Daily Roundup: September 2, 2023

September 3, 2023, 12:29 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. 10 Ashley 42, No. 14 East Bladen 32

***Click here to view a gallery of 30 photos from the action***

The Screaming Eagles continue shattering school records under the guidance of second-year coach Dante Lombardi.

A week after setting program records for most points in a game and largest margin of victory in a 62-0 thrashing of East Carteret, Ashley (2-1) made more history Saturday evening.

By scoring 42 points, the Screaming Eagles increased their season total to 124 through three games. That broke the previous mark of 112, which was set in 2012 under now-Pender coach Tom Eanes.

Ashley hadn’t won back-to-back games since starting the 2016 season with victories over Swansboro (40-17) and Fairmont (38-12). To find the last three-game winning streak, you have to go all the way back to 2013.

The Screaming Eagles have a bye next week before traveling to Laney on September 15.

Junior three-sport standout Quinn Bentley scored four rushing touchdowns out of the Wildcat formation to increase his season total to six.

Bentley, who is an N.C. State baseball commit, finished the evening with 71 yards on 16 carries.

“Our coaches are pushing us a lot, and the players are staying more disciplined than we have in the past,” Bentley said. “Overall, the environment is a lot better.”

Jaelen Brewington had 14 carries for 80 yards, while quarterback Braden Quinn went 17-for-26 for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Neither team had a two-possession lead until Quinn connected with Dominic Michelangelo for a 12-yard touchdown on fourth-and-8 with 1:59 remaining in the game.

The Screaming Eagles went to their bag of tricks late in the third quarter to extend their lead to 28-20. On third-and-17, a double pass from Quinn to Bryson Lovelace to a wide-open Tyler Carter resulted in a 54-yard TD.

“That’s a play I actually ran when I coached in Florida,” Lombardi said. “It’s funny because we didn’t rep it all week. We put it in today in our gym, but I had a feeling we were going to need it at some point.”

East Bladen (1-2) responded on the ensuing possession. A 48-yard run from Masion Brooks put the Eagles inside the red zone. The senior running back capped the drive with a 4-yard scoring run, but the 2-point pass fell incomplete.

After forcing a turnover on downs, East Bladen got the ball back on the Ashley 38-yard line and took advantage of the good field position. Brooks found the end zone for the third and final time – again from 4-yards out – to put the visitors in front 32-28 with 8:45 on the clock.

Brooks had an outstanding performance by finishing with 19 carries for 176 yards.

It took less than two minutes for the Screaming Eagles to grab the lead for good. Quinn started the seven-play, 52-yard drive with three straight completions that resulted in a combined 42 yards. Bentley later scored on a 1-yard run on third-and-goal for what turned out to be the game winner.

On its final possession of the game, East Bladen faced a fourth-and-11 from its own 34-yard line with less than five minutes to play. Quarterback Kewone Maynor, who threw a pair of touchdown passes to Malaki Moore, tried to find his 6-foot-2 target again, but this time he was sacked by several Ashley defenders.

“I showed a clip in the locker room before we got on the bus about having a warrior mindset,” Lombardi said. “We knew we would face adversity, so the goal was to have the guys mentally prepared. Just from a culture standpoint, you can see the difference between this team and last year’s team.”

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Hoggard 18, Laney 57, Cape Fear Academy 79, Ashley 95, Topsail 152, New Hanover 152, South Brunswick no score

at Long Leaf Park

The Vikings were dominant on their home course, placing six runners in the top 10.

Senior Ashlei Summers finished first by more than 40 seconds after crossing the finish line in 18:03.88. She was followed by teammates Mia Medlin (18:46.45), Catalina Veldwijk (18:56.30) and Annie Mulligan (19:43.22).

Hoggard also got excellent performances from Elise Hunneyman (eighth in 20:11.52) and Samantha Keeler (ninth in 20:12.02).

Cape Fear Academy sophomore Kylie Petrides rounded out the top five by finishing with a time of 19:56.54.

Top 20 results

1. Ashlei Summers, Hoggard: 18:03.88

2. Mia Medlin, Hoggard: 18:46.45

3. Catalina Veldwijk, Hoggard: 18:56.30

4. Annie Mulligan, Hoggard: 19:43.22

5. Kylie Petrides, Cape Fear Academy: 19:56.54

6. Kendall Harrell, Laney: 19:59.63

7. Kateria Peters, Laney: 20:10.51

8. Elise Hunneyman, Hoggard: 20:11.52

9. Samantha Keeler, Hoggard: 20:12.02

10. Emma Gibbs, Cape Fear Academy: 20:13.00

11. Pennie Utnage, Cape Fear Academy: 20:18.74

12. Ellie Harrington, South Brunswick: 20:21.42

13. MK O’Malley, Laney: 20:21.86

14. Maya Roseboro, Ashley: 20:22.90

15. Sophia Bush, Laney: 20:24.92

16. Luci Hosley, Hoggard: 20:38.73

17. Danner Harrison, Ashley: 20:44.12

18. Savannah Moore, Hoggard: 21:02.49

19. Chloe Davis, New Hanover: 21:05.20

20. River Mead, Hoggard: 21:22.17

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Hoggard 28, Laney 49, Topsail 78, Ashley 89, Cape Fear Academy 155, New Hanover 156, South Brunswick no score

at Long Leaf Park

Reigning Mideastern Conference champion Daniel Kelmer of Laney held on for a narrow victory.

Kelmer crossed the finish line in 15:43.15, while Hoggard’s Luke Adams had a time of 15:46.80.

The host Vikings claimed the team title thanks to six top-10 finishes. Joining Adams were: Aedon Schroeder (fourth in 16:09.46), Pierson Guerrant (fifth in 16:21.75), Michael Delavore (eighth in 16:37.50), Connor Andrews (ninth in 16:38.77) and Gabriel Archibald (10th in 16:41.01).

Topsail sophomore Owen Reese finished in third place by completing the course in 16:03.90.