North Lenoir Hawks Face Tough Loss to James Kenan Tigers
Warsaw, NC—The North Lenoir Hawks (1-7) ventured to Warsaw on an ominous Friday the 13th, hoping to play the spoiler on James Kenan's (5-2) homecoming night. Unfortunately for the Hawks, they were unable to dampen the Tigers' spirits, suffering a 41-6 defeat.
North Lenoir's initial drive stalled, forcing a punt. However, history repeated itself when the Tigers mishandled the kick, providing the Hawks with prime field position. On fourth and goal, quarterback Malachi Ramsey lunged for the end zone but was ruled out of bounds just short of the goal line. Undeterred, James Kenan capitalized immediately, breaking away for a stunning 99-yard touchdown run to seize an early lead. They tacked on another rushing score, concluding the first quarter with a 14-0 advantage.
The second quarter began with the Tigers threatening in the red zone, but North Lenoir's defense held firm, sforcing a crucial turnover on downs. The Hawks struck back with a 29-yard touchdown scamper by Malik Fuller. The Hawks utilized a running-back-by-committee approach, led by Ramsey's 78-yard performance. Yet, James Kenan responded swiftly, returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to lead 21-6 at halftime.
The second half was less forgiving for the Hawks, as the Tigers kept them off the scoreboard. James Kenan extended their lead with a 6-yard rushing touchdown. While the Hawks' defense showed some life—senior defensive tackle Michael Jones recovered a fumble—the fourth quarter still saw the Tigers add two more scores to their tally.
Looking ahead to their next game against the South Lenoir Blue Devils (1-8), Head Coach Larry Dale said, "They're a well-coached team with a different style than we've seen in recent weeks. It will definitely pose new challenges for us."
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