2008 South Columbus Varsity Football Schedule |
| DATE |  |
SCHEDULE | |
LEAGUE GAME | |
RESULT |
| Aug. 22, 2008 | ST. PAULS | NO |
W 27-6
|
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| Sep. 4, 2008 | LORIS, SC | NO | W 46-20 |
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| Sep. 12, 2008 | AT EAST BLADEN | NO | L 48-51 | |||
| Sep. 19, 2008 | AT WEST COLUMBUS | NO | W 35-14 |
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| Sep. 26, 2008 | AT NORTH BRUNSWICK | YES | W 27-6 |
|||
| Oct. 3, 2008 | AT WALLACE-ROSE HILL | NO | W 13-7 |
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| Oct. 10, 2008 | EAST COLUMBUS | YES | W 41-21 |
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| Oct. 17, 2008 | AT PENDER | YES | W 21-0 |
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| Oct. 27, 2008 | SOUTH BRUNSWICK | YES | W 29-22 |
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| Oct. 31, 2008 | AT TRASK | YES | W 35-12 | |||
| Nov. 7, 2008 | WHITEVILLE | YES | W 42-0 |
|||
2A Playoffs |
||||||
| Nov. 14, 2008 | Cummings | First Round | W 56-20 |
|||
| Nov. 21, 2008 | Lexington | Second Round | W 28-27 |
|||
| Nov. 28, 2008 | Starmount | Third Round | ||||
SOURCE The News Reporter November24, 2008 Issue
 |
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South Columbus High School Senior Dominique Betts returns a second-quarter pass interception in Friday night's state 2A playoff game with visiting Lexington. The Stallions rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit to pull out a 28-27 victory and put their season record at 12-1 |
Stallions rally past Lexington 28-27
By Dan Biser Sports Editor
VINEGAR HILL - Pat Worley, South Columbus High School's All-State lineman, said he got “a scary feeling” Friday night when the visiting Lexington Yellow Jackets scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left in the first half that gave Lexington a 21-7 lead in the second round of the state 2A playoff football game.
“It reminded me too much of the state championship game last year with Lincolnton,” said the 6-foot-3, 283-pound Worley. “We knew we had our work cut out for us in the second half.”
In last December's state 2A title game at N.C. State's Carter-Finley Stadium, Lincolnton scored on a touchdown pass with 10 seconds left in the first half to take a 21-0 halftime lead over the unbeaten South Columbus squad. Lincolnton went on to win the game 28-14.
But on Friday night, the Stallions answered the Yellow Jacket challenge and battled back into the game in the second half.
With 37 seconds left in the game, senior quarterback Justin Duncan hit sophomore flanker Brian Riggins with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 27-27. Patrick Shepherd's extra-point kick provided the winning margin as the Stallions prevailed 28-27.
It was the 10th straight win for Coach Joey Price's Stallions, who now have a 12-1 season record. Lexington, which took advantage of two first-half fumbles by the Stallions to help gain their two-touchdown lead at half, closed its season with an 8-5 record.
The Stallions will play host to the Starmount Rams of Yadkin County Friday in the third round of the playoffs. Starmount, now 10-3 and the champion of the Mountain Valley Conference, defeated visiting West Davidson 37-13 in second-round play, converting three West Davidson second-quarter turnovers into quick touchdowns.
Price said first-half mistakes put his team in a hole as it had difficulty defending the Jacket offense that was led by quarterback Teland Todd and running back Chris Bush.
“They brought a great game plan and moved the ball well,” Price said. “The big thing about the first half was that we fumbled the ball away twice, missed some tackles and dropped some passes.
“We were letting our mistakes beat us,” he said. “Our guys were a little mentally beat up at halftime, particularly after giving up the touchdown pass right at the end (of the half).
“We told the kids at halftime to go out and play football like they were capable of playing the second half,” Price said. “No matter how the game turned out, we told them to go out and play hard the rest of the way. There was still a lot of game left.”
SCHS senior back Rashawn Grate said that while the Stallions were down at halftime, there was still another half to play.
“We had a bad first half, but we felt if we could come back with a good second half, we could win the game,” said Grate, the Stallions's leading rusher and scorer this season. We got our confidence back in the second half and knew we were going to come back and win it.”
South Columbus scored on its first possession of the night, driving 26 yards following a poor Lexington punt.
Jamal Hemingway ran for gains of 11 and nine yards on the Stallions' first two offensive snaps of the night. SCHS got the touchdown three plays later on a two-yard run blast by Antron Bowman. Shepherd's extra-point kick gave the Stallions a 7-0 lead with 5 minutes, 57 seconds left in the first quarter.
Coach Chris Deal's Lexington answered with an 80-yard scoring drive that was fueled by a clutch third-down pass from Todd to Cameron Barksdale to the SCHS 38-yard line.
The Jackets got the touchdown on a 12-yard run by Bush with 3:04 left in the first quarter. Ozvaldo Hernandez kicked the extra point to tie the score.
South Columbus opened up its next possession with an 11-yard run by Grate and a 35-yard gallop by Hemingway to the Lexington 38.
But two plays later, the Stallions fumbled the ball away on a hand-off exchange and the Jackets recovered.
After forcing Lexington to punt after three plays, South Columbus took over at its own 47, but Dominque Betts fumbled the ball on a counter play and Lexington again recovered, this time at the SCHS 44,
Lexington moved the ball in for its second touchdown with Todd scoring on a keeper from nine yards out on the opening play of the second quarter. Hernandez's extra-point kick gave Lexington a 14-7 edge.
On the Stallions' next possession, a third-down pass by Duncan from the Lexington 47 was dropped by a wide open Cory Harris at the 15-yard line. Harris was nearly 10 yards behind the closest Jacket defender when the ball slipped out of his grasp.
A pass interception by Williams at the SCHS 35 stopped another Jacket march, and the Stallions moved the ball to the Lexington 26 on five plays, including a 27-yard run by Hemingway, but they were stopped on a fourth-down play.
Todd and Bush then led Lexington on a 73-yard, nine-play march that included a 15-yard run by Barksdale and a clutch 19-yard Todd-to-Bush pass on fourth down.
With the clock winding down on third down, Todd again threw to Bush at five-yard line, and Bush bulled his way past two defenders and into the end zone to complete the 28-yard scoring play. Hernandez kicked the point after and the Jackets led 21-7 with six seconds left in the half.
The South Columbus defense did not yield a first down to Lexington in the third quarter, and the Stallion offense put together an 80-yard scoring drive late in the period.
