Stallion gainer

South Columbus tight end Ethan Farmer is upended by Whiteville defensive back David Mosley (4) after catching a pass for a first down in the Friday night’s Waccamaw Conference football game between the staunch rivals. The 18-yard pass play set up the third SCHS touchdown of the night as the Stallions went on to take a 35-0 victory and close regular-season play with a perfect 11-0 record. Coach Joey Price’s Stallions will be the top-seeded team in the state 2A playoffs, which are scheduled to open Friday. South Columbus will play host to Clinton, and Whiteville will open the playoffs at West Bladen.

South Columbus receiver Dakota Piver hauls in a fourth-down pass from Justin Duncan for the first Stallion touchdown.

Whiteville back Julian Thomas (6) runs for a first down with South Columbus defender Dominiqu Betts in pursuit.

South Columbus back Rashawn Grate runs a sweep after taking a handoff from quarterback Justin Duncan.

By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

Although the host Whiteville Wolfpack made a respectable first-half showing against the visiting South Columbus Stallions Friday night, the outcome was never really in doubt.

The unbeaten South Columbus team scored on its first two possessions and held a 14-0 halftime lead, but came back out to put the game away with a pair of third quarter TDs and went on to a 35-0 victory as they closed regular-season play with an 11-0 record.

The Senior Night loss dropped Whiteville’s record to 6-5.

“They are by far the most physical team we have seen this year,” said WHS head coach Mark Little. “There’s no doubt they are every bit as good as their record. Somebody is going to have to do something mighty big to beat them.”

South Columbus wrapped up the outright Waccamaw Conference championship and the Columbus County championship, two titles that eluded the Stallions last year when they fell to Whiteville 21-15 in last season’s “winner-take-all” title game.

“We played hard,” said SCHS head coach Joey Price. “We stunk it up some with our offense in the first half, but our defense stayed solid.”

The Stallions recorded their third straight shutout and their seventh of the season and gained the top seed in the East 2A playoffs, which will open next Friday (see related story). They will play host to Clinton.

Whiteville, which lost for the fourth time in five games while getting shut out on its homefield for the first time since 2002, will travel to play West Bladen in Friday’s first round of the 2A playoffs.

South Columbus scored on its first possession of the night after forcing a Whiteville punt and getting the ball at the WHS 35-yard line. The Stallions scored nine plays later on a 27-yard fourth-down pass from Justin Duncan to Dakota Piver. Donovan Watts kicked the first of his five straight extra points to give the Stallions the lead with just over eight minutes left in the first quarter.

The Stallions drove only 13 yards on their second possession of the night after WHS back-up punter Thomas Batten mishandled the snap from center. Rashawn Grate scored from three yards out on a first-down play for a 14-0 lead with 4 minutes, 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

Both teams moved the ball well between the 20-yard lines during second quarter play,

After an exchange of fumbles early in the third quarter. South Columbus drove for its third score of the night. Dominique Betts capped the six-play drive with a 29-yard scoring sprint off a counter play.

On the Stallions’ next offensive snap, fullback Justin Smith broke loose for 69 yards and a 28-0 SCHS lead.

The final SCHS score came with 2:22 left in the game when the Stallions recovered a blocked punt at the Wolfpack 11-yard line. Andrae Jacobs got the TD on a one-yard run as SCHS wrapped up its 12th win over the Wolfpack in 13 seasons.

Jacobs, who again paced the Stallion defensive effort, said he and the rest of the South Columbus team was pleased with success of the regular season, but there is still a lot of work at hand.

“We feel we can sweep five games to win the state championship,” he said. ”We’ve worked hard and we want to take it all the way.”

Justin Smith, who rushed for 134 yards on 15 carries to surpass 1,000 yards for the season, said he was glad to be part of the conference championship this year after sitting out most of last season with an ankle injury.

“I hope we can keep it going,” Smith said. “I think we’re ready to go after it.”

Julian Thomas led Whiteville rushers with 70 years on 11 carries. The deepest penetration of the night for the Wolfpack was the South Columbus 21-yard line in the second quarter.

SC - Dakota Piver 27 pass from Justin Duncan (Donovan Watts kick).
SC - Rashawn Grate 1 run (Watts kick).
SC - Dominique Betts 29 run (Watts kick).
SC - Justin Smith 69 run (Watts kick).
SC - Andrae Jacobs 1 run (Watts kick).