Demetrius McKelvie
Five interceptions
in five games

ROWLAND – The East Columbus defense avoided disaster in the game’s final moments Friday night as it blocked a kicking try for an extra point by the host South Robeson Mustangs to preserve a 14-13 non-conference football victory.

The block came after South’s Baker had recovered a fumbled handoff in the end zone for a touchdown. South Robeson lined up to go for a go-ahead two-point conversion, but was penalized for illegal procedure. It then tried to kick for the tie, but the Gators broke through to block the kick.

It was the fourth straight win for Coach Travis Conner’s Gators, who closed their non-conference schedule with a 4-1 record. It marks the first time in the school’s 16-year history that an ECHS varsity football team has posted four straight.

“This was a defensive struggle,” said Conner, whose team led 6-0 at the half and led 14-0 in the third quarter. “Our own mistakes about got us beat, but our defense came up with another strong effort.”

East Columbus, which will open Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference play this Friday against Whiteville, got the only points of the first half on its second possession of the night when Fred Blanks capped a drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. The drive had been keyed by a pair of passes from quarterback Alex Williamson to B.J. Bracey and Kevin Richardson.

The other EC touchdown came in the third quarter when linebacker Drew Freeman picked up a Mustang fumble and returned it 39 yards to the end zone. Bracey scored on a two-point conversion run.

South Robeson got on the scoreboard later in the third quarter on a two-yard run by Hunt following a 44-yard pass play. McInnis kicked the extra point.

The loss dropped South Robeson’s record to 1-3.

East Columbus had 94 yards rushing on 39 carries. Blanks was the top individual rusher with 32 yards on 10 carries.

Quarterback Alex Williamson, who sat out the Gators’ game with Red Springs a week earlier with a knee injury, completed four passes for 52 yards and added 26 rushing yards.

The ECHS defense, led by Petey Graham, Jolly Jacobs, Greg Dudley, Gerard Bullock and Demetrius McKelvie held South Robeson to 13 yards rushing and 60 yards passing. McKelvie came up with his fifth interception of the season.

It was a bad night for penalty flags as the Gators were penalized 10 times for 100 yards.

It was a costly win for East Columbus as senior running back Quintin Ashe tore an ACL during the game and is not expected to return to action.

East Columbus will vie for its first win over Whiteville since 2001 when the two squads clash Friday night at 7:30 at the ECHS field.

EC – Fred Blanks 11 run (kick failed).
EC – Drew Freeman 38 fumble return (B.J. Bracey run).
SR – Hunt 2 run (McInnis kick).
SR - Baker recovered fumble in end zone (kick blocked).