North Lenoir Routs South Lenoir 47-6 in Bragging Bowl, Sets Sights on Key Matchup with Kinston
La Grange –The North Lenoir Hawks (4-5) delivered a commanding performance in the annual Bragging Bowl, overpowering the South Lenoir Blue Devils (0-9) with a 47-6 victory at the Swamp. With a relentless ground game and a defense that held the Blue Devils to under 100 total yards, the Hawks controlled the game from start to finish, seizing local bragging rights and setting the stage for a critical game against Kinston next week, with the #2 spot in the conference on the line.
North Lenoir wasted no time establishing dominance, with Malik Fuller opening the scoring on a 28-yard touchdown run. The Hawks quickly capitalized on an onside kick recovery, and Fuller followed up with his second touchdown of the first quarter, giving North Lenoir a 13-0 lead. Jaquell Hawkins-Gardner added to the momentum, finding the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 19-0 by the end of the first quarter. North Lenoir’s defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs with under a minute left, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
In the second quarter, the Hawks’ offense continued to roll. Devin Gray bulldozed his way through the Blue Devils’ defense on a 27-yard touchdown run. Fuller, showing his prowess on both sides of the ball, forced a fumble on the following drive, setting North Lenoir up for another score. Moments later, he punched in his third rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 33-0. South Lenoir forced a fumble with just seconds remaining in the half but fumbled it back on the very next play, summing up their struggles on the night.
The third quarter saw North Lenoir’s defense and special teams in top form. Fuller recovered a fumble for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 40-0. South Lenoir forced a late fumble in the quarter, but North Lenoir’s defense held them scoreless, keeping the Hawks firmly in control.
In the final quarter, Braxton Loftin-Myers delivered one last highlight, sprinting for a touchdown with 9:15 left in the game to make it 47-0 and trigger a running clock. North Lenoir’s defense forced another turnover on downs with two minutes left, showcasing their continued intensity. South Lenoir managed to score a late touchdown after forcing a fumble, preventing the shutout but ultimately falling far short.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Head Coach Larry Dale praised his squad for their effort and improvement. “I thought the boys would improve and be competitive all year, but it’s tough to think we’d be here (fighting for second place in the conference). We played well in all phases,” Dale said. He singled out Justin Gooding for his exceptional blocking, adding, “Shoutout to #9, who blocked the best we have all year. It was unique to see everyone have a good night.”
With their fourth win of the season, North Lenoir now turns their attention to Kinston, where a victory would secure the Hawks the #2 spot in the conference. This upcoming matchup has become the most important game of their season, as they look to build on the momentum from their Bragging Bowl win and make a significant impact in conference play.
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