PEMBROKE — Heading into Friday’s home matchup with Seventy-First, Purnell Swett was still in search of its first win in the Sandhills Athletic Conference.

The Rams will have to wait yet another week to crack the seal as a second-half meltdown proved to be the difference in a 42-16 loss.

The turning point happened in the late stages of the first half when Falcons (6-1, 4-0 SAC) running back Sincere Bates scored the first of two touchdowns, plunging it in from 4 yards out to take a 21-16 lead with ticks left in the second quarter. Just one play before, the Rams (2-5, 0-4 SAC) defense looked to have made a drive-halting stop on a fourth-and-12, inside their own territory. But a late hit was called by the sideline referee, opening the door for the Bates score.

Coach Jon Sherman was frustrated with his team’s lack of discipline in crucial moments that have cost his team wins this season.

“What takes the air out of the team is when we make mistakes,” Sherman said. “It’s the little things that we have to stop. Not fumbling, not turning the ball over…that’s where the game changes for me.”

Falcons quarterback Kyler Davis (13-of-16, 168 yards) hooked up with receiver Camari Williams for a 25-yard touchdown to start the second half and stretch the score to 28-16. Williams finished with 135 yards receiving and gave the Rams secondary fits down the field, especially in the last two quarters. He had catches of 25 and 37 in the third quarter alone.

Even with the early third-quarter touchdown, the home team, led by star receiver Chandler Brayboy, had opportunities to answer the blows from one of the best teams in the conference. Brayboy recorded seven receptions for 147 yards and caught a deep pass from quarterback Micah Carter on the drive after Williams’ touchdown and got his team in the red zone. But two plays later, Carter threw an interception that put a screeching halt to the drive.

On the Rams next possession, Carter and Brayboy hooked up again, this time for a 65-yard gain that moved them deep inside Falcons territory. Four plays later, a lost fumbled snap took away another chance for points. The Falcons would capitalize with a 10-play drive that was capped by Bates’ second touchdown with 10:16 left in the fourth quarter.

Sherman says there were positives, despite not scoring the entire second half.

The team’s two touchdowns came from kickoff returns in the first half. The first was on the opening possession of the game as Brayboy found a crease and exploded up the left sideline put his team up 7-0. It was his second straight game with an opening kick return for a score.

The Rams senior leader didn’t want to talk about his stellar night after the loss. Instead, it was about how his team can improve for the next three games.

“We got to stay focused during practice,” Brayboy said. “You can’t be inconsistent and that showed today.”

Purnell Swett is back in action next Friday for homecoming against Hoke County.

Cannady leads St. Pauls past West Bladen

BLADENBORO — Senior Quamadre Cannady accounted for six touchdowns on Friday night as St. Pauls defeated West Bladen on the road, 62-20.

The senior receiver was moved to quarterback in the game and had four passing scores, while rushing for two rushing touchdowns that came in the first quarter. St. Pauls (5-2, 3-2 TRC) led 21-14 after the first quarter and held the Knights scoreless after halftime.

Cannady was 10-for-13 passing for 213 yards, with 79 yards rushing. William Ford was his top target with three grabs for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Demonte Williams also registered a multi-touchdown game to go with his team-high 112 yards rushing.

St. Pauls travels to Fairmont on Tuesday.

Raiders breeze by Lumberton

LUMBERTON — Richmond posted three first-quarter touchdowns and didn’t slow down from there en route to claiming a 49-7 win over Lumberton on Friday.

The Pirates (1-7, 0-4 SAC) were without Braylan Grice, the team’s leading contributor on offense and defense, and will be without the senior the rest of the season as he has been kicked off the team, according to head coach Kelly Williamson.

After Richmond (7-1, 4-0 SAC) went ahead 21-0 after the first quarter, the Pirates posted their only scoring drive to start the second quarter as Drequan Ford scored on a three-yard touchdown run with 9:56 left in the first half to cut the lead to 21-7.

Grice’s replacement, freshman Jadarian Chatman was 3-for-15 for 103 yards. Jordan McNeill led the Pirates with one 43-yard reception. Hunter Brooks has a team-high six tackles with one sack.

Richmond quarterback Caleb Hood tossed for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the win, while Jaheim Covington scored three times and tallied 135 yards on the ground.

Lumberton plays at Scotland next week, while Richmond travels to Seventy-First in a battle of the only unbeaten teams in the conference.

South Robeson shut out by Stallions

ROWLAND — Four turnovers by South Robeson football kept its offense from piecing together drives on Friday in a 55-0 loss to Three Rivers Conference-leading South Columbus.

The Mustangs’ (1-6, 1-4 TRC) offense was held mostly in check by the Stallions (7-0, 5-0 TRC) with 104 yards of total offense. Leading the rushing attack for South Robeson was Jamearos McLeod with 65 yards.

South Columbus rushed for 207 yards on 11 carries. Tate Lee totaled two rushing touchdowns with 48 yards. Daquan Keel led the team with 98 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown run.

The Mustangs host Whiteville on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Donnell Coley | The Robesonian Purnell Swett senior Chandler Brayboy (4) is wrapped up by Seventy-First’s Jamiese Alston (15) in the Falcons’ 42-16 win in Pembroke on Friday.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Chandler_ne20181019225816140.jpgDonnell Coley | The Robesonian Purnell Swett senior Chandler Brayboy (4) is wrapped up by Seventy-First’s Jamiese Alston (15) in the Falcons’ 42-16 win in Pembroke on Friday.

By Donnell Coley

Staff writer

Donnell Coley can be reached at 910-416-5165 or by email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Sportsinmyveins.