you’ll be pretty good,” and they looked as good as they have all season on Friday night. The Vikings look to tune their game next week against a winless Perquimans squad, and push for what they hope is a deep run in the playoffs.