A 33-yard pass from Duncan to tight end Ethan Farmer to the Lexington six-yard line helped set up a one-yard TD run by Bowman with 1:17 left in the third quarter. Shepherd's PAT attempt was blocked, leaving the score at 21-13.
On the second play of Lexington's next possession. Todd threw a 30-yard pass to Julius Pompey. Simmons, the SCHS safety, delivered a hit on Pompey that jarred the ball loose and SCHS linebacker Jonathan Buffkin made the recovery at the Lexington 43.
Grate carried for seven and eight yards on the next plays, and on the second play of the final quarter, Hemingway took a handoff and broke loose for 41 yards and a touchdown. The Stallions tied the score a 21-all on a two-point conversion run by Grate.
The Jackets regained the lead later in the quarter when they drove 79 yards behind a 32-yard pass play and an 18-yard run by Todd to the two-yard line. Todd scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak with 4:25 left in the game. However, Hernandez's line drive kick on the PAT attempt flew wide to the left to make the score 27-21.
South Columbus took the ball at its own 31 following the ensuing kickoff and quickly moved into scoring position behind the running of Grate and a key pass from Duncan to Farmer. A 26-yard touchdown run by Grate was negated by a holding penalty, but two plays later, Duncan fired 18 yards to a well-defended Riggins in the end zone. Riggins was knocked to the ground while making the catch but managed to hang on to the ball with 37.4 seconds left on the clock.
“I knew I had to catch it,” Riggins said. “The pass was right there. It's what we worked hard for.”
Shepherd, who had never played football before this year after moving with his family from Germany, kicked the extra-point on the hold by Harris to put the Stallions ahead 28-27.
“I was nervous, but I knew I could make it,” Shepherd said. “The one that was blocked earlier was my fault, but I felt good about kicking the last one.”
Three long passes by the Jackets fell incomplete before the game clock expired.
Hemingway, a sophomore, was the game's leading rusher with 141 yards on 14 carries. Grate had 82 yards on 14 carries.
Price, who has guided the Stallions to a 27-2 record over the past two seasons, called it “a great win,” but that he was still disappointed with his team's lack of intensity and consistency in the first half.
For Lexington, Todd ran for 111 yards on 18 carries, and Bush carried 16 times for 93 yards. Bush closed the season with more than 2,500 yards rushing and 40 touchdowns
“We're at the stage now that we can't afford make the mistakes like we did in the first half tonight,” Price said. “Starmount will be bringing a mighty strong football team down here next Friday, and they could make it real tough on us if we aren't ready for them.”
Price said that it is exciting that his team will again have the opportunity to practice on Thanksgiving morning.
“Practicing on Thanksgiving is a big reward for the kids and it is always a lot of fun for everybody,” he said. “But then Friday, it will be time to get serious again.”
In last season's third-round game, the Stallions defeated Burlington Cummings 39-14.
SOURCE The News Reporter November 17, 2008 Issue
Stallions put away Cavalier squad in 2A playoff opener
Jamal Hemingway carries for a touchdown
SOURCE The News Reporter - Staff photo by Les High
VINEGAR HILL - Burlington Cummings tried to unleash its traditionally strong passing game Friday night.
However, the visiting Cavaliers were held in check by another stiff defensive effort and a devastating running game compliments of the South Columbus Stallions.
With alternating fullbacks Antron Bowman and Jamal Hemingway combining for five touchdowns, the Stallions cruised to a 56-20 victory over the visiting Cavaliers in the opening round of the state 2A high school football playoffs. Flanker Brian Riggins scored on a run and on a pass reception, and Rashawn Grate added a punt return for a TD as SCHS put its season record at 11-1.
Coach Joey Price's Waccamaw Conference champion Stallions amassed 393 yards rushing in gaining their ninth straight win.
SCHS scored three touchdowns in less than three minutes of the second quarter to build a 35-6 lead. The Stallions did not commit a turnover while posting their highest single-game point total of the season.
South Columbus, the top-seeded team in the 16-team Western 2A bracket, will play host to Lexington (8-4) Friday night. Lexington, led by running sensation Chris Bush, pulled out a 34-33 first-round victory over Brevard.
“I thought our guys really showed up to play,” said Price. “This wasn't one of Cummings' best teams, but they always have great athletes, and they can be tough to beat when they start clicking.
“I was pleased with the way we controlled the first half,” said Price, whose team gave him his 130th career victory. “They broke a long pass play in the first quarter, but we did a real good job other than that.”
South Columbus, which took a 39-14 third-round victory over Cummings last season, were led by the rushing effort of Grate, who garnered 187 yards on only 15 carries. Hemingway ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries while
Bowman carried 10 times for 43 yards and three TDs.
The 5-foot-8, 234-pound Bowman scored the first SCHS touchdown when he capped a drive with a five-yard run with 4 minutes. 23 seconds left in the first quarter.
“Antron starts in our defensive line, but he has a nose for the end zone when we get it close,” Price said.
Following the touchdown, the Stallions got a two-point conversion out of a kick formation with holder Cory Harris passing to Jonathan Buffkin.
Moments later, Cummings pulled off an 83-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Leath to Steven Crisp but failed on the conversion try and SCHS held on to an 8-6 lead.
The Stallions added their second touchdown of the game moments later with Bowman going over from the one-yard line with less than two minutes left in the first quarter. Patrick Shepherd's kick made the score 15-6.
Riggins scored the first two touchdowns of the first quarter on a 22-yard run and on a 41-yard pass from Duncan. Shepherd's PAT kick following Riggins' second TD made the score 28-6 with 4:43 left in the first half.
Cummings, a member of the Mid-State Conference, fumbled away the ensuing kickoff, and the Stallions quickly added another score on a 16-yard blast by Hemingway with 4:07 left in the half. Shepherd's kick made the score 35-6.
Cummings, which won state 2A championships in 2002, 2003 and 2006, tacked on its second touchdown on four-yard scoring run by Audi Smith with fewer than three minutes left in the half.
A dazzling 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Grate with just over three minutes gone in second half extended the SCHS lead to 42-14.
Cummings added another touchdown pass from Leath to Crisp from 12 yards out with four minutes left in the third quarter.
A one-yard run by Hemingway and a six-yard run by Bowman supplied the Stallion TDs of the fourth quarter. Shepherd made good on six of seven PAT kicks for the night.
Duncan attempted only four passes, completing two, for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Linebackers Jonathan Buffkin and Darquale Richardson spearheaded the SCHS defensive unit.
