By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Bulldogs fade in setback to Northwest Guilford, lose 33-16
A strong start fizzled for the Williams football team in Friday night’s season opener.
Northwest Guilford had a huge second half to upend the host Bulldogs 33-16 at Burlington Memorial Stadium.
Williams couldn’t maintain a 16-7 halftime lead.
“I think they wore us down a little bit,” Williams coach Patrick Stokes said.
Bulldogs quarterback Dan Mahan threw for a touchdown and two interceptions. Teammate Leontae Turner made two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
Last year, the Bulldogs won the matchup with a comeback. There was a chance for more late heroics.
“We were opportunistic at times,” Stokes said.
The Williams defense made a red-zone stop to force a Northwest Guilford field goal with 6:52 left, making the score 20-16. After reaching midfield, the Bulldogs gave the ball back on downs.
A goal-line stand appeared possible again, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty on a Northwest Guilford field goal attempt allowed the Vikings to keep the ball. On the next play, Rakem Hammock ran 2 yards on a sweep for a touchdown with 1:49 remaining.
The Vikings added to the margin when Elijah Owens returned an interception for a touchdown with 29.9 seconds left.
It was tied 7-7 when Turner’s second pick-off gave the Bulldogs the lead. But in the aftermath of that play Turner picked up his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and was disqualified for the remainder of the game.
Bryan Isley’s 32-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half pushed Williams’ edge to 16-7.
Eastern Randolph 29, Eastern Alamance 0: At Mebane, the visiting Wildcats spoiled the head coaching debut for Mitch Mitchener at Eastern Alamance.
Eastern Randolph led 14-0 at halftime and scored a third-quarter touchdown before adding a safety and another touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Eastern Alamance had some defensive highlights, including an interception by Jacob Currie.
The Eagles won openers against Eastern Randolph the two previous seasons, marking the only regular-season defeats for the Wildcats in those years.
Reidsville 28, Western Alamance 3: At Elon, the visiting Rams kept Western in check, winning the season-opening matchup between the teams for the fourth year in a row.
Reidsville, the reigning Class 2-A state champion, led 14-0 at halftime before the Warriors got on the board in the third quarter on Noah Barrett’s 37-yard field goal.
Reidsville’s scoring plays included Johnniyus Sharpe’s swing pass to Cam’ron Jones in a connection between players who previously played for Cummings and Williams, respectively.
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Western attempted 27 passes, with the nine completions accounting for 47 yards.
Southeast Alamance 31, Orange 14: At Haw River, the host Stallions avenged last season’s loss to Orange, so it marked the first season-opening victory in program history for the second-year school.
Southeast led 21-0 after the first quarter. All the game’s scoring came in the first half.
Southeast moved 55 yards on its first drive, capped by Daniel Bunker’s touchdown run.
D.J. Callis added a 37-yard touchdown run. Drew Easter’s 49-yard interception return for a touchdown padded the margin.
Cruz Nelms connected on a field goal and teammate Bubba Sims recovered an Orange fumble in the end zone in the final seconds of the half for Southeast’s other scoring plays.
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SE SCORERS (5)
Callis finished with 78 yards on eight carries.
Orange’s offense was held to 13 rushing yards.
Cummings 18, Eden Morehead 7: Jaidyn Briskey scored two touchdowns as part of a big night carrying the ball as the host Cavaliers won their opener against Eden Morehead for the second year in a row. Devin Witherspoon also ran for a Cummings touchdown.
Graham lost to visiting Southern Alamance [see separate story here: https://alamancenews.com/friday-night-lights-roundup-patriots-follow-plan-in-blowout-of-graham/]
