By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Josh Gant returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown with 1:37 left to lift visiting Southeast Alamance past Eastern Alamance 21-19 in Friday night’s non-league game in Mebane.
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Southeast (2-0) went ahead for the first time earlier in the fourth quarter on D.J. Callis’ tackle-breaking touchdown run and Cruz Nelms’ extra-point kick to set up a frantic finish.
Zack Merchel threw for two touchdowns and Tyrek Samuel scored two touchdowns, including a go-ahead kickoff return in the fourth quarter, for the Eagles (now 0-2).
After going up 19-14 with less than 10 minutes to play but failing to convert a two-point conversion, the Eagles had a chance to add to their advantage but couldn’t keep the possession going before the punt return from Gant, who’s a former Graham player.
Merchel connected with Taraji Rogers for a first-quarter touchdown pass play, with Rogers tipping the ball before grabbing into and falling into the end zone. Southeast pulled even in the second quarter on Daniel Bunker’s 1-yard run.
Merchel’s short pass to Samuel turned into a long touchdown play before halftime for a 13-7 edge. Samuel ran about 45 yards untouched after catching the ball.
The outcome reversed Eastern’s 63-point victory against the Stallions a year earlier.
Western Alamance 28, Cummings 21: At Burlington, Colten Hill scored the winning touchdown with about a minute left as the Warriors pulled out the victory.
Cummings (1-1) missed a potential go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter before Western’s winning possession.
Western (1-1) scored the game’s final 14 points. Collin Moylan’s touchdown allowed the Warriors to tie the game. Jordan Hall scored two first-half touchdowns.
“We played really well, just (Western) was the better team,” Cummings coach David Grimm said.
Tabori Stanfield returned an interception for a Cummings touchdown. Devin Witherspoon ran for a touchdown and threw a scoring pass to Hezekiah Pinnix.
Cummings used Witherspoon and Jakori McNair at quarterback in what Grimm called a rotation by design.
The teams played a tight game for the second year in a row, with the Warriors winning both times.
Williams 34, Eastern Guilford 0: At Burlington, Williams quarterback Dan Mahan threw for a touchdown and ran for a touchdown as the host Bulldogs spread around offensive production in avenging a loss from last season by winning at Burlington Memorial Stadium.
Mahan had an 82-yard touchdown run and a 16-yard scoring pass to Zach Powell in the second quarter as the Bulldogs led 27-0 at the break. They stretched the lead on Amarion Richmond’s 45-yard run in the third quarter.
Earlier, Williams (1-1) scored first on William Overby’s 9-yard run on its opening possession. Kyrian Fuller’s 79-yard touchdown play also came in the first quarter.
Eastern Guilford is now 0-2.
Durham Jordan 37, Southern Alamance 25: At Mt. Hermon, Durham Jordan topped the Patriots for the second year in a row, this time spoiling Southern’s home opener after a pregame lightning delay.
The Falcons (1-1) scored nine points in the final minute after Southern (1-1) threatened to pull off a comeback.
Southern’s Justin Donley rushed for 149 yards on 28 carries.
The Patriots led 13-7 at halftime with Kater Cornwell’s 5-yard run and Drake Davis’ 4-yard run accounting for Southern’s touchdowns.
Donley’s 1-yard run with 8:48 remaining pulled the Patriots to within 21-19, but his two-point conversion run failed.
Jordan then drove 97 yards for a touchdown, but Southern bounced back with an 80-yard march and Nathan McNeal connected with C.J. McAdoo for a 28-yard touchdown play with 2:07 remaining.
The Falcons scored on an interception return and a safety in the last 30 seconds.