Coach Steve Johnson's Cavaliers had 10 completion on 32 attempts for 199 yards. The Stallions held Cummings to 97 yards rushing.
“Our kids are excited,” Price said. “The ones who were with us last year are really showing the leadership and we've got some younger guys who are really stepping things up.
“We've come a long way this season, and I'm really proud of the effort they have made this season,” Price added. “It will get even tougher next week, but we're looking forward to it.”
It marked the 10th time in Price's 12 years as head coach that the Stallions opened the playoffs with a victory.
Cummings closed its season with a 3-9 record.
The winner of Friday's game will take on the West Davidson-Starmount winner in third-round play on Nov. 28.
“We're not actually what you would consider a team from the West, so it is good to have the top seed and homefield advantage this season,” Price said. “Otherwise, it could turn into a whole lot of traveling for us.
SOURCE The News Reporter November 11, 2008 Issue
Stallions rip WHS; gain top seeding in state 2A playoffs
South Columbus receiver Brain Riggins
By DAN BISER Sports Editor
VINEGAR HILL - With 21 second-quarter points and another stalwart defensive effort, the South Columbus Stallions finished off their surge to the 2008 Waccamaw Conference football championship with a 42-0 pounding of the visiting Whiteville Wolfpack.
South Columbus, which has won its ninth Waccamaw Conference football title in 11 years, finished the regular-season with a 10-1 record and a 6-0 conference record.
Coach Joey Price's Stallions have gained the top seed in the West N.C. 2A playoffs, which will open next Friday. Burlington Cummings will be the Stallions' first round opponent. Last fall, South Columbus was the top-seeded team the East N.C. 2A playoffs and advanced all the way to the state finals.
Whiteville, which fell victim to three lost fumbles and a pass interception, closed regular season with a 4-6 overall mark and 2-4 in the conference. The Wolfpack will travel to play Jacksonville Northside this Friday in the opening round of the East N.C. 2A playoffs.
SCHS senior back Rashawn Grate ran for two first-half touchdowns and finished the night with 108 yards on 23 carries. Fullbacks Jonathan Buffkin and Antron Bowman added second-quarter TD runs.
Sophomore back Brian Riggins scored on a 33-yard third-quarter run and returned a pass interception 33 yards for the final touchdown of the game. Senior quarterback Justin Duncan completed six timely passes for 117 yards.
It marked the Stallions' second straight shutout over the Wolfpack as well as their 13th victory over WHS in their last 14 meetings.
“It was a good effort,” Price said. “We did a good job of moving the football and our passing game got us some big plays. Defensively, our guys just came to play.”
The Whiteville offense posed no serious scoring threat as it advanced the ball no further than the SCHS 32-yard line.
The Wolfpack defense was depleted when starting linebackers Chris Ward and Josh Merritt both left the game with injuries in the first quarter.
“Everything was out of sync tonight,” said WHS Coach Bob Lewis, whose squad suffered its fourth loss in its last five games.
The WHS defense was on the field for much of the time as the Wolfpack offense did not garner a first down until late in the third quarter.
After being stopped on fourth down on its first possession of the night, the Stallion offense drove 46 yards on its next possession for the game's first score.
Grate had a 14-yard run and a 12-yard run to key the drive and he scored from 14 yards out with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Patrick Shepherd's extra-point kick made the score 7-0.
Whiteville's Roosevelt Colson returned the ensuing kickoff to the South Columbus 36-yard line. On fourth down, SCHS defender Ethan Farmer threw Wolfpack quarterback Beret Proctor for a big loss back to the SCHS 48.
Duncan passes of 19 yards to Jamal Hemingway and 17 yards to Riggins highlighted the 52-yard scoring drive. Grate got the touchdown on a five-yard run and made the score 13-0 with 10:51 left in the first half.
A fumble on Whiteville's next possession gave South Columbus the ball at the WHS 37-yard line and it took seven plays to score, with Buffkin barging over from the five-yard line. Bowman scored the two-point conversion run with 5:40 left in the half for a 21-0 lead.
Another Wolfpack fumble set up the Stallions' third TD of the third quarter. The drive covered 44 yards and Bowman scored on a five-yard run on the eighth play. Shepherd's PAT kick put the score at 28-0 with 1:05 left in the half.
The Stallions scored on their first possession of the second half with Riggins stepping out of three tackles and breaking into the clear for a 33-yard touchdown run. Riggins' pass interception return for a touchdown was the final score of the night.
Price said his team has made several big strides this season after having to replace 17 starting seniors from last year's state finalist team.
“They've put in a lot of hard work since the end of last season,” Price said. “We're tickled to have won another conference championship and county championship and we're really excited about being back in the playoffs and getting a homefield advantage again.
“I'm really happy for our players, our coaches and everybody who supports our football program,” Price added.
Whiteville's season opened with some hopes of being able to contend for the conference championship, but has resulted largely in disappointment in Lewis' first year as head coach.
“I really don't know what to say about tonight,” Lewis said. “I guess it kind of indicates how our season has gone.”
Lewis said that going on the road to play a top-ranked team in the opening round of the playoffs will be a difficult task, “but we have to go play it.
“Hopefully, we can get a good week of practice in and make a good account of ourselves,” he said. “It would be good to make something positive happen at this point.”
South Columbus will enter the state playoffs for the 15th straight season. The Stallions have played host to first-round games 13 times since 1992.
SOURCE The News Reporter November 3, 2008 Issue
Stallions clinch another conference championship
ROCKY POINT - Another season, another championship.
With senior running back Rashawn Grate rushing for 243 yards and four touchdowns, the South Columbus Stallions coasted past the host Trask Titans 35-12 Friday night to gain at least a tie for their second straight Waccamaw Conference football championship and their ninth league title in 11 seasons.
The win also assured that the Stallions of the Waccamaw Conference's No. 1 seed in the state 2A playoffs, which will open on Nov. 14.
Grate scored on runs of 23, 31, 3 and 15 yards as Coach Joey Price's Stallions put their conference record at 5-0 and season record at 9-1. Grate also caught three passes for 52 yards.
The Stallions, who will close their regular-season scheduled Friday when they play host to arch-rival Whiteville, led 28-12 at halftime as they claimed their seventh straight win.
South Columbus, the defending Eastern N.C 2A Regional champion, got its other touchdown on a 31-yard pass from Jordan Duncan to Brian Riggins as they rolled up their second victory in five days. On Monday, the Stallions held off previously unbeaten South Brunswick 29-22 in a key conference home game. The game had been postponed by rain on Oct. 24.
