CERRO GORDO —West Columbus used the excitement of homecoming and turned it into momentum as the Vikings beat their county rivals East Columbus 30-18 Friday in football.
In the second quarter with West Columbus leading, the Gators pinned West Columbus deep forcing them to punt from their four yard line. The Gators returned the punt to the Viking 12-yard line. East Columbus tied the game up with a five-yard TD run by Dawson Crosby with 2:51 left in the half. The Vikings retaliated quickly with a six-yard touchdown pass from DJ Graham to Santonio Vereen to put West Columbus back on top 14-6 at the half with the two-point conversion.
After East Columbus fumbled the second half kickoff, West Columbus extended their lead to 22-6 with a 12-yard TD pass from DJ Graham to Jason Keel. Santonio Vereen added the 2-point conversion. With 4:01 left in the third quarter, Jahan Lasane-Powell ran it in from six yards out to put the Vikings ahead 30-6. Ayden Scott converted the two point conversion for West Columbus.
In the fourth quarter, East Columbus closed the gap with a one-yard run from Dawson Crosby to make it 30-12 Vikings. Crosby ran it in again from three yards out with 1:01 left in the game to make the final score 30-18.
West Columbus is now 1-2 in the Carolina Conference and 1-5 on the season. They will travel to North Duplin (1-1, 5-1) on Oct. 10, whileEast Columbus (1-2, 2-4) host East Bladen (1-1, 4-2).
