Gators to host Cougars at Homecoming |
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By DAN BISER East Columbus High School will celebrate its annual Homecoming on Friday night while also trying to gain only its second football win over the South Brunswick Cougars. Gametime is set for 7:30. Both East Columbus and South Brunswick will try to rebound from difficult Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference losses last week. East Columbus went on the road to Pender and was shut out 34-0, and South Brunswick absorbed a 62-0 homefield trouncing at the hands of unbeaten South Columbus. East Columbus is still winless in conference play while carrying a 4-5 season record. South Brunswick is 2-2 in conference and 6-2 overall with a 21-7 win over Whiteville and a 36-35 heart-stopping loss to North Brunswick its most impressive showings to date. Both the Gators and Cougars have been beset by injuries to key players this season. Coach Travis Conner’s ECHS squad carried a four-game winning streak into non-conference play, but the Gators have suffered consecutive losses to Whiteville (39-7), North Brunswick (49-6), South Columbus (46-0) and Pender. In the loss to South Columbus, the Gators trailed the Stallions only 7-0 at halftime. Senior quarterback Alex Williamson operates the Gators’ “spinner” offense, which contains a series of options, fakes and misdirections. Williamson had some success in passing the ball last week at Pender, but the Gators were also hampered by 125 yards in penalties. “We’ve had some good days of practice this week, and we’re hoping we can close out the rest of our season on good note,” Conner said. “South Brunswick has a strong power running game that we’re going to have to control if we are to be successful.” Probably the biggest win for the Gators this fall was a 32-20 non-conference win over West Bladen. West Bladen is now carrying a five-game winning streak and can claim at least a tie for the Southeastern Conference championship this Friday with a win over Red Springs. South Brunswick, under third-year head coach Gordon Walters, set a school record by winning its first six games before absorbing a 36-35 loss to North Brunswick. The Cougars posted a 32-8 win over the Gators last year. In 14 previous meetings with South Brunswick, East Columbus has won only once – a 21-13 decision in 2003. East Columbus will close regular-season play next week at Trask, and South Brunswick will play host to Pender.
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