Patrick Shepherd kicked three extra points and tight end Ethan Farmer caught a two-point conversion pass from Duncan,
Duncan completed 10 of 17 passes for 168 yards. Riggins had two catches for 46 yards and Farmer had two catches for 32 yards.
Trask, which saw its conference record slip to 0-5 and season record to 3-7, scored both its touchdowns in the second quarter on a nine -yard pass from Josh Wiggins to Eddie Lewis, and on a 25-yard return of a Stallion fumble by Lynwood Pickett to cut the SCHS lead to 21-12. Grate's third touchdown of the game moments later and gave SCHS its 28-12 halftime lead.
Dominique Lesine led Trask ball carriers with 75 yards on 13 carries.
Trask will close out its regular-season schedule this Friday night when it travels to play East Columbus.
Since opening play in the Waccamaw Conference's current alignment since 2005, South Columbus has a conference record of 22 wins and one loss. SCHS is headed to the state 2A football playoffs for the 16th time in the school's 17-year history.
South Columbus receiver Cory Harris hauls
in a 41-yard pass to set up
the
Stallions'
second touchdown of the night.
SOURCE The News Reporter - Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist
SOURCE The News Reporter October 30, 2008 Issue
Stallions hold off SBHS challenge 29-22
By DAN BISER Sports Editor
VINEGAR HILL - As expected, the South Columbus Stallions saw a side of the South Brunswick Cougars they had rarely seen before in Monday night's key Waccamaw Conference football game.
After the host South Columbus team had taken a seemingly comfortable 21-0 lead late in the first half, the undefeated Cougars rang up 15 points in the final two minutes of the period to quickly change the complexion of the game.
But the SCHS defense rose to the occasion in the second half, coming up with the play of the night when it thwarted a fake-punt attempt by the Cougars, and the Stallions went on take a 29-22 victory.
The game had been postponed by rain on Friday.
“We knew South Brunswick wasn't going to quit, and when they got the opportunities late in the first half, they took advantage of them,” said SCHS Head Coach Joey Price after coaching the Stallions to a 12th straight win over the Cougars in as many seasons.
“It was 21-0, then before you knew it, it went to 21-15 at the half,” Price said. “We had a big challenge on our hands and we told our kids at halftime that it was time to step up.
“I'm proud of the effort,” added Price, whose team is carrying a six-game winning streak. “South Brunswick gave us all we could handle and our kids pulled it out.
“Now we have two days to get ready for Trask,” said Price, referring to this Friday's conference road game with the Trask Titans.
A win Friday would give the Stallions at least a share of a ninth conference title in 11 seasons.
South Columbus now leads the league standings with a 4-0 record and is 8-1 overall. South Brunswick saw its league record slip to 3-1 and overall mark to 7-1.
South Columbus had controlled field position for much of the first half, thanks largely to a pair of booming kick-offs into the end zone by Brian Riggins. South Brunswick had the ball for only six offensive plays in the first quarter.
The Stallions took the opening kickoff and drove 69 yards in 10 plays. A 32-yard run by Rashawn Grate to the Stallion seven-yard line highlighted the series. The touchdown came on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Justin Duncan with 7 minutes, 42 seconds left in the first quarter. Patrick Shepherd's extra point kick gave the Stallions a 7-0 lead with 7 minutes, 42 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Stallions' second score came in the opening moments of the second quarter when a 41-yard pass from Duncan to Cory Harris gave them the ball at the Cougar two-yard line. Antron Bowman smashed over from the one yard line two plays later and Shepherd's PAT made the score 14-0 with 11:12 left in the first half.
South Columbus got its third touchdown of the half on its next possession as Dominique “Bobo” Betts scored from 15 yards out on a reverse-counter play to cap a 45-yard drive. Shepherd's third straight PAT put the score at 21-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, South Brunswick's Rashen Bellamy fielded Riggins' first playable kickoff of the evening and returned it to the Stallion 49-yard line.
The Cougars moved the ball in on eight plays and got aided by a face-mask penalty against the Stallions. The touchdown came on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Zack Alcorn to tight end A.J. Ferguson. The 6-foot-2, 230 pound Ferguson made the catch after the ball had been batted by an SCHS defender. Alcorn's extra-point kick made the score 21-7 with 2:14 left in the half.
On South Columbus' next play from scrimmage, Duncan threw a short pass to Ray Suggs. A hit by the Cougars' Greg Gilbert jarred the ball loose from Suggs' grip and Ferguson recovered for SBHS at the Stallion 26.
It took the Stallions four plays to score, getting the touchdown on a nine-yard pass from Alcorn to Rashawn Jenkins.
On the extra-point attempt, South Columbus was ruled off-sides, moving the ball half the distance to the goal. The
Cougars brought their regular offense back on the field and Suggs scored on a two-point conversion run to make the score 22-15 with 1:08 left in the half.
South Brunswick used up more than half of the third quarter clock driving the ball from its own 11-yard line to midfield behind the ball carrying of Bellamy and Kenny White.
But on a third-down play from the SCHS 48, Alcorn was looking to pass when he was hit by the Stallions' Ethan Farmer, causing a fumble that Darquale Richardson recovered for SCHS at the South Brunswick 40.
On South Brunswick's next possession, the Cougars faced a fourth and three from their own 27. Out of punt formation, the Cougars faked the punt by snapping the ball to blocking back Kenny White, who momentarily fumbled the ball before getting hit by a host of hard charging Stallion defenders and SCHS took over at the Cougar 27.
It took the Stallions six plays to score with Jamal Hemingway getting the TD on a two-yard run with 10:29 left in the game. The Stallions converted a two-point conversion with Duncan passing to Jonathan Buffkin for a 29-14 lead.
South Brunswick came back with a 95-yard scoring drive on its next possession with Jenkins ripping off a 45-yard sprint to key the surge. The drive consumed 14 plays and White got the touchdown on a one-yard run. Alcorn's kick made the score 29-22.
South Brunswick was unable to get the ball back after that as Buffkin sealed the win on a 42-yard run deep into Cougar territory. The Stallions ran out the clock after that.
Buffkin, the state's leading tackler from his linebacker position, said it was difficult defending South Brunswick's tight twin-wing formation.
“Everything is so crowded up together and it's hard finding the football,” Buffkin said. “They have some strong runners, and their linemen are big.”
Buffkin, a junior who started all 16 of the Stallion games last year as a sophomore, said this year's squad has made steady improvement since the start of the season.
“We're not winning games as big as we were last year, but we're still working hard at winning,” he said.
South Columbus will be taking on a Trask team Friday that is still looking for its first win.
