N. Brunswick pulls out 42-32 victory over Wolfpack

Jarrod McKinney

LELAND - For a while it looked like the return of Jarrod McKinney to the line-up for the first time since Aug. 31 was going to be enough to boost the Whiteville Wolfpack to a big Waccamaw Conference football victory Friday night.

The Wolfpack’s 205-pound senior running back had been sidelined by a severe knee injury following the third game of the season, but was given clearance to play this past week.

But despite a 182-yard, three-touchdown rushing effort by McKinney, the host North Brunswick Scorpions rallied for two touchdowns in the games final 32 seconds to come away with a 42-32 victory over the Wolfpack with the lead changing hands nine times.

With less than 47 seconds remaining, Whiteville went ahead 32-28 when quarterback Ben Deans connected with Nur Abdullah for a 70-yard touchdown pass.

But with 32 seconds left, North Brunswick executed a hook-and-lateral pass play to Jessie Riley that resulted in a 64-yard touchdown and put the Scorpions ahead to 35-32 with 32 second left. In the closing seconds, Riley picked off a WHS pass and returned it 55 yards for a game-sealing TD with eight seconds left.

The result left Whiteville with its third loss in four games, and it marked the first time since 2001 that the Wolfpack has suffered three conference losses in one season.

The WHS season record now stands at 6-4 with a 2-3 conference record.

North Brunswick captured its fifth straight conference win to go 5-1 in conference play and 8-2 overall. The Scorpions have won their last four games despite giving up at least 32 points in each.

Along with a four-touchdown performance, Riley carried the football 12 times for 93 yards for the Scorpions.

North Brunswick back Josh Balloon carried the ball 29 times for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

Whiteville back Tyson Wilcox ran for 101 yards on only seven carries, including a 70-yard gainer.

North Brunswick fumbled away the opening kickoff and the Wolfpack recovered deep in Scorpion territory. After having a touchdown called back by a penalty, the Wolfpack settled with a 37-yard field goal by Zack Stanley with 9 minutes, 12 seconds left in the first quarter.

North Brunswick got its first touchdown later in the quarter on a 20-yard run by Riley, and Balloon added a two-point conversion run for an 8-3 lead.

Early in the second quarter, McKinney capped a WHS scoring drive with a 12-yard scoring run and Stanley added the extra point for a 10-8 lead.

The Scorpions came right back to drive the football for another score with Riley going over from the one-yard line. Riley added the two-point conversion to make the score 16-10 with 6:01 left in the first half.

But Whiteville battled back with a 72-yard scoring run by McKinney and Stanley’s PAT kick gave Whiteville a 17-16 halftime lead.

North Brunswick regained the lead late in the third quarter on a four-yard run by Balloon, but once again the Wolfpack answered with a 37-yard touchdown run by McKinney with 30 seconds left in the third period. McKinney ran the two-point conversion for 25-22 WHS lead.

The fourth quarter saw the Scorpions put together a 97-yard drive that was kept alive by a face-mask penalty against the Wolfpack. The extra point kick was blocked and NBHS held a 28-25 lead with 1:37 left in the game.

Deans’ 70-yard touchdown pass link-up with Abdullah came with 47 seconds left on the clock.

The game-deciding play came when quarterback Cody Harper passed to Shawn Sanders, who then lateraled to a sprinting Riley, who ran in the rest of the way to complete the 64-yard scoring play.

The win gave North Brunswick no less than a runnerup finish in the Waccamaw Conference standings.

Coach Mark Little’s Whiteville squad will play host to conference champion South Columbus Friday night while North Brunswick will go against West Brunswick in a non-conference game.

W - Zack Stanley 35 field goal.
NB - Jessie Riley 20 run (Josh Balloon run).
W - Jarrod McKinney 12 run (Stanley kick).
NB - Riley 1 run (Riley run).
W - McKinney 72 run (Stanley kick).
NB - Balloon 4 run (kick blocked).
W - McKinney 37 run (McKinney run).
NB - Balloon 18 run (kick failed).
W - Abdullah 70 pass from Deans (Stanley kick).
NB - Riley 64 pass from Harper (Adam Herring kick).
NB - Riley 55 pass int. return (Herring kick).