Daily Roundup: October 6, 2023

October 7, 2023, 2:55 am | by Tim Hower

COASTAL PREPS THREE STARS OF THE NIGHT

***The rankings by each area team come from the Coastal Preps Power Rankings***

FOOTBALL

No. 6 New Hanover 30, No. 3 North Brunswick 21

***Click here to view a gallery of 35 photos from the action***

On a night in which he was also crowned Homecoming King, senior running back Caden Morton scored a pair of touchdowns to help the Wildcats remain unbeaten all-time in the series.

Both of Morton’s touchdowns were set up by fumble recoveries. The New Hanover (4-3, 3-1 Mideastern) defense forced six turnovers in the contest.

“I told our team we were at a crossroads after the loss last week and they responded,” New Hanover coach Dylan Dimock said.

Morton put the home team on top by plowing his way into the end zone from 2-yards out with 3:57 remaining in the second quarter.

On the first play of the ensuing series, North Brunswick (5-2, 2-2) put the ball on the ground and it was recovered by Zihiem Graham.

Two plays later, Morton scored on a 9-yard run for his second TD in 26 seconds.

The Scorpions cut the deficit in half on a 5-yard run from Jabril Dashiell late in the third quarter. After both teams traded three-and-outs, North Brunswick got another key defensive stop.

However, the punt was muffed and recovered by the Wildcats in the red zone. They weren’t able to find the end zone, but Austin Luther’s 28-yard field goal split the uprights to increase the lead to 17-7.

Eric Mosley got loose for his only long run of the game, a 59-yard touchdown, less than a minute later to get the Scorpions back to within three points. The senior had 13 carries for 110 yards.

New Hanover responded with one of its best drives of the season, going 65 yards in 10 plays and taking more than six minutes off the clock.

Running back Mason Shand converted a pair of third downs. On third-and-6 from the 10-yard line, Jack Eller lofted a pass to the corner of the end zone that was hauled in by Zeus Batts with 3:14 to play.

North Brunswick scored on a 35-yard pass from TT Green to Chris Webb with 1:58 on the clock to cut the deficit to 23-21.

With a chance to put the game away, New Hanover coach Dylan Dimock rolled the dice on fourth-and-3 with a play action pass that was executed to perfection. Eller found a wide open Hudson Szczypta for a 33-yard score.

“That was related to what happened last week when I was too conservative,” Dimock said. “I felt like our defense was playing well enough that if we had to get one more stop we could.”

Eller finished 10 of 18 for 118 yards. Morton rushed for 79 yards on 24 carries.

No. 13 Pender 106, Hobbton 83

The Patriots scored 14 rushing touchdowns and added 11 2-point conversions to surpass the 100-point mark in a game that was called with 1:21 remaining because the lights in the stadium went out.

The 189 combined points set a new N.C. High School Athletic Association record. The record for most points by one team is 142 by Windsor back in 1930.

Pender (4-3) led 40-29 after the opening quarter and 54-49 at halftime.

Jassiah Hill scored six touchdowns, while Jeremiah Johnson added five. Demari Morgan found the end zone twice.

The first touchdown of the game came from Coryyon Moore. He also converted the 2-point conversion to give the Patriots a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Pender easily broke the school record for points in a game, which was previously 70 set on Oct. 31, 1997 in a 70-7 win over Whiteville.

Hobbton quarterback Cole Weeks threw six touchdown passes and ran for another. Daniel Aguilar found the end zone four times.

No. 8 Topsail 40, No. 10 South Brunswick 34

An outstanding performance from senior Caden Wilson helped the Pirates build an insurmountable 34-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Wilson got the scoring started with a 52-yard rushing touchdown. After the Topsail (4-3, 2-2 Mideastern) defense forced a 3-and-out, Wilson returned the ensuing punt for a his second score of the night.

He was far from finished.

Late in the opening quarter, Wilson was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from Eli Hebron. His final trip to the end zone came on a 70-yard run on the first possession of the second half.

Just for good measure, Wilson added an interception in the third quarter.

The Pirates led 28-0 after the first quarter. Hebron’s third touchdown pass of the game – to Ryder Willcox – increased the advantage to 34-0.