The Titans fell to North Brunswick 26-20 after losing to Whiteville 14-6 a week earlier
Trask is led by quarterback Josh Wiggins and running back Dominique Lesine.
Friday's game is set to begin a 7:30.
SOURCE The News Reporter October 20, 2008 Issue
Stallions shut out Pender to set up showdown with SBHS
Anton Bowman Jonathan Buffkin
PHOTOS SOURCE The News Reporter
By DAN BISER Sports Editor
Last fall, recording a shutout was commonplace for the South Columbus High School football team.
This season, the Stallions have kept up their traditional pace, winning six of their first seven games, but none of the wins came by a shutout.
That changed in impressive fashion Friday night as the Stallions tripped the host Pender Patriots 22-0 in a key Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference football game.
The Stallion defense recovered three fumbles, intercepted a pass and came up with some big plays to stop a couple of other serious Pender drives in the game that was played mostly in a steady rain.
Junior linebacker Jonathan Buffkin led the SCHS defensive effort with two fumble recoveries, a pass interception and four tackles for minus yardage as the Stallions posted their fifth straight win.
“Our defense did a great job,” said Stallion Head Coach Joey Price. “Pender did a good job moving the ball on us, but our guys kept stepping up and making the plays.
“Offensively, we did what we had to,” Price said. “Pender did a good job defending our running game, and we were expecting them to. We took advantage of some of the turnovers we got and turned them into scores.”
South Columbus now holds a 3-0 conference record and a 7-1 season mark. The loss dropped Pender to 2-2 and 4-5.
The SCHS victory set up a showdown this Friday night as the Stallions will play host to the undefeated South Brunswick Cougars. With a 7-0 record, South Brunswick is carrying its best-ever record in varsity football. The Cougars' 21-20 home victory over North Brunswick Friday put their conference record at 3-0.
South Columbus quarterback Justin Duncan completed 8-of-10 passes for 149 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown pass to Rashawn Grate and a 25-yard scoring toss that Corey Harris hauled in on a circus catch. The other SCHS TD came on a six-yard fourth-down run by fullback Anton Bowman.
The Stallions, who led 10-0 at halftime, were awarded a second-quarter safety when Pender quarterback Hynef Collins was flagged for illegally grounding the ball while in his own end zone.
“We brought a lot of intensity on defense and that helped swing our way in the first half,” Price said.
Pender made its biggest scoring threats of the night on its first two possession as it took the opening kickoff and moved from its own 30-yard line to the Stallion nine in 11 plays. But the Stallions threw the Patriots for losses on third- and fourth-down plays to kill the drive.
Pender forced the Stallions to punt after three plays, and the Patriots moved the ball from the Stallion 43 to the eight-yard line in five plays. On first down from the 8, an errant lateral on an option pitch was recovered by Buffkin to give the ball back to South Columbus.
Three plays later, Duncan threw to Grate on a sideline route. Grate side-stepped the two Patriot defenders and burst from the grasp from another to sprint all the way in for 66 yards and a touchdown with one minute, 28 seconds left in the first quarter. Bowman scored on a two-point conversion run to make the score 8-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, a Pender return man had difficulty fielding the ball and was tackled at his own 12 yard line. Three plays later, Collins faded back into his end zone to attempt a pass, and his attempt was ruled intentional grounding giving SCHS a 10-0 lead.
The Stallions took the second-half kickoff and drove 72 yards in 15 plays, consuming almost seven minutes of the third-quarter clock.
With fourth-and-one at the Pender six-yard line, Bowman took a handoff and plowed his way into the zone to extend the SCHS lead to 16-0 with 5:15 left in the third quarter.
The Stallions scored on again on their first possession of the final quarter with Duncan throwing to Harris in the end zone. Harris went up with three Pender defenders (two of whom batted the ball), but the SCHS receiver came up with the catch as he hit the ground.
“I just kept my eye on it and managed to come up with it,” Harris said.
The 25-yard TD pass completed the game's scoring.
Bowman was the Stallions' leading rusher with 42 yards on seven carries. Jamal Hemingway had 36 yards on 12 carries and Grate carried 11 times for 35 yards.
Coach Tom Eanes' Pender squad will travel this Friday to play East Columbus.
SOURCE The News Reporter October 13, 2008 Issue
Stallions hold off Gator effort in 41-21 Homecoming victory
Jonathan Buffkin returns a fumble
50 yards for the opening touchdown
PHOTO SOURCE The News Reporter
VINEGAR HILL - The South Columbus Stallions gave Head Coach Joey Price his 125th career victory and chalked up their 18th win in as many meetings with the visiting East Columbus Gators Friday night in a 41-21 Waccamaw Conference football decision.
Rashawn Grate and Brian Riggins each scored two touchdowns for South Columbus in its Homecoming Night win. The Stallions improved their season record to 6-1 and conference record to 2-0.
Although the Gator squad lost to the Stallions for the 18th time since the inception of the rivalry in 1992, it marked the first time that ECHS had scored more than one touchdown against the Stallions. The 21 points were more than half the combined number of points scored by the Gators in their first 17 meetings with South Columbus.
South Columbus, which was playing on its homefield for the first time since Sept. 5, held a 29-15 halftime lead.
The first score of the night came early in the first quarter when linebacker Jonathan Buffkin picked up a Gator fumble and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Buffkin then caught a two-point conversion pass from Corey Harris to make the score 8-0.
East Columbus, which had posted a big 22-16 conference victory over North Brunswick a week earlier, came right back to tie the score with Myles Buffkin carrying in from four yards out. Demetrious McKelvie ran the two-point conversion to tie the score 8-8 with 4 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first quarter.
South Columbus added another touchdown late in the opening quarter when quarterback Justin Duncan connected with Riggins on a 25-yard touchdown pass.
In the opening minute of the second quarter, Riggins broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown run. Patrick Shepherd's second straight extra-point kick gave SCHS a 22-8 lead.
South Columbus fullback Jamal Hemingway got the only touchdown of the third quarter on a six-yard run, and Grate broke a 28-yard TD run in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, and Grate broke loose for 50 yards and another Stallion touchdown with 1:37 left in the half.
The game's final score came with just over two minutes left in the game on a six-yard run by John Jones.
The loss evened East Columbus' season record at 4-4. The Gator have a 1-2 conference record.
Grate carried seven times for 108 yards and Hemingway had 91 yards on 14 carries for the Stallions. Duncan completed four passes for 56 yards.
Wike carried eight times for 72 yards and Bostic had 67 yards on 13 carries for the Gators.
