By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
The way that Southern Alamance’s football team took apart Eastern Alamance looked ordinary in many ways, but it was far from normal for several of the Patriots seniors.
Jake Whitt scored his first touchdown, Riley Warren also reached the end zone and was almost as pleased with his defensive role, and Justin Donley eclipsed a milestone.
So Southern’s 34-13 triumph in the home finale was filled with special moments Friday night in Mt. Hermon.
Donley, who rushed for 181 yards and zipped past the 1,000-yard mark for the season, scored on three first-half runs, and junior Nathan McNeal threw two second-half touchdown passes – tosses that seemed to bring particular joy to the Patriots (6-3 overall, 4-1 Central 3-A Conference).
Whitt, a tight end, corralled a 9-yard pass from McNeal on a fourth-down play in the third quarter.
“It’s like a dream of mine,” Whitt said. “Once I hit the corner and saw no one, I figured (the pass) would come.”
Warren had his Senior Night moment early in the fourth quarter, matching Whitt.
“He’s one of my best friends,” Warren said.
Warren broke free from the secondary and hauled in a 32-yard strike from McNeal. He had one previous touchdown in his career, though he said he’s always ready to make a play.
“If we throw the ball, I think it’s going to me,” he said.
There was a bonus for Warren, who usually plays on the defensive front, earlier in the game.
“I got to start at linebacker in the final home game,” he said. “I loved it.”
Donley passed the 100-yard rushing mark for the game in the first quarter, but the Patriots’ first possession ended with his first lost fumble of the season.
“I got pretty wound up after that,” he said.
Sure enough, his next carry went for 61 yards to the Eastern 1 and he scored on the next play. His second 1-yard TD run came on the first snap of the second quarter. He ran in from 5 yards out with 41 seconds left in the half.
“It’s Senior Night, and it might be my last time playing here,” said Donley, who had 27 carries.
Interceptions by Jayden Brown and Tyler Carter aided Southern’s first-half defense.
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For three-year starting defensive back Kater Cornwell, it was a rewarding night all around.
“The atmosphere,” he said. “Defense had a great night.”
The Patriots have won four games in a row. The winner of Southern’s game at Western Alamance will be a conference co-champion if Roxboro Person upsets Williams in the league finale.
“We were preaching to our team all week to be the most disciplined team,” Southern coach Tony McCants said. “We knew we could be that team.”
The Eagles (2-7, 2-3), who had a two-game winning streak snapped, spent too much time on defense, coach Mitch Mitchener said. They expected Southern’s smash-mouth approach.
“We felt like we had some really good practices during the week,” he said. “Against them, you have to change your mentality a bit.”
Eastern scored twice in the last 5½ minutes. Jayden Russo ran in from 4 yards to cap a 65-yard drive that included his 48 rushing yards and 10 yards worth of penalties. Braxton Ballard’s fourth-down pass to Tyler Westbrooks kept the drive alive.
Ballard heaved to Tate Yount for what became a 71-yard touchdown play on the game’s last snap.
Williams 65, Cedar Ridge 0: At Hillsborough, Kris Rogers ran for three touchdowns and Kyrian Fuller scored two touchdowns as the visiting Bulldogs secured at least a share of the Central 3-A Conference championship and sealed the top seed from the conference for the state playoffs.
Williams (8-1, 5-0) can claim the outright crown if it defeats visiting Roxboro Person in the regular-season finale next week.
Rogers scored on runs of 70, 30 and 10 yards. Fuller had a 6-yard touchdown reception and a 28-yard scoring run. Andrews Cruz posted a 41-yard touchdown reception, William Overby made a 25-yard touchdown catch, and Leontae Turner returned an interception for a touchdown. Christian Booth added a 52-yard TD run.
Cedar Ridge (0-10, 0-6) ended its season.
Southeast Alamance 63, Graham 0: At Graham, the visiting Stallions rolled up a 42-0 halftime lead in another Mid-Carolina Conference runaway.
The Stallions (9-0, 7-0) visit co-leader Cummings for the title next Friday.
Graham is 1-8, 1-6.
Cummings 46, North Moore 26: At Robbins, Jaidyn Briskey ran for multiple touchdowns in both halves as Cummings (8-1, 7-0) avenged a loss from last year with the road triumph in the Mid-Carolina Conference.
Ja’Kori McNair opened the scoring with a touchdown run for Cummings, and Briskey ran for two in the first half, which ended with Edwin Camacho’s 45-yard field goal to boost the Cavaliers to a 26-10 lead.
A four-game winning streak ended for the Mustangs (4-5, 4-3).
Western Alamance 20, Roxboro Person 19: At Roxboro, the visiting Warriors held on courtesy of Weston Greene’s blocked extra-point kick in the fourth quarter to stay in the Central 3-A Conference title hunt.
James Newton of Western (7-2, 4-1) gained 101 rushing yards, including a 5-yard touchdown run, and he also returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.
Western’s Noah Barrett kicked field goals of 26 and 30 yards for the only points in the first half.
Roxboro (5-4, 2-3) was coming off an overtime loss at Eastern Alamance.