Damarion Smith had the other touchdown reception.

South Brunswick (2-5, 0-4) showed great fight by cutting the deficit to 34-21 at halftime.

Jameson Prince threw three touchdown passes to increase his season total to 15.

No. 1 Hoggard 38, No. 4 Ashley 6

The Vikings improved to 24-0 all-time in the series with another dominant victory.

During its current six-game winning streak, Hoggard (6-1, 4-0 Mideastern) is averaging 41.3 points and allowing just 10.

Senior running back M’kel Bellamy finished with six carries for 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Vikings had a season-high 219 rushing yards.

Hudson Wilharm completed 11 of 17 passes for 121 yards and a 49-yard touchdown to Nas Session.

Hoggard scored on all five drives in the first half to build a 35-0 lead. The first possession of the second half ended with a 24-yard field goal from Tobias Brubaker.

Wilharm and Javion Joseph-Fontaine both added rushing touchdowns.

Ashley’s (4-3, 2-2) lone score came on a 1-yard run from Quinn Bentley with 3:18 left in the game.

No. 2 Laney 49, No. 15 West Brunswick 7

For the second week in a row, senior running back Tyjhere Crudup scored three touchdowns to lead the Buccaneers to a lopsided win on the road.

Crudup now has 15 touchdowns on the season. He finished with 89 yards on just 10 carries.

Laney (5-2, 3-1 Mideastern) also got a pair of touchdowns from his backup, Tristan Cotto, who had seven carries for 90 yards.

Kolbe Little went 8 of 15 for 212 yards and two TDs to Quin’sir Waddell.

Hampton Roderick hauled in three catches for 109 yards, including a remarkable one-handed grab in the second quarter.

The Buccaneers’ defense forced a pair of turnovers and came up with four sacks. Jaquan Bowen had two sacks, while Aden Reece finished with a team-best 11 tackles.

West Brunswick (0-7, 0-4) sophomore running back Jaquell Davis had 25 carries for 107 yards and the lone score.

No. 9 East Bladen 28, No. 11 Trask 8

The Eagles recovered four consecutive onside kicks and scored touchdowns each time to build a 28-0 lead before the Titans even had their first possession.

Senior standout running back Masion Brooks scored three times to increase his area-leading touchdown total to 24.

The win kept East Bladen (5-3, 4-0 Waccamaw) in first place in the league standings.

Trask (3-4, 0-3) has lost four games in a row after beginning the season 3-0.

No. 5 West Columbus 54, No. 12 South Columbus 0

On the first play of scrimmage, Unique Kelly connected with Jaylen Bellamy for a 52-yard touchdown, and the Vikings continued piling up points.

Kelly also had touchdown passes to Triston Freeman and Junior Stewart. He found the end zone with his feet in the third quarter to increase the West Columbus (6-1, 3-0 Waccamaw) lead to 34-0.

Jahan Lesane-Powell had a pair of rushing touchdowns, while Ryder Haynes and James Axelberg also found the end zone.

No. 7 Whiteville 71, No. 14 East Columbus 0

The Wolfpack bounced back nicely from last week’s loss at West Columbus.

Luke Odham threw three touchdown passes in the first half, including two to Will Fisher, to help Whiteville (5-2, 2-1) build a 49-0 halftime lead.

Amari Best and JT Todd both finished with two rushing TDs. Montrez Holland caught a touchdown pass and also scored on an interception return.

The other scores came on runs from Nallegem Powell and Zay Bennett.

VOLLEYBALL

No. 17 Wilmington Christian Academy 3, Wilson Christian Academy 2

(25-16, 26-24, 14-25, 23-25, 15-10)

After dropping the third and fourth sets, the Patriots regrouped and came away with an impressive road win.

Katelyn McCurry led the way offensively with 16 kills, while Kaylie Naki added six and Hannah Pollard finished with five.

Setter Georgia Davis handed out 18 assists to go along with three aces. WCA (6-11, 5-0 NCCSA 2A District 4) also got 20 digs and five aces from Caroline Prease.

The Patriots host Greenville Christian Academy on Monday at 7 p.m.