South Lenoir dominates in 52-0 win over Spring Creek
SEVEN SPRINGS — What a week for South Lenoir football.
The Blue Devils concluded an incredible four-day stretch with a 52-0 smackdown of Spring Creek here Thursday, a win that came on the heels of a 46-14 rout of rival North Lenoir on Monday.
Two wins, and suddenly the Devils (3-6, 1-4) after within sniffing distance of a possible playoff berth if they can upset Ayden-Grifton next Friday.
“This was one of, if not the best, weeks in South Lenoir football history,” SL coach Jeremy Joyner. “To play two fantastic games like that, just a few days apart, is a testament to how hard this team has worked. They’ve bought in to what the coaching staff is saying, and they’ve never stopped believing in themselves. Now we have a chance to make the playoffs with one more win.”
The Devils started slow, leading just 8-0 after the first quarter, although the outcome was never in doubt.
Jayden Carr, who gouged North Lenoir for 237 yards, jumpstarted the SL offense with a 26-yard TD run around left end at the 2:56 mark of the opening period.
Carr would finish the night with 190 yards and a pair of scores on 15 carries.
The slow start was a concern for Joyner with his team coming off such a huge win in Monday’s Braggin’ Bowl.
“We played with such emotion and intensity against North Lenoir that I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to sustain it against Spring Creek,” Joyner said. “We were a little flat at the beginning, but we quickly righted the ship. Winning breeds confidence, and it’s a great thing to see these kids playing like they expect to win.”
With Carr providing his usual yeoman effort, SL also found an unlikely hero in slot back Gavin Harrell.
The 5-7, 155-pound senior carried the ball just 4 times, all jet sweeps, but came up huge on every occasion, torching the Gators for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Harrell’s 4 runs covered 13, 56, 19, and 43 yards. He also caught a 2-point conversion pass from Jon Howard after the Devils’ first TD.
As a team, SL rushed for 464 yards, didn’t attempt a pass, and didn’t have to punt.
Xavier Mitchell finished with 51 yards on the ground and three TD’s, while Mattias Blount ended the offensive onslaught with a 53-yard scoring burst in the fourth quarter.
“We’ve had some many guys step up big this week,” Joyner said. “Jayden, Gavin, and some others have put big offensive numbers, but they couldn’t have done it without the play of the offensive line, and also our defense, which has been outstanding at giving us good field possession.”
That defense held Spring Creek to just 141 total yards. The Gators reached the SL 21 late in the first half but failed on a 38-yard field goal attempt, and was then stopped on downs at the Devil 18 in the third quarter after the running clock had commenced.
Javon Newsome provided most of the Gator offense with 116 rushing yards on 17 carries.
The entire second half was played in a steady downpour.
South Lenoir 52, Spring Creek 0
South Lenoir 8 22 14 8—52
Spring Creek 0 0 0 0—0
First Quarter
SL—Jayden Carr 26 run (Gavin Harrell pass from Jon Howard), 2:56
Second Quarter
SL—Carr 3 run (run failed), 9:42
SL—Xavier Mitchell 1 run (Carr run), 6:54
SL—Mitchell 11 run (Carr run), 1:29
Third Quarter
SL—Harrell 43 run (run failed), 9:54
SL—Mitchell 2 run (Cannon Davis run), 5:36
Fourth Quarter
SL—Mattias Blount 53 run (Kodjo Missebukpo run), 5:40
SL SC
First Downs 16 7
Rushes-yards 40-464 33-141
Passing 0-0-0 1-6-0
Passing yards 0 12
Total yards 464 153
Punts-avg. 0-0.0 2-24.0
Fumbles-lost 0-0 3-2
Penalties 2-20 5-25
Individual Statistics
RUSHING—South Lenoir: Jayden Carr 15-190, Gavin Harrell 4-131, Mattias Blount 4-69, Xavier Mitchell 13-51, Cannon Davis 2-19, Kodjo Missebukpo 2-4. Spring Creek: Javon Newsome 17-116, Jordan Ammons 12-35, TJ Johnson 1-4, Lucas Barfield 3-(minus 14).
PASSING—South Lenoir: None. Spring Creek: Barfield 1-5-0 12.
RECEIVING—South Lenoir: None. Spring Creek: Ammons 1-12.
