By DAN BISER

The East Columbus Gators hope that returning to their homefield this Friday night will help put them back on the winning track.

Two straight trips to Robeson County brought two losses to the Gator football team, who now have a 1-3 season record.

Last Friday, a touchdown in the game’s final seconds lifted Red Springs to a 34-29 win over the Gators. On Sept. 1, East Columbus saw a 12-7 halftime lead evaporate into a 37-12 Fairmont victory.

East Columbus’ only other homefield game thus far resulted in a 41-7 trouncing of West Columbus. That win snapped a 16-game Gator losing streak.

This Friday, Coach Travis Conner’s East Columbus team will take on a Lakewood Leopard squad that has a 2-1 record following last Friday’s 20-14 overtime victory over Spring Creek.

Lakewood, a member of the Big Six 1A Conference, opened its season with a 50-0 blistering of Red Springs before falling to state-ranked East Carteret 34-6.

In last year’s game between the two teams at Lakewood (located between Roseboro and Salemburg), the Leopards came away with a 29-16 victory.

ECHS junior quarterback Alex Williamson ran for 165 yards and three touchdowns in last Friday’s game at Red Springs.

Friday’s game with Lakewood will be the Gators’ final non-conference game as they are scheduled to open Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference play on Sept. 22 at Whiteville.