Eastern Guilford Runs Through Southern Guilford Storm 42-21

Eastern Guilford Runs Through Southern Guilford Storm 42-21
from D.J. Wagner, with GreensboroSports.com

With 214 team yards rushing, the Eastern Guilford Wildcats (6-5, 4-2) ran through the Southern Guilford Storm (5-6, 2-4) 42-21 to finish the regular season at Southern and potentially qualify for the upcoming 3A playoffs starting next week. Hezikiah Newby led the Wildcats with 102 yards rushing and two TDs, while QB Kamell Smith was 8-13-1 152 yards and two TDs passing as well as having 13 carries for 72 yards and a TD rushing and the Storm had no answers for the pass rush of the Wildcats as they gave up seven sacks in the game.

Eastern won the toss and deferred so Southern got the ball first and after a 22-yard run on the opening play by Jordan Wilson the drive stalled and four plays later Southern punted. Eastern took ten plays to drive down the field and finally stalled out at the Southern 11 and it was Luke Stenley with a 28-yard FG to make the score 3-0 Eastern. Southern’s next drive was similar to the first. This time a 28-yard pass to Jalen Smith from Conway McCoury, followed four plays later with another punt. Eastern QB Kamell Smith made a mistake just two plays into their next drive, throwing an interception to Amari Lee, but in the next drive Southern went backwards, losing 24 yards before eventually turning it over on downs. Eastern had the ball at the end of the first quarter with a 3-0 lead.

After a 20-yard completion to Anthony Royster and then a 28-yard completion to D’Jay Mobley, Eastern finished the drive with a 4-yard TD run by Hezekia Newby, the PAT was good, and it was 10-0 with 10:35 to go in the half. Southern’s next drive was similar to their previous one as they lost 12 yards on the drive and had to punt it away, and Eastern wasted no time as it only took three plays to go 44 yards, finishing with a 44-yard connection from Smith to Damon Coleman for the TD, the PAT was no good, and it was 16-0 with 6:33 to go. Southern was finally able to answer, first Desmond Thompson broke off a beautiful 73-yard run to get it to the Eastern seven-yard line. Jordan Wilson finished it off with a seven-yard run for the TD. The PAT was good, and it was 16-7 Eastern. Both teams had one more drive before the half but neither could do anything with it, and 16-7 was our score at the half.

The second half was no friend of the Storm, as Eastern got the opening kickoff and only took four plays to travel 54-yards as it was first a 36-yard pass to Christian Smitherman and finished with eight-yards to Smitherman for the TD. The PAT was wide right, so it was 22-7 Eastern just 1:34 into the second half. Southern went three and out and punted it back. This time it was six plays for 42-yards with Newby carrying it in from 11-yards out, the fake PAT kick, which turned into a pass from D’Jay Mobley to Damon Coleman was no good, it was 28-7 Eastern with 6:00 to go in the third. Southern got the ball and drove down to the Eastern before McCoury was strip sacked and it was recovered and returned 65-yards by Jermiah Nunez for the TD. The PAT was good and with 1:05 to go in the third it was now 35-7 Eastern and it looked like this was over, but Southern fought back. After a stuffed run on first down, McCoury connected with Amari Lee for a 67-yard TD, the PAT missed, and it was 35-13 which is how we ended the third quarter.

The teams traded fruitless drives to start the fourth before Eastern struck again, going 38-yards on 8 plays and finishing with Kamell Smith with the keeper from one-yard out. The PAT was good, and it was 42-13 with 5:56 to go. Southern took eight plays to answer with McCoury connecting to Lee again, this time from 40-yards out, Desmond Thompson ran in the two-point attempt and it was 42-21. Eastern ran out the clock to finish the game and our final score from Southern Guilford was Eastern Guilford 42. Southern Guilford 21.

The stars for Southern would have to be Desmond Thompson who ran 11 times for 143 yards, and Amari Lee who had three receptions for 120 yards and two TDs. Conway McCoury was 7-18-0 for 199 yards and two TDs passing.

So now we wait to find out the seedings for the playoffs as the regular season is officially over.
Stay tuned to GreensboroSports.com for the full schedule and of course the best coverage in the triad for your Greensboro area teams as they chase the championship!