WILMINGTON – Junior back Justin Smith, the sixth and youngest member of his family to have helped bring good fortune to Coach Joey Price’s South Columbus High football team during the past decade, continued to carry on the family tradition Friday night.

After trailing by scores of 7-0 and 14-7 in the first quarter, South Columbus took charge in the final three periods behind the play of the 5-foot-6, 155-pound Smith for a 27-14 victory over the 4A Laney Buccaneers.

In his first varsity start at running back, Smith rushed for 118 yards on 18 carries, including touchdowns runs of 75 and 12 yards, and he helped seal the Stallion victory by returning a fourth-quarter pass interception 70 yards for a touchdown. South Columbus finished the night with 271 yards rushing.

“Justin Smith really stepped up tonight,” said Price, who claimed his 97th career victory as he opened his 10th season as Stallion head coach. “It’s really not surprising because all his brothers have pretty much done the same for us.”

The Stallion victory put a damper the head coaching debut of Laney’s Greg Ditz. It also marked the second straight year that South Columbus had opened its season with a win over Laney. The Stallions took an 8-0 shutout victory last season.

Laney jumped to a 7-0 lead on a 13-yard run by Keith Gore. Smith answered quickly for South Columbus by dashing 75 yards for his first touchdown, and Donovan Watts’ extra point kick tied the score.

“We started out pretty ragged but Justin’s long run gave us a life when we needed it,” Price said.

Laney put together another scoring drive before the end of the first quarter with Gore getting the touchdown on a one-yard run and Derrick Farrar kicking his second straight extra point.

Smith ripped off his 12-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter, but failed to convert on the PAT and Laney held a 14-13 lead.

The Stallions got the go-ahead points in the third quarter on three-yard run by Andre Jacobs. Jacobs, a key in the Stallion defensive unit as a linebacker, also added the two-point conversion run to give SCHS a 21-14 lead.

On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Smith picked off a Laney pass at the Stallion 30-yard line and ran it all the way back for the final TD.

Laney had 101 yards rushing first quarter, but the Bucs were held to 37 yards in the final three quarters as Price and his staff made some defensive adjustments.

Gore carried the all 25 times for 114 yards for Laney.

South Columbus will open its home schedule this Friday with its annual grudge battle against border rival Loris, S.C.

Laney will travel to meet Havelock on Friday.

L – Keith Gore 13 run (Derrick Farrar kick).

SC – Justin Smith 75 run (Donovan Watts kick).

SC – Gore 1 run (Farrar kick).

SC – J. Smith 12 run (kick failed).

SC - Andre Jacobs 3 run (Jacobs run).

SC – J. Smith 70 interception return (kick blocked).