PEMBROKE — Purnell Swett was trying to move on from last week’s upsetting finish at Pinecrest and break a two-game losing streak Friday against Hoke County.

It took every minute to get back on track in a 30-20 win over the Bucks.

Swett (8-2, 2-2) looked to put Hoke away early in the fourth, when Jock Clark had a 4-yard touchdown run, and followed it with a two point conversion run to make the score 30-14.

But Hoke took advantage of a Ram turnover, a fumble by Jordan Jones on a six-yard run, and Vernon Brandon completed a touchdown pass to Eric Wolff.. The two point conversion pass failed, leaving the score at 30-20.

Hoke County picked off Ethan Clark with just over four minutes to play, but Brandon threw an interception of his own at the Rams-2 two to Telvin Clark to ice the game

“We won, and it was ugly,” Swett head coach Mark Heil said. “We were kind of getting stale on offense, but I thought our defense played fantastic.”

Hoke County (2-8, 1-4) came out firing on their first drive with multiple big plays, including a 23-yard run by Vander Willis, and finished the job on an 18-yard scoring pass from Brandon to Wolff. oseph Latham’s point after kick made it 7-0.

Bucks coach Leon Hope felt his team was ready, but was frustrated by the outcome.

“We came out and we expected to win, we prepared to win, but it’s disappointing,” Hope said.

Swett came back with excellent field position after a short kickoff, and Travon Clark took it 53 yards to the house on the first play to make it 7-6. The point after was botched on the snap.

The Swett defense made things difficult for themselves by committing three offside penalties in the first quarter, each one giving the Bucks a first down. The defense bent but did not break, and kept Hoke off the board, even as they spent the majority of their time on the field in Swett territory.

The explosive offenses of the first quarter did not carry over to the second with negative plays coming in bunches for each side.

Swett’s offense started the half with a long drive that got to the 15 of Hoke.

Brandon was intercepted on the next possession by Demond Davis to set up Swett deep in Hoke territory. But the Rams went four and out, turning it over on a Jock Clark fumble that he recovered but could not advance past the marker.

Swett took the lead late in the first half on a third down, 23-yard pass to Caleb Jacobs from Ethan Clark. Jock Clark ran it wide left for the two-point conversion and made it 14-7 with four minutes left in the quarter.

“I saw the safeties bite and just connected on the passes,” Ethan Jacobs said. “This was a big win so we could finish second in conference.”

Hoke had one more chance before the end of the half after Brandon hooked up with Jamelle McNair on a 46-yard pass play, but failed on a fourth and 2 at the Rams 11 to keep the score 14-7 at the half.

Swett came out on fire in the second half, marching down the field in eight plays, capped by another Ethan Clark to Caleb Jacobs hookup for a score. Holder Steven Jacobs ran a botched snap in for a two point conversion and a 22-7 lead.

The Bucks looked to respond, driving down to the Swett 20, but McNair fumbled away a completion from Brandon and Jamarcus Harrington recovered for the Rams. After forcing a three and out, though, Brandon took control, running for a 16-yard first down and then completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to Kentri Melvin. A Latham kick brought Hoke back to 22-14.

Coach Hope was proud of his defense holding tough most of the game, but his team was bit by the big play.

“We gave up two play-action touchdown passes,”Hope said. “We turned it over too may times, especially at the end when we could get back in it.”

Brandon completed 21-of-40 passes for 299 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His favorite target, Wolff, caught seven passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

Swett finishes its season hosting rival Lumberton, a game of utmost importance according to Heil.

“To me it’s a Robeson County rivalry. We’re the two big 4A schools in the county, and it’s going to be a big game.”