During halftime ceremonies, senior Santana Batten was crowned 2008 SCHS Homecoming Queen.
Now in his 12th season as head coach, Price's Stallions have garnered a combined record of 125 wins and 26 losses.
South Columbus, which advanced to the state finals last season, have won 21 of their last 23 outings.
South Columbus will travel to the Burgaw area to meet Pender.
East Columbus will have an open date this Friday, and will resume its conference schedule on Oct. 24 when it will play host to Pender.
SOURCE The News Reporter October 6, 2008 Issue
Stallions secure 13-7 road victory over Wallace-Rose Hill
WALLACE - A dazzling 40-yard touchdown run by senior Rashawn Grate in the first quarter, and a 16 yard scoring blast by sophomore Jamal Hemingway in the final moments of the third quarter were the big plays for the South Columbus Stallions as they came away with a 13-7 non-conference football road win over the Wallace-Rose Hill Bulldogs.
The win marked the end of a stretch of four consecutive road games for Coach Joey Price's Stallions, who put their record at 5-1.
Wallace-Rose Hill suffered its fourth straight loss as it saw its record drop to 2-4.
Coach Glenn Sellers' Bulldogs got their only points when Boris James recovered a blocked Stallion punt in the end zone for a touchdown.
South Columbus head coach Joey Price said that Wallace-Rose Hill has played a very strong non-conference schedule this season and that he knew his squad would be in for a tussle on the Bulldog's homefield.
“Wallace-Rose Hill has always had a lot of pride and tradition and they are especially tough on their homefield,” said Price, who guided the Stallions to the state 2A finals last season. “They played us tough.We came over to get a win and that's what we got.”
The defending Waccamaw Conference champion South Columbus squad went ahead to stay with less than two minutes gone in the game when Grate broke loose for his 40-yard touchdown run. Patrick Shepherd's extra point kick made the score 7-0 with 10 minutes, 15 seconds left in the first quarter.
Hemingway, who carried the ball 15 times for 133 yards, got the Stallions' second touchdown from 16 yards out with 1:20 left in the third quarter. The kicking attempt for the PAT failed.
Grate added 89 yard rushing on 16 carries and SCHS quarterback Justin Duncan completed 11 passes for 114 yards. Sophomore Brian Riggins had five catches for 67 yards and also came up with one of the Stallions' three pass interceptions on defense.
Dawan McKinzie was the leading rusher for Wallace-Rose Hill with 35 yards on nine carries.
In the four-year non-conference series played between the Stallions and Bulldogs, each came away with two wins.
South Columbus will play on its homefield for the first time since Sept. 12 Friday night when it takes the field against the East Columbus Gators.
South Columbus and East Columbus have handed North Brunswick back-to-back Waccamaw Conference losses in each of the last two weeks.
SOURCE The News Reporter September 29, 2008 Issue
SCHS thumps Scorpions 27-6
LELAND - For the fourth straight year, the South Columbus Stallions opened their Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference schedule on a very high note.
With senior back Rashawn Grate rushing for 148 yards and two touchdowns, the Stallions defeated the host North Brunswick Scorpions 27-6 Friday in a contest that was projected to go a long way toward deciding the outcome of this year's Waccamaw Conference football race.
“North Brunswick has a strong program and some very outstanding athletes,” said SCHS Head Coach Joey Price, whose Stallions have won eight of the last 10 conference titles. “Getting a win over them in the first conference game the last four years has been a big confidence booster for us in starting out in the conference.”
South Columbus, which held a 14-6 halftime lead, improved its season record to 4-1 as it played the third of four straight road games.
The loss dropped North Brunswick's season record to 3-2.
The Stallion offense rolled up 334 yards rushing and senior quarterback Justin Duncan completed four passes for 104 yards, including a 25-yard scoring pass to sophomore wingback Brian Riggins to wrap up the game's scoring. Riggins had three catches for the night for 95 yards. Sophomore back Jamal Hemingway added 93 yards rushing.
The North Brunswick offense was led by Anthony Gaines, who carried 20 times for 100 yards. Gaines provided most of the Scorpion offense for the night as they were shut down by the SCHS defense in the second half. The North Brunswick passing game netted only nine yards off two completions.
South Columbus, which scored a touchdown in every quarter, got the game's first score on a three-yard blast by senior fullback Jonathan Buffkin with 4 minutes, 45 seconds left in the first quarter. Patrick Shepherd kicked the first of three straight extra point attempts to make the score 7-0.
In the opening moments of the second quarter, Grate ran 14 yards for the second Stallion touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Coach Garry Bishop's North Brunswick team came right back with a 20-yard scoring run by A.J. Daniels to make the score 14-6 with 9:51 left in the half.
A 24-yard touchdown run by Grate gave South Columbus a 21-6 lead with 4:56 left in the third quarter.
Duncan connected with Riggins on the 25-yard touchdown pass with 7:46 left in the game. Shepherd's attempt for a fourth straight extra-point attempt was blocked.
South Columbus will close out its current four-game road schedule this Friday when it travels to meet non-conference rival Wallace-Rose Hill.
North Brunswick will travel to Lake Waccamaw Friday for a Waccamaw Conference game with East Columbus.
SOURCE The News Reporter September 22, 2008 Issue
By DAN BISER
Sports Editor
Jonathan Buffkin (24) brings down
West Columbus running back Kenyarta Smith
SOURCE The News Reporter - Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist
Stallions overcome strong Viking bid
CERRO GORDO - South Columbus High football coach Joey Price said that he had told his team all last week that this year's West Columbus team in no way resembled West Columbus teams they had been used to seeing in recent years.
“If they hadn't believe me before the game, they were sure believing me at halftime, said Price, whose visiting Stallions were deadlocked in a 14-14 tie with the up-and-coming Viking team before pulling away with to a 35-14 win in the fourth quarter.
It marked the Stallions' 15th consecutive win over the WCHS squad in a series that dates back to 1992.
Last season, when South Columbus rolled up a 15-1 record while advancing to the state 2A finals, West Columbus limped to an 0-11 season.
“I doubt there is a team in the state that has shown more improvement from a year ago than West Columbus,” said Price, whose team went ahead to stay when a touchdown in the final seconds of the third quarter gave it a 21-14 lead.
“Defensively, they are the most physical team we have played this year,” Price added. “They came at us hard.”
The Stallion offense used the talents of senior quarterback Justin Duncan, senior running back Rashawn Grate, and sophomore backs Brian Riggins and Jamal Hemingway to roll up 21 unanswered points in the second half and put the SCHS record at 3-1.
