North Edgecombe pummels Gates County

North Edgecombe’s offense scored four different times Friday night, but a defensive touchdown made the difference in the contest.

The Warriors took advantage of three turnovers to defeat visiting Gates County, 50-24.

“We play as one big unit,” North Edgecombe running back Johnnte Ward said. “The defense knows that sometimes we are going to have to step up big. The leaders on our team have done a good job of reminding us that if we want to be winners, we have to play like winners.”

The Warriors owned a 26-6 halftime lead, but the Red Barons whittled that lead down to 34-18 to start the fourth quarter.

Gates County drove the ball to the North Edgecombe 36-yard line and looked to draw within one score when Ward intercepted a pass and returned it 74 yards for a score.

The third-down pass landed directly in Ward’s hands, and he sprinted down the left sideline joined by a convoy of Warriors defenders.

“I just read the quarterback and stepped in front of the pass,” Ward said. “I just started running and realized I had teammates around me so I wasn’t worried about being tackled.”

The victory guarantees a No. 2 seed for the Warriors and their first NCHSAA 1-A state playoffs home game in five seasons.

“We’re going to work on ourselves for the next few weeks,” North Edgecombe coach Danny Ward said. “Our seniors have done a great job leading our team this season. We just want to work to make ourselves better.”

GC06126—24

NE206816—50

First Quarter

NE — Quentin Higgs 2 run (conversion failed), 9:53

NE — Higgs 49 fumble return (Diamonte Harrell conversion), 6:11

NE — Harrell 17 run (conversion failed), 0:28

Second Quarter

GC — Damian Gattling 45 run (kick failed), 11:21

NE — Higgs 2 run (conversion failed), 4:06

Third Quarter

GC — Graham Hobbs 15 run (kick failed), 7:39

NE — Stephone McDowell 5 run (Harrell conversion), 4:44

GC — DeShaun Stokley 38 run (conversion failed), 3:17

Fourth Quarter

NE — Johnnte Ward 74 interception return (McDowell conversion), 10:59

GC — Trebor Buck 7 run (Conversion failed), 5:16

NE — Mark Moore 6 run (Tamiyas Pearce from Kadeem Alexander conversion), 4:02

GCe_SRitNE

17First downs17

41—433Rushes-yards33—302

44Passing yards36

2—3—0Passes3—8—0

477Total offense338

5—2Fumbles-Lost0—0

7—55Penalties-Yards8—60

Individual Statistics

Rushing — NE: Quentin Higgs 15 — 83; Diamonte Harell 7 — 27; Johnnte Ward 5 — 100; Nathanial Epps 1 — 6; Marquavis Battle 1 — 15; Stephone McDowell 2 — 17; Mark Moore 2 — 54 GC: Jerich Garrett 8 — 20; Damian Gatling 20 — 298; Trebor Buck 2 — 10; Graham Hobbs 3 — 5; DeShaun Stokley 8 — 100

Passing — NE: Marquavis Battle 2—3—0 25; Stephone McDowell 1—5—0 11 GC: Graham Hobbs 1—2—0 4; E.J. Horton 1—1—0 40

Receiving — NE: Diamonte Harrell 1—15; Montrezl Harrell 1—10; Quentin Higgs 1—11 GC: Jeremy Smith 1—4; Zack Badgett 1—40