PINETOPS – Given the strength of SouthWest Edgecombe’s schedule, it was a positive that the Cougars had been playing to the level of their opponents.

It was an even bigger positive that the reverse wasn’t true Friday night at SouthWest Edgecombe. The Cougars thoroughly dominated winless Farmville Central, 38-14, to win for the second consecutive week.

“We talked about building off (Week 5), being even better (Friday),” SouthWest Edgecombe coach Raymond Cobb said. “It didn’t matter whether we were playing Tarboro, (Wilson) Beddingfield, Farmville or who, we wanted to play the best we’ve played all year, and I think the first half we did.”

The Cougars (3-3, 2-0 Eastern Plains Conference) scored all four times they touched the ball in the first half and added a two-point conversion each time.

Quarterback Tyquavious Wooten’s second touchdown of the half with 14 second remaining in the second quarter sent SouthWest Edgecombe into halftime with a commanding 32-0 lead.

Wooten’s score only punctuated the Cougars’ effort in the half, in which they went 5-for-5 on third-down conversions and held Farmville Central (0-5, 0-1 EPC) to eight yards rushing.

SouthWest Edgecombe controlled the line of scrimmage, which was evident during Milton Ransome’s 19-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Ransome ran all the way home without being touched.

“Like the coaches always tell us, the best form of defense is a good offense,” SouthWest Edgecombe tackle Eric Webb said. “We wanted to be physical with them like we were against Kinston (in Week 5).”

Farmville Central did itself little favors in the first half, committing 45 yards worth of penalties.

During one stretch of the second quarter, the Jaguars were flagged on four of five plays during the same drive.

Even without the help, the Cougars’ defense was able to set the tone right away, forcing two three-and-outs on the Jaguars’ first two series.

Though it won against Kinston last week, the Cougars allowed 49 points and sought a change.

“It was definitely a point to be made that we had to do better,” SouthWest Edgecombe linebacker Omar Parker said.

Three SouthWest Edgecombe running backs rushed for more than 75 yards.

The Cougars next will travel to Wilson Beddingfield, which is also 2-0 in the EPC.

“I think in all three phases this was the best we’ve played,” Cobb said. “...Offensively, it wasn’t pretty, but we controlled the football.”

SouthWest Edgecombe 38
Farmville Central 14
FC              0    0    8    6    –    14
SWE          16    16    0    6    –    38
First Quarter
SWE – Barry smith 6 run (Tyquavious Wooten run), 7:56
SWE – Wooten 1 run (Gerald Hinton run), 1:41
Second Quarter
SWE – Milton Ransome 19 run (Ransome run), 6:26
SWE – Wooten 6 run (Ransome run), 0:14
Third Quarter
FC – Malik Foskey 5 run (Josh Jones run), 8:48
Fourth Quarter
SWE – Hinton 1 run (2-point try fails), 6:11
FC – Jones 45 pass from Rashawn Brown (2-point try fails), 1:08
FC                                       SWE
11    First downs.................20
30–92    Rushes-yards......51–320
143    Passing yards............355
7–12–0    Passes................2–3–1
235    Total offense............355
2–2    Fumbles-Lost...........4–3
7–45    Penalties-Yards.....3–25
Individual Statistics
Rushing – FC: Brown 8-41; Garrett Deal 7-36; Foskey 6-19; Jones 5-3; Raekwon Baker 1-1; Arkeveion Crandall 3-0; Jacob Davis 1-(-8). SWE: Hinton 17-121; Smith 12-85; Devontrell Hyman 10-77; Milton Ransome 2-22; Wooten 5-10; Isaiah Lewis 1-4; Taquan Battle 2-3; Team 2-(-2).
Passing – FC: Baker 1-1-0, 5; Brown 6-11-1, 138. SWE: Wooten 2-3-0, 35.
Receiving – FC: Crandall 2-48; Jones 1-45; Foskey 4-40; Stewart Watts 1-10. SWE: Fabrion Bandy 1-25; Hinton 1-10.

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