FAYETTEVILLE - The East Columbus Gators scored three touchdowns and drove the ball inside the 10-yard line two other times in its Friday night scrimmage with Gray’s Creek in the Cumberland County Short Stop Jamboree at the Pine Forest High School field.

Senior quarterback Alex Williamson scored on runs of 30 and 17 yards and B.J. Bracey had a scoring run of 25 yards. On another possession, Coach Travis Conner’s Gators drove the ball to the eight-yard line, but the drive was stopped by a pass interception. ECHS was stopped inside the one on another possession. Tailback Quinton Ashe also had a big night carrying the ball.

The Gray’s Creek offensive effort was paced by a pair of two long scoring runs by All-Stater Marquan Brown

“I was pleased with the way we moved the football, and defensively we did okay, except for the long touchdown runs,” Conner said. “Gray’s Creek has one of the best running backs in the state and we didn’t do a good job of wrapping him up after making initial hits on him.”

Daniel Nolan, Gerard Bullock and Jolly Jacobs led the Gator defense.
East Columbus, which went 3-9 last season after going winless in 2005, will open its 2007 season on Friday when it travels to Sampson County to take on the Lakewood Leopards. Gametime is 7:30 p.m.