By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

The East Columbus High football team will be going for an unprecedented fourth straight victory Friday night when it travels to meet the South Robeson Mustangs.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 at Rowland.

No team in the previous 15 years of ECHS football has won four straight. The Gators have had only one winning season since 1992 and that was in 1996 when they finished 7-4 while finishing runnerup in the Waccamaw Conference.

Coach Travis Conner’s Gators turned in one of their best-ever homefield performances last Friday night in a 39-0 walloping of Red Springs.

The Gators held the Red Devils to minus-11 yards rushing while rolling up more than 400 yards of total offense.

Friday’s shutout victory was the first for the Gators since Sept. 7, 2001 when they topped North Brunswick 20-0.

Both shutouts occurred on Sept. 7.

East Columbus will be closing out its non-conference schedule Friday against a Mustang team that is coming off a 47-0 road win over North Moore.

The Mustangs of first-year head coach Willie George opened their season with back-to-back 20-15 losses to Hobbton and Lakewood. Hobbton and Lakewood are each carrying 4-0 records.

East Columbus has won only once in 11 previous meetings with South Robeson. This will be their first meeting with the Mustangs since 2002.

“South Robeson has a lot of size in their line,” said Conner. “Their line is probably as big as we will see this year.

“I’m sure their win over North Moore gave them an extra boost for this week.” Conner added.

Conner said that senior quarterback Alex Williamson will return to action Friday after sitting out the Red Springs with a knee injury suffered against West Bladen.

“We’re all kind of dinged up and bruised this week,” Conner said. “We’re having to take it a little easier in practice this week to let some wounds heal.”

East Columbus, which went 3-9 last season an 0-11 in 2005 is hoping to be a factor in the Waccamaw Conference race this season as it is now carrying plenty of depth and having to rely on only a few players to start on both offense an defense. The Gators are six deep at running back.

Along with its win over Red Springs, the Gators also have victories over West Columbus (30-15) and West Bladen (32-20). Their lone loss came in their season opener at Lakewood by a 20-12 score.