WHITEVILLE — On Friday night, Whiteville High School gave a warm welcome to its 2017 state championship baseball team.
The Wolfpack’s football program wasn’t so generous in welcoming St. Pauls to Legion Stadium, handing the Bulldogs a 61-13 loss.
Looking to keep its NCHSAA 2-A state playoff hopes alive, the Bulldogs (5-5, 5-3 TRC) were thrased out of the gate by the Wolfpack (9-1, 7-1 TRC), which scored 42 first-half points to put the game out of reach.
St. Pauls, which hasn’t beaten Whiteville since 2003, was plagued by several turnovers in the contest. Phillip Powell scored on a 98-yard interception return as time expired to cap the victory for the Wolfpack.
St. Pauls quarterback Noah Wheeler, who accounted for seven touchdowns last week against West Bladen, accounted for both of the Bulldogs’ scores against Whiteville. He fired a seven-yard TD pass to Caleb Inman in the first half and ran for a five-yard score in the third quarter.
Inman’s touchdown trimmed the Whiteville lead to 20-7 with 5:29 left in the second quarter but Whiteville closed the half with 22 unanswered points to take a commanding 42-7 lead into the break.
Keshawn Bellamy finished with three first-half touchdowns for the Wolfpack. Phillip Powell finished with three touchdowns and Ty Moss threw for a pair of scores.
The Bulldogs will host Red Springs next week in the regular-season finale. The Red Devils earned a 41-0 victory over West Columbus on Friday.
Whiteville held a ring ceremony at halftime to honor its 2017 baseball team, which claimed the NCHSAA 1-A state championship. Left-handed ace MacKenzie Gore, who was drafted third overall by the San Diego Padres earlier this year, was in attendance.
Gore guided the Wolfpack to three state titles in four years, finished his career with a 41-2 mark and a new state record 0.35 ERA. He earned MVP honors in each state title win and was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
Red Devils roast West Columbus
RED SPRINGS — Behind two touchdowns by Lee McLean, the Red Springs football team earned a 41-0 victory over West Columbus on Friday night.
McLean rushed for 161 yards on 15 carries for the Red Devils (7-3, 5-3 TRC), who jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first half to put the game out of reach for the winless Vikings (0-10, 0-8).
Jerome Bass and Denym McKeithan also had touchdowns for Red Springs in the win.
In other TRC action, Fairmont earned a 24-12 victory over East Columbus.
East Bladen routs South Robeson
ROWLAND — South Robeson fell 49-12 at home to East Bladen on Friday night.
Jamearos McLeod scored on a 20-yard run and Darrius Brown hauled in a two-yard pass from Tyler Locklear to cap the scoring for the Mustangs (3-7, 3-5 TRC), who didn’t get a first down in the second half.
The Eagles (9-1, 7-1) rushed for 341 yards in the contest and had a 23-3 advantage in first downs. Eric Chancy paced East Bladen with 109 yards on the ground. Xavier Wooten finished with two rushing scores for the Eagles.
South Robeson will close its regular season at Fairmont next week.
Scots blow away Pirates
LUMBERTON — Behind three touchdowns from Georgia commit Zamir White, Scotland earned a 63-14 win at Lumberton on Friday night.
White logged 85 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns for the Scots (8-1, 6-0 SAC). He also hauled in a 34-yard catch for a score.
On the first play from scrimmage, Manny Smith picked off Lumberton’s Braylan Grice for a 50-yard pick six.
The Pirates (2-8, 1-5 SAC) responded with a drive led by Grice and capped by a one-yard keeper. Grice finished with 141 passing yards but just four yards on the ground.
Lumberton tried to close the gap in the third quarter with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Grice to Kwashek Breeden. The touchdown made it 49-14 Scots headed into the fourth. Breeden finished with 105 yards on a pair of catches.
Devonte McKoy led Lumberton’s defense with seven tackles.
The Scots racked up 489 yards of total offense and held Lumberton to 185 yards.
Lumberton will close its season against Purnell Swett.
St. Pauls quarterback Noah Wheeler (2) accounted for both of the Bulldogs’ touchdowns in a 61-13 loss at Whiteville on Friday.
