North Lenoir Stuns Wallace-Rose Hill 18-15 in Homecoming Thriller
LA GRANGE, NC — The North Lenoir Hawks (3-3) pulled off an exciting 18-15 victory over the Wallace-Rose Hill Bulldogs (4-3) during their homecoming game in front of a packed crowd draped in green and black. The question going into the game, especially after last week’s win over Southwest Onslow, was whether the Hawks were ready to take the next step. The answer was a resounding yes.
“We belong here. I have been preaching this to the kids all week long,” said head coach Larry Dale, confident in his team’s growth and performance.
First Quarter Action: Fuller Sets the Tone
The Hawks came out strong, dominating the first quarter with multiple runs over six yards, thanks to a standout performance by the offensive line. They opened up numerous holes for their running backs, and Malik Fuller capitalized with a 33-yard touchdown run following a perfectly executed pulling block by senior Jack Herring. Fuller had a big night, finishing with 70 rushing yards and several key plays that kept the Hawks in the game.
With 1:59 left in the first quarter, North Lenoir’s defense made a statement by forcing a turnover on downs, keeping Wallace-Rose Hill scoreless through the first period.
Bulldogs Answer Back, But Fuller Responds
In the second quarter, Wallace-Rose Hill silenced the rowdy home crowd by breaking off a 65-yard touchdown run, taking a 7-6 lead. But the Hawks didn’t stay behind for long. Fuller found the end zone again with eight minutes left in the half, giving North Lenoir a 12-7 advantage.
North Lenoir’s defense continued to step up, forcing another turnover on downs with just over four minutes remaining in the half. One of the standout moments came from senior Gracin Reese, who launched a beautiful punt from his own end zone to midfield, with nearly four seconds of hangtime. At halftime, Coach Dale emphasized the key to finishing the game: “We got to be us, block, tackle, and win the turnover game.”
A Nerve-Racking Finish
The second half was just as physical as the first, but things heated up late in the third quarter. Wallace-Rose Hill found success with three runs over 10 yards and eventually punched in a seven-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead at 15-12. As the fourth quarter began, Coach Dale’s voice could be heard encouraging his team, reminding them once again, “We belong!”
The fourth quarter kept everyone on edge. Both teams traded long, physical drives, but neither could find the end zone until the final moments. The Hawks’ defense forced a punt, setting the stage for a last-minute rally. The crowd’s intensity grew as junior quarterback Jaquell Hawkins-Gardner led the offense down the field. Gardner, who finished the game with 95 passing yards on 4-of-6 attempts, came up clutch when it mattered most. On fourth-and-five from the ten-yard line, he found Braxton Loftin-Myers for the game-winning touchdown with just one minute left on the clock hauled in the pass in a spot where only he could get it pure swamp magic. Loftin-Myers, who finished with 40 rushing yards and 60 receiving yards.
The Hawks’ defense held strong one more time, with Malik Fuller stripping the ball with just 35 seconds remaining to seal the win. Gardner then took a knee to run out the clock, completing the thrilling comeback.
“That’s a great team over there, and it feels so great,” said Gardner postgame. Humble in victory, he credited his teammates, “I gotta give credit to the boys. Anytime I made a bad throw, they picked me up. I love my line—they blocked real good tonight.”
Coach Dale's First Home Win
This marked Coach Larry Dale’s first home win at "The Swamp," and it was a special one. After getting soaked with Gatorade during the postgame celebration, Dale echoed the same message he’d shared all week “We belong in these games dont forget that.”
When asked about the pivotal fourth-and-five play call, Dale credited his players for the decision: “To be honest with you, the kids said, ‘Coach, this has been working. Can we call it?’ I trusted them, and it worked out.” Dale, known for comparing the program to an aircraft carrier last season, often remarked that “It takes a while to get this thing turned around, but we will do it.” It’s safe to say the aircraft carrier has turned and is now flying in the right direction.
Next week, North Lenoir will travel to face East Duplin (2-4) as they look to extend their winning streak to four games.
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