With Clinton (3-2) and Midway (5-0) having a bye week, Hobbton, Lakewood and Union were all in action, as the three teams came into last week with wins from the week of Sept. 18
Leopards build
momentum
Lakewood (3-3) racked up their second victory in a week after they defeated West Columbus 44-30 at home. After last week’s game against North Duplin was moved to this past Monday, the Leopards were tasked with playing two games in five days. The short recovery time didn’t stop Lakewood from being victorious, as the two conference wins puts them first in the Carolina 1A/2A standings at 2-0.
The Leopards get this week off, before they head back on the road to take on Union on Friday, Oct. 9
Hobbton falls
The Wildcats (1-5) weren’t able to follow up with their last result, dropping a close home game against the East Bladen 46-40 Friday night.
The Wildcats got on the board first with a touchdown pass from quarterback Braxton McLamb to his receiver Richard Simpson, putting Hobbton up 6-0. A two-point conversion attempt added more to the opening score.
The Eagles responded with a score of their own, tying the game after a two-point try. Then, moments later, East Bladen found the endzone again to take the lead 14-8. Hobbton’s Javarus Johnson helped his team regain the lead with his first rush touchdown on the night followed by a successful two-point score, making it 16-14 at halftime.
The offensive shootout didn’t stop there, as East Bladen scored first and added two more to their score to open the second half. Johnson scored his second touchdown of the night, knotting it at 22 before the Wildcats punched in another rushing conversion to lead by two. The Eagles didn’t back down, as they answered with another rushing touchdown on the day, snatching possession of the game back in their favor at 30-24.
Hobbton continued to ride their sophomore running back to keep them in the game. Johnson drove his way into the endzone to record a hat trick with his third touchdown of the contest. To end the third on top, the Eagles answered back with their third rush touchdown on the day, going into the fourth up 38-32.
East Bladen sealed the door shut with one last touchdown from their rush attack, pushing the lead into double digits. Johnson managed to grab one last touchdown for Hobbton, but the Wildcats never regained possession of the ball to try and win it.
Hobbton’s offense leaned heavily on Johnson throughout the game, as the sophomore recorded 289 yards on the ground with 27 carries and four total touchdowns. Second behind him was Wildcat senior Amir Tate, who recorded 48 rush yards on 11 carries and three catches for 20 receving yards.
Hobbton faces Union (3-2) at home on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.
Union drops one
For the Spartans, the key to their last few wins has been relying on their tandem running backs, junior Tobias Cromartie and sophomore Marquavion Melvin to spark the offense.
East Columbus was determined not to let either beat them, as both backs were held under 100 yards rushing (Cromartie 88, Melvin 26 on 30 combined carries) individually, and Union lost on the road 14-6.
The Gators scored first with a rush touchdown and two-point conversion to make it 8-0, before Melvin returned the following kickoff back 85 yards to get Union on the board.That was the only time the Spartans were able to see the endzone, as the Gators defense held on with one last touchdown to secure the low-score win.
The 121 total rush yards on the ground was the lowest the Spartans have been held to all season. On the year, Union averages roughly 309.2 rush yards a game.
The Spartans look to kick start their ground attack against Hobbton this Friday.