PINETOPS – It was not quite the result SouthWest Edgecombe wanted, but the Cougars further proved their point: They can beat anyone in this area.

SouthWest Edgecombe seriously challenged Wilson Hunt, considered to be the class of Eastern North Carolina, before ultimately falling, 28-14, Thursday at SouthWest Edgecombe High School.

“I am so proud of our team for our great effort we gave,” SouthWest Edgecombe coach Raymond Cobb said. “We didn’t give up. We didn’t buckle. We’re just looking to learn from this night.”

SouthWest Edgecombe never found an answer for Hunt running back Josh Joyner, who rushed for 258 yards on 24 carries and scored all four of Hunt’s touchdowns.

On the Warriors’ seven-play touchdown drive to begin the second half, Joyner rushed for 89 yards on an 85-yard drive, made possible because of offensive penalties.

“Josh is a really special back,” Hunt coach Randy Raper said. “Of course, it wouldn’t have been possible without great play from the offensive line and the fullbacks, but I’m sure glad we have No. 28.”

The Cougars (1-2) had several chances to upend Hunt (3-0), but were held back by the Warriors’ defense.

Four times the Cougars moved the ball inside the Warriors’ 30-yard line but turned over the ball o on downs.

SouthWest Edgecombe running back Gerald Hinton (17 carries, 130 yards, two touchdowns) said the Warriors changed their front seven when pressed, which put space at a premium.

“Whenever we got close, they made it real tight,” Hinton said. “There wasn’t much space to run after that.”
Cobb said Hunt deserved all the credit for being good at the right times.

“That’s big on their part,” Cobb said. “To beat a team like Hunt, you’ve got to put the ball in the end zone. Our offense has got to help our young defense right now.”

SouthWest Edgecombe fell behind, 7-0, after Hunt’s first drive, a methodical, 10-play, 70-yard maneuver that took more than seven minutes.

Neither team scored the rest of the half, but Hunt took a 14-point lead to start the second half.

Hinton broke a 40-yard touchdown run later in the third quarter, then the Cougars forced a fumble on the ensuing Hunt drive.

But the Cougars were again turned away on fourth down on a fourth-and-six deep inside Hunt territory.

“Our defense really stepped up to stop them when they needed to,” Raper said. “We bent but didn’t break. I know that’s an old coach’s cliche, but that really was the case.”

SouthWest Edgecombe tied the score at 14 early in the fourth quarter on Hinton’s second touchdown of the evening, but the momentum was short lived.

Kentrell Brown returned the ensuing kick 48 yards to the Cougars’ 45, then Joyner eluded half of SouthWest Edgecombe’s defense for a 45-yard touchdown on the Warriors’ next play.

The Cougars never threatened again.

Even though the outcome isn’t what SouthWest Edgecombe wanted, the Cougars feel content knowing they challanged what is likey the best team on their schedule.

“Hunt’s a heck of a football team,” Cobb said. “I hope we don’t see another back like Joyner.”

Wilson Hunt 28
SouthWest Edgecombe 14

WH            7    0    7    14    –    28
SWE          0    0    8    6    –    14
First Quarter
WH – Josh Joyner 5 run (Brian Orellana kick), 2:14
Third Quarter
WH – Joyner 27 run (Orellana kick), 8:21
SWE – Gerald Hinton 40 run (Hinton two-point conversion), 4:26
Fourth Quarter
SWE – Hinton 5 run (conversion fails), 6:50
WH – Joyner 45 run (Orellana kick), 6:26
WH – Joyner 9 run (Orellana kick), 1:57
WHSWE
18....................First downs...............11
38–274    Rushes-yards........49–184
65    Passing yards..............95
5–9–0    Passes..............4–13–1
339    Total offense............279
1–1    Fumbles-Lost.............0–0
6–45    Penalties-Yards.......4–35
Individual Statistics
Rushing – SWE: Gerald Hinton 17-130; Milton Ransome 7-24; Devante Williams 7-20; Barry Smith 7-20; JayQuan Dupree 1-9; Devontrell Hyman 2-6; Quay Wooten 8-(-25). WH: Josh Joyner 24-258; Gustavo Wences 5-15; Brian Brown 3-8; Alvin Artis 1-(-3); Daniel Westbrook 5-(-4).
Passing – SWE: Wooten 4-9-1, 95. WH: Westbrook 5-9-1, 65.
Receiving – SWE: Anthony Coley 1-43; Jereson Whitehead 1-34; Williams 1-9; Hinton 1-9. WH: Peety Phelps 2-31; Kentrell Brown 2-20; Justin Jefferson 1-14.

Nick Piotrowicz can be reached at 407-9952 or npiotrowicz@rmtelegram.com

Southern Nash 37
Bunn 14
SN             7    9    14    7 –    37
B                0    14    0    0  –    14
First Quarter
SN – Sebastian O’Neal 1 run (Sergio Tenaloza kick), 3:49
Second Quarter
SN – Tenaloza 32 FG, 9:00
B – Tariq Cohen 8 run (Freeman Jones kick), 5:55
SN – Taylor Finch 9 run (kick failed), 1:45
B – Cohen 49 pass from Deshawn High (Jones kick), 0:47
Third Quarter
SN – Rashid Campbell 14 run (kick failed), 6:11
SN – Campbell 2 run (Deon Lavender conversion), 3:41
Fourth Quarter
SN – Chi-Ali Bunn 46 pass from Lavender (Tenaloza kick), 10:23
SNB
25    First downs    8
65–397    Rushes-yards    22–167
67    Passing yards    65
2–5–0    Passes    3–5–1
464    Total offense    232
1–0    Fumbles-Lost    2–1
7–60    Penalties-Yards    2–15
Individual Statistics
Rushing – SN: Rashid Campbell 27-210; Taylor Finch 9-24; Sebastian O’Neal 14-93; Deon Lavender 7-27; Clinton Whitaker 3-8; Desmond Jackson 2-0; Travis Collins 1-1; Kendall Parker 2-14
Passing – SN: Deon Lavender 2-5, 67.
Receiving – SN: Chi-Ali Bunn 1-46; Taylor Finch 1-21