By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON — The back-to-back Atlantic Conference champion Williamston Tigers could not have asked for a better way to head into the playoffs as they closed out the regular season with a statment-making 57-22 blowout over the rival Roanoke Redskins Friday night.
Aside from pushing their record up to 6-5 (5-2), the win also should lock up a No. 3 seed in the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs, which would mean the Tigers won’t have to leave Williamston for a while.
The madness started in the second quarter and didn’t end until the third, as Williamston marched up and down the field and hung 38 unanswered points on the Redskins (3-7, 1-5) to stretch a 19-14 lead into 57-14 advantage.
The Tigers’ quarterback Emery Griggs put on a display as he rushed for four touchdowns and passed for another. Griggs finished the day 5-7 for 114 yards and no picks.
Griggs’ counterpart Tyreek Cooper (3-7, 158 yards, TD, INT) made a few big plays through the air as well, but never really had much time to find his receivers.
After starting the second quarter with a Markel Daniels TD run to cut the Tigers’ lead to 19-14, the Redskins were haunted by turnovers and could never get any closer. Roanoke fumbled six times, losing three of them, while throwing and interception.
Aside from another strong defensive performance by the Tigers’ DeBrian and DeBriant Everett, Williamston also got a big game from Kenny Brown (1 TD) and Derek Everett (2 TDs).
Roanoke Williamston
5 First Downs 12
21-44 Rushes-Yards 26-151
158 Passing Yards 114
3-7-1 Pass-Comp-Int 5-7
3-22 Punting 1-24
6-3 Fumbles-Lost x
5-30 Penalties 6-55
Roanoke 6 7 0 7 — 22
Williamston 19 24 14 0 — 57
Scoring Summary
W— Emery Griggs 4 run (Cody Speller kick failed), 10:11, 1st
R — Markel Daniels 7 run (two points failed), 5:12 1st.
W — Derek Everett 1 run (two points failed), 4:47, 1st.
W — Griggs 11 run (two points failed), :22, 1st.
R — Tyreek Cooper 1 run (Aaron Baker two points), 9:12, 2nd.
W — Griggs 4 run (two points failed), 4:55, 2nd.
W — Kenny Brown 21 run (Speller kick), 4:05, 2nd.
W — Speller 37 field goal, 1:07, 2nd.
W — Everett 27 pass from Griggs (Speller two points), :43, 2nd.
W — Griggs 34 run (Speller kick), 10:41. 3rd.
W — Jermaine McGhee 23 run (Speller kick), 3:20, 3rd,
R — Tavin Shepperd 64 pass from Cooper (Cooper two points), 4:44, 4th.