Tabor City-South Columbus saw an early special teams play and lead all go for nothing as the Pender Patriots rolled past the South Columbus Stallions 62-29 Friday night.
South Columbus is now going into conference play with a three-game losing streak. The Stallions started the game with a little trick. The onside kick was implemented and successful by Oscar Valdez as the Stallions recovered the ball at the Patriot 40-yard line.
With 9:11 on the clock, Easton McPherson ran it in from seven yards on a reverse to give the Stallions the early lead. Valdez hit the extra point to give the Stallions a 7-0 lead. Then Pender erupted on the field, scoring 38 unanswered points.
The first score happened with a ZaQuan Murphy rushing touchdown. Austin Deal added the two-pointer to give Pender a 8-7 lead with 6:57 left in the first period. South Columbus fumbled on their next possession leading to another Patriot score. Austin Deal added the two-point conversion and Pender lead the Stallions 16-7. Pender got the ball back with just under one minute left in the period when Zeke Williams ran a TD in to put the Patriots leading 22-7 at the end of the first period.
In the second period, the Stallions could not move the ball. Pender added another score when Austin Deal found Messiah Darden alone in the end zone for a TD pass. ZaQuan Murphy added the two-point conversion to make the score 30-7 in favor of the Patriots at the half.
The second half didn’t start kind for the Stallions either as they fumbled on the opening drive. Austin Deal made them pay with a TD run, going up 38-7 with the Murphy two-point conversion. The Stallions struck back with a touchdown pass with 5:53 left in the third to put Pender up 38-15. Pender marched right down the field capped off the next drive with a Jahiem Lambe touchdown. Calvin Ray converted the two-pointer, putting Pender ahead 46-15.
South Columbus would not quit, scoring quickly to cut the score to 46-23, but Pender wasn’t having any part of a comeback. Kimon Moore ran it in and got the two-point conversion to put the Patriots back on top 54-23. South Columbus’ Jaylen Hubbard added a seven- yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Pender scored later to make the final score Pender 62-29.
Pender is now 4-0 on the season. They will travel and play at Anson County (0-4) on Friday. South Columbus will have a bye week before getting into Southeastern Conference play October Fairmont (0-5).
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