West Columbus, which opened the game's scoring with a 32-yard pass interception return by Kenyarta Smith, and tied the game in the second quarter on a 13-yard run by Smith, saw its season record drop to 1-4.
“We battled hard,” said first-year WCHS head coach Pat Byrd, “but South Columbus had a little too much for us in the end.
“I'm proud of our kids,” Byrd continued. “You look at our record now, and you see 1-4, but that doesn't tell you how far our guys have come.
“We open conference next week, and I feel we're capable of beating every team in our conference,” Byrd said. “If we keep working hard and eliminate some of the mistakes we've made in our non-conference games, we can accomplish a lot over the rest of the season.
West Columbus, which fell hard to Stallions 52-0 last season, did not allow a Stallion first down until the second quarter, and got the only points of the first quarter when Smith intercepted a Duncan pass and returned it 25 yards for a TD with just over four minutes left in the period. Rhett White's extra-point kick hit the left upright and fell through to five WCHS a 7-0 lead.
A pass interception by South Columbus' Corey Harris set up the first Stallion score as they took over at their own 48. Grate ripped off back-to-back runs of 16 and 26 yards to help set up a five-yard scoring run by Hemingway with 24 seconds gone in the second quarter.
On the Stallions' next offensive snap, Duncan connected with Riggins on a sideline route at the WCHS 40. Riggins bolted his way out of a tackle and raced the rest of the way for a touchdown. Shepherd's kick made the score 14-7.
But West Columbus battled back with a 66-yard scoring drive that featured passes of 13 and eight yards from Jared Stephens to Kendall Bullock and runs of 11 and 21 yards by Smith. Smith got touchdown on a 13-yard run and White's PAT kick made the score 14-14 with 4 minutes, 14 seconds left in the half.
South Columbus went ahead to stay late in the third quarter when it drove 43 yards after a 29-yard pass from Duncan to Grate. Grate scored the TD on a six-yard run with 19.5 seconds left in the period.
The Stallions took their first possession of the final quarter 57 yards in seven plays and Grate got the TD on a 15-yard run for a 27-14 lead.
A pass interception return by Maurice Lewis to the WCHS four-yard line set up the final SCHS TD with Hemingway carrying over on the next play. Duncan passed to Harris for the two-point conversion to close the night's scoring.
Grate carried 16 times for 100 yards and caught two passes for 51 yards. Duncan completed six of nine passes for 130 yards.
Smith led the Stallion offense with 55 yards on nine carries. Stephens completed six passes for 94 yards.
Linebackers Jonathan Buffkin and Dominique Betts had a big night defensively for South Columbus while West Columbus linemen Jeremy Jones and Anthony Bethea paced the Viking defense.
South Columbus will travel to Leland this Friday to open its Waccamaw Conference schedule against North Brunswick.
SOURCE The News Reporter September 15, 2008 Issue
East Bladen rallies past SCHS 51-48
ELIZABETHTOWN – The South Columbus Stallions were holding a 35-21 lead and driving the ball toward another touchdown with three minutes left in the first half Friday night when East Bladen's Dajour Smith picked up a Stallion fumble and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown.
Smith's big play proved to be a key turning point in the game as East Bladen overcame a South Columbus' first-half scoring onslaught to take a 51-48 high school football win over the Stallions in a battle of unbeaten teams.
Coach Joey Price's South Columbus squad held a 28-14 lead at the end of the first quarter in the 14-touchdown offensive battle. The game featured six scoring plays that covered more than 40 yards.
The Stallions led at halftime 42-35.
It was the first regular-season loss since 2006 for South Columbus and the highest single-game point total the Stallions have allowed since 1996 when it suffered a 56-19 state playoff loss to Clinton.
South Columbus suffered four turnovers, including the late first-half fumble return that helped Coach Lenon Fisher's host Eagle squad get back in the game. East Bladen had only one turnover as it put its season record at 4-0. The Eagles, who got the game-winning points with 1 minute, 31 seconds remaining, are averaging 48 points per game this season.
East Bladen's James Hatcher returned a first-quarter kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown and added scoring runs of five and three yards. D.J. Lesane also scored two touchdowns, including the game winner. Quarterback Quinn Lancaster threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Roger Thompson and also completed two-point conversion passes following each of the Eagle's last three touchdowns.
South Columbus' Brian Riggins returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown and also scored on a 45-yard run. The Stallions' Rashawn Grate scored on runs of four and three yards while rushing for 101 yards on 14 carries. Jamal Hemingway added touchdown runs of 42 and four yards, and quarterback Justin Duncan connected with tight end Ethan Farmer for 75 yards and another Stallion TD. Patrick Shepherd kicked four extra points and Jonathan Buffkin scored on a two-point conversion run.
Lancaster completed eight passes for 124 yards and touchdown for East Bladen, while Duncan completed five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown for South Columbus.
There were three touchdowns scored in the game's opening minute as the Stallions took the game-opening kick and got a three-yard touchdown run by Grate with 30 seconds gone in the game. East Bladen came right back with Hatcher's 84-yard kickoff return, but Riggins answered with his 75 yard kickoff return for a 14-7 SCHS lead.
Price said that turnovers were probably the biggest difference in the game, but felt that his young squad had found the game as a big learning experience.
“After going through a game like this against a team like East Bladen, I think our younger guys had a chance to maybe grow up some,” Price said. “We gave a good effort, but it wasn't quite good enough tonight.
“We go to West Columbus next week and we'll need to be ready for that one,” he added.
South Columbus will play the second of four straight road games when it visits neighboring West Columbus on Friday. The Stallions have not lost to WCHS since 1993.
Rashawn Grate
SOURCE The News Reporter - Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist
SOURCE The News Reporter September 8 2008 Issue
By DAN BISER
Sports Editor
VINEGAR HILL – An evening touched by “Grate-ness.”
Senior back Rashawn Grate scored four touchdowns while accumulating 323 yards of total offense Thursday night for the South Columbus Stallions in a 46-20 romp over the visiting Loris Lions of South Carolina in the annual “Battle of the Border” football grudge match at Civitan Stadium.
The game was one of many in the area that were moved up to Thursday night to avoid Friday night's approach of Tropical Storm Hanna.
The win put the Stallions' season record at 2-0 and set up a non-conference showdown with East Bladen (3-0) Friday at Elizabethtown.
The 5-foot-9 Grate scored on runs of 5, 63 and 19 yards and caught a 74-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Justin Duncan. The Stallions scored on their first four possessions of the night en route to posting their seventh straight win over the Lion squad. Coach Joey Price's Stallions now hold a 12-5 advantage in the series that began in 1992.
