Northside erases big first half deficit to defeat Riverside

By MITCHELL THOMAS

Northside 34, Riverside 33

The Panthers (5-3, 2-1 Coastal Plains 1-A) erased a 25-7 deficit to come back and defeat the Riverside Knights (3-5, 1-2 CP 1-A) on Friday night. The Panthers had to make some defensive adjustments at halftime, and only allowed one second half touchdown.

Northside scored on their first drive on the backs of Zakkai Wilson and James Gorham. The Panthers capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run from Wilson to take a 7-6 lead.

 

Riverside ran a various amount of jet sweeps and counters out of a shotgun formation. Riverside quarterback Tykeen Freeman made some nice throws down field on a couple of occasions, and the wide receivers made some tough catches. With about eight minutes to go in the half, the Panthers trailed 25-7 and needed a score. They converted a fourth and six in Knights territory on a 25-yard pass to Tyler Turner. Gorham finished it off with a short touchdown run to cut the deficit to 25-14.

Omari Crandell stripped the Knights in Panther territory after a promising drive and recovered it, but Northside fumbled on the next play. Two plays later, Riverside was strip-sacked and Mitch Godley picked up the loose ball and trotted 56-yards for the touchdown to cut the Knights’ lead to 25-21.

“It was important to be that spark the team needed at that time because everybody was down. It wasn’t just me though, we fought together as a team and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” Crandell said after the game.

In the Panthers’ first possession of the fourth quarter, it was Gorham again, breaking for a 60-yard touchdown run to take the lead, 27-25.

“I just saw a lot of holes open for me tonight and i was just going. Being a running back, I got to have that vision,” Gorham said about his 162 yard, two touchdown night. “We saw a little bit of adversity, but we overcame it. It feels good, man.”

Riverside scored on two pass plays to retake the lead early on in the fourth quarter 33-27, but the Panthers wouldn’t be denied. A couple of big plays sprung the Panthers inside the 10-yard line, and Zakkai Wilson fought through three defenders to take it in for his second touchdown of the night and the game-winner. Freshman kicker Chase Tomani banged the extra point through the uprights to take the lead for the final time.

With four minutes left to go, the Knights fumbled around mid-field and the Panthers got two first downs to drain the clock for the victory.

“Our defense played better in the second half. (Crandell) played a great game, he got that strip before half. (Godley) with the scoop and score there, we’re making the plays,” head coach Keith Boyd said. “We’ve had three games that we let slip away in the fourth quarter. We could just as easily be 8-0. We’ve hung in there all year long, and it’s nice to see these kids win a close one.”

Washington pulls away in second half to defeat Ayden-Grifton

By LAIEKE ABEBE

Washington 37, Ayden-Grifton 12

The Washington Pam Pack have once again proved that they are indeed for real.

Jon Blank and his squad picked up a 37-12 win over Ayden-Grifton on Friday. On Walk of Fame night, two defensive touchdowns in the fourth quarter highlighted a dominant second half for the Pam Pack (6-1, 3-0 Eastern Carolina 2A).

“This was a big win for us,” he said. “We’ve struggled in previous years with big games, but we’re finally overcoming the obstacles of these games. My kids are buying into what we’re trying to do and it’s paying off.”

The Chargers (4-2, 0-2) and Pam Pack both came to play in a physical first half. Washington got on the board first with a 30-yard field goal from Ridge Zerniak on their opening possession. The Ayden-Grifton special teams gave themselves great field position throughout the opening half.

After a Chargers punt, the Pam Pack responded with a lengthy touchdown drive. Fullback Kris Hill plunged in from one-yard out to give Washington a 10-0 lead late in the first half. However, the Chargers quickly responded.

The Chargers capitalized with a huge kickoff return and a Marlon Cannon one-yard rushing touchdown to cut their deficit to 10-6 at the break.

On Washington’s opening possession of the second half, the Pam Pack used the option to their advantage. Godley’s first of two rushing touchdowns of the night came from 12-yards out to give the Pam Pack a 16-6 lead midway through the third quarter.

The Chargers responded with another Cannon rushing touchdown for his second of the game, but Washington continued to dominate in the trenches and it payed off.

A 48-yard touchdown run from Godley made it 23-12 late in the third quarter, and the Pam Pack defense put its stamp on the game in front of their home crowd.

“It was great to take care of business,” Godley said after the win. “We worked hard to get this win and we did it as a team.”

Washington collected three interceptions from cornerback Xzaivious Moore, and in the fourth quarter, the Pam Pack got back-to-back scoop and scores from Khamari Rodman and Walt Gerard to secure the win for the Pam Pack.

“We’re getting it done week-by-week,” Gerard said. “Next week we’re playing a good Conley team, so we have to be ready. For now, we’re definitely going to celebrate this victory.”

Washington travels to face D.H. Conley in a makeup game from Hurricane Dorian. It’ll be the last non-conference game of the year for coach Blank and his team.

“It’s a grudge match for us,” he said about next weeks game. “We’ve had some great battles with Conley over the last decade. They’re a great program, but I know my guys are ready to compete. I believe we have some good momentum and hopefully we’ll have a good week of practice to prepare for them.”