By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON — Williamston running back Cedric Moody had no problem getting adjusted to the Tigers’ muddy field as he galloped his way to 240 rushing yards on 12 carries while reaching the end zone four times to lead No. 5 Williamston to a 60-18 thrashing of No. 12 Southside in the first round of the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs.
The game, originally scheduled for Friday night, was pushed to Saturday because of steady rainfall the previous two days.
Moody ripped off TD runs of 50, 35, 67 and 33 yards to lead a Williamston (10-2) rushing attack that racked up 538 yards and eight touchdowns on 36 attempts.
Williamston quarterback Luke Mathews got into the act as well, as he churned his powerful legs for touchdown runs of two and three yards.
Junior running back Quenton Lawrence busted off a 64-yard run, while Jermaine McGhee bounced outside for a 10-yard touchdown run.
“The running game has been carrying us all year, but I think we are a balanced team,” Williamston head coach Asim McGill said. “When you play us, I think you can’t just worry about the running game because we are fortunate to throw the ball a little bit.”
Mathews passed for 94 yards and hit of five of his 10 attempts and was intercepted once. Moore, the Seahawks’ QB, hit on 8 of his 24 attempts for 171 yards and was picked twice.
The Tiger’s ninth TD was scored on a Trevon Rogers’ 80-yard interception return of a Southside quarterback Terrill Moore pass.
While the Tigers’ running backs seemingly rally-raced up and down the muddy field, the Seahawks caught a flat tire. Southside (4-8) ran for only 68 yards on 37 attempts and midway through the game could only move the ball via the pass.
Southside played even with Williamston for the first two quarters as it got TDs from WR Willie Ruffin, who caught a 24-yard pass from Moore in the second to cut the Tigers’ lead to 12-6.
The Seahawks scored on a Moore two-yard TD plunge right before the half to make it a 19-12 game at intermission.
Moore threw a 55-yard TD pass to Greg Latham to start the third quarter and pull within 19-18 of Williamston, but then got out-scored 42-0.
Southside coach David Hines felt his team did not match the energy level of the Tigers in the second half.
“I think our intensity let down a little,” Hines said. “That third quarter just felt like it laster forever. I’m not saying our kid didn’t play hard because I think they did … There was just something lacking.”
The Tigers will advance to take on No. 4 Wallace-Rose on the road next Friday.