Sophomore back Brian Riggins added scoring runs of 15 and 5 yards, and Jamal Bellamy closed out the night's scoring with an 11-yard TD run.
The 167-pound Grate, whose offensive abilities played a big role in the Stallions' march to the state 2A finals last season, rushed for 197 yards on only 14 carries and hauled in three passes for 126 yards.
Duncan, who also played a key role in the Stallions' 15-1 season last fall, completed five of seven pass attempts for 157 yards and a touchdown. South Columbus rolled up 487 yards of total offense
South Columbus built a 28-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Loris, which was paced by running back Titus Leaks, scored a pair of touchdowns in the final 2 1/2 minutes of the first half. Coach Jimmy Longerbeam's Lions, whose record slipped to 0-2, opened the fourth quarter with a 73-yard touchdown sprint by Leaks.
Price, who had encountered a difficult week with the death of his mother, Marvalene Owens, on Tuesday, and her funeral on Thursday morning, said he was pleased with his team's effort after the trying week he and his family had encountered. Most of the Stallion team was on hand for the funeral.
“I'll be honest with you,” said Price, whose mother passed away following a lengthy battle with cancer. “I've never had a week like this in my life. Moving the game up a night because of the storm brought another challenge, but we made the best of it.”
Price called the Stallions' first-half offensive effort “impressive,” and credited that to the play of his returning senior starters – Grate, Duncan, lineman Pat Worley and back Dominique Betts. SCHS scored on its first five possessions of the game and its first possession of the second half.
“None of them are real vocal, but they let their playing set the example,” Price said.
“We had some letdowns on defense late in the first half and some in the second half. It was mostly some mental lapses and missing some tackles, but we're getting better. We have a lot of players starting on the varsity level for the first time and they're making progress for us.”
South Columbus scored with just over two minutes gone in the game after taking over at the Loris 36-yard line following a short Lion punt. A 23-yard pass from Duncan to tight end Ethan Farmer set up a five-yard touchdown run by Grate. Betts scored on a two-point conversion run to give the Stallions an 8-0 lead with 9 minutes 44 seconds left in the first quarter.
South Columbus drove 54 yards on its next possession, getting help from three procedure penalties by the Lions. A 15-yard run by Riggins on a wingback counter sweep made gave the Stallions their second TD with 4:55 left in the first quarter. A kicking try for the extra point failed.
The Stallions moved 82 yards on 11 plays on their next possession with Grate carrying four times for 31 yards and catching an 18-yard pass. Riggins scored from five yards out with 11:11 remaining in the first half to give SCHS a 20-0 lead.
On South Columbus' next offensive snap, Grate bolted 63 yards for his second touchdown of the night with 7:44 left in the half. Duncan passed to Farmer for the two-point conversion attempt to give SCHS a 28-0 advantage.
Loris, which had been held to no first downs in its first four possessions of the game, mounted its first scoring drive late in the half after Andrew Caporella returned a kickoff to the Stallion 47. It took the Lions 10 plays the score, with Leaks carrying the ball on eight of those plays. Leaks, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior, got the first Lion points on a two-yard blast with 2:17 left in the half.
South Columbus answered quickly on its next possession as Duncan fired a second-down pass to a wide open Grate for 74 yards and a touchdown for a 34-6 SCHS lead.
After Loris back Darius Graham returned the ensuing kickoff to the Stallions 40, quarterback Kentrez Hilton connected with wide receiver Phillip Johnson for another Lion TD with 39.4 seconds left in the half.
Leading 34-12, South Columbus took the second-half kickoff and marched 60 yards in seven plays. Grate got the touchdown run from 19 yards out after bursting out of two tackles.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Leaks broke loose for his 73-yard touchdown run, and R.J. Brown scored on a two-point conversion run to cut the Stallion lead to 40-20.
South Columbus drove 51 yards for the game's final score on four plays. Hemingway rambled in from 11 yards out to complete the scoring.
Jonathan Buffkin, Donte Gerald, Antron Bowman and Justin McPherson led the Stallion defense.
Leaks rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns for the Lions.
SOURCE The News Reporter August 25, 2008 Issue
Stallions turn back St. Pauls 27-6
VINEGAR HILL - It wasn't the blow-out of a year ago, but the South Columbus Stallions still came out the winner Friday night as they opened their 2008 football season with a 27-6 victory over the visiting St. Pauls Bulldogs.
With both teams hit hard by graduation after last season, South Columbus managed to build a 13-0 halftime lead.
South Columbus, which opened last season with a 42-0 thumping of the Bulldogs en route to a state 2A runnerup finish and 15-1 record, scored on its first possession of the night with senior back Rashawn Grate dashing 20 yards for the touchdown.
Patrick Shepherd's extra point kick gave Coach Joey Price's Stallions a 7-0 lead that they held until the second quarter when quarterback Justin Duncan passed to tight end Ethan Farmer for another Stallion touchdown.
The St. Pauls squad of first-year head coach Trey Sasser pulled to within seven points in the third quarter when quarterback Reggie Williams threw to Trae McRae for eight yards and a touchdown.
South Columbus gained control in the fourth quarter when Jonathan Buffkin scored from a yard out on a fullback blast and Duncan passed to Grate for a two-point conversion completion. The final SCHS score of the night came when Duncan hit Brian Riggins with a 24-yard scoring pass.
South Columbus rolled up 229 rushing yards for the game, including 66 each by Grate, Dominique Betts and Phillip Taylor.
Duncan completed five of 12 passes for 60 yards and one interception.
Williams led St. Pauls with 66 yards rushing and 44 yards passing.
It marked the eighth straight season-opening victory for South Columbus and 120th career victory for Price, who became the Stallion head coach in 1997.
“We're young this year ... a lot of new faces, but our guys are working hard,” Price said, who has three sophomores and four freshmen seeing regular duty on the varsity. “We're just trying to get some of these younger guys some good early-season experience out there.
“It was good getting the win tonight,” Price added. “St. Pauls did a good job. I was impressed by some of their personnel. They are like we are ... playing a lot of new people.”
The Stallions' season-opening winning streak dates back to 2002. The last loss came in 2001 when they dropped a 35-34 heart-breaker to Mullins, S.C ., at Mullins.
South Columbus will have an open date this Friday and will return to action on Sept. 5 when it plays host to longtime border rival Loris, S.C. The Stallions have won their last six meetings with Loris, including a 43-0 romp last season.
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