By DAN BISER

A fumble near the goal line with just over three minutes left in the game negated the Whiteville Wolfpack’s chance at gaining the game-tying points Friday night as it fell to the host West Brunswick Trojans 14-7 in a non-conference football game between the longtime rivals.

On a first-down play from the three-yard line, junior running back Jarrod McKinney took a handoff and broke off left tackle and tried to battle his way into the end zone. The ball came loose from McKinney’s grip and was recovered by West Brunswick in the end zone. West Brunswick, behind the running of senior tailback Dee Hill, was able to run out the clock after that and take its first win over the Wolfpack since 2002.

Another WHS fumble by Tyson Wilcox in the first quarter had set up the Trojans’ second touchdown for a 14-0 lead.

McKinney ripped off a 65-yard scoring run early in the second half to make the score 14-7. For the game, McKinney had 128 yards on 18 carries.

“It was an unfortunate thing,” said WHS coach Mark Little of the late fumble. “Jarrod was giving it an extra effort and the ball just came loose. I felt like maybe he had broken the plane (of the goal line) and got the touchdown … at any rate it was close.

“I can’t fault the effort at all,” Little said. “Jarrod has done nothing but run the ball hard for us this year and it’s tough to see that happen in a good, close game like this.”

Little was particularly pleased with his team’s defensive effort as the Wolfpack had to deal with the talented Trojan backfield brother tandem of Dee Hill and sophomore quarterback Ryan Hill. Dee Hill rushed for 175 yards on 25 carries, including a 53-yard run for the game’s first touchdown. Ryan Hill 24 yards for the Trojans’ second TD right after the Wolfpack’s first fumble.

“They are tough team to defend against,” Little said. “They have so much speed and quickness. I felt like our guys showed a lot of heart hanging in there after we had dug ourselves a hole early.”

Whiteville closed its non-conference schedule with a 3-2 record while the 3A West Brunswick squad improved to 2-2.

“It’s a disappointing loss, but hopefully we have gained something from the way we played the last three quarters tonight,” Little said.

West Brunswick head coach Jimmy Fletcher said it was fulfilling win for his team as it marked the first time in this his fourth season as Trojan head coach that his team had beaten Whiteville.

“This is a big win for us,” Fletcher said. “Getting the two-touchdown lead in the first quarter was huge. I felt we had the momentum to extend the lead before halftime, but Whiteville did a good job and came up with some big stops. Both teams gave a great effort.”

Whiteville, which had given up only one first-half touchdown in its first four games, found itself trailing for only the second time this season, when Dee Hill managed to gather in a wide option pitch from his brother, cut inside and dashed 53 yards for the touchdown with 3 minutes 14 seconds left in the first quarter. A kicking try for the extra point failed.

On Whiteville’s next possession at its own 30-yard line, Wilcox was hit in the backfield and fumbled the ball. West Brunswick recovered at the 24 and Ryan Hill scored on an option keeper on the Trojans next snap. The Trojan quartetback then passed to Jeremy King for the two-poin conversion and a 14-0 lead with1:24 left in the first quarter.

West Brunswick twice got the all inside the Whitevilel twice more during the second quarter, but the Wolfpack held both times.

McKinney scored on the third play of the second half, taking the hand-off from quarterback Harrison Jordan at the WHS 35, making a quick cut outside, stepped out of two tackles and sprinted all the way for the TD, David Hodgson’s PAT kick made the score 14-7.

In the fourth, a partially blocked Trojan punt was picked up by Whiteville linebacker Kevin Gamble at midfield and returned to the WB 35.

An 18-yard pass from Jordan to Aaron Carroll on third rdown put the Wolfpack at the Trojan 15. McKinney carried to the 7 two plays later and face-mask penalty put the ball at the 3.

The fumble occurred on the nex play and Hill carried five straight times, picking up three first downs to put the game away.

Whiteville will open Waccamaw 1A/2A Conference play this Friday when it entertains East Columbus.

WB - Dee Hill 53 run (kick failed).

WB - Ryan Hill 24 run (Jeremy King pass from R. Hill).

W - Jarrod McKinney 65 run (David Hodgson kick).