By Junious Smith III

DEEP RUN — South Lenoir rebounded from an opening-season loss in a big way Thursday.

The Blue Devils defeated Jones Senior 63-0 in the team’s home opener, falling one point shy of tying team records for points in a game and scoring margin. South Lenoir (1-1) scored 64 points in a shutout win over Princeton on Sept. 12, 2003.

The victory was also the ninth for Blue Devils coach Jeremy Joyner, tying him with Casey Corey and Kevin Wiggins for fifth all-time in school history.

“We executed our gameplan,” Joyner said. “We saw some things against North Duplin we had to work on (from last week) and we did. One thing I’ve been proud of through two games is we’ve protected the football — we’ve still got to work on penalties, but we’re a young team getting better and I was really proud with how we performed tonight.”

South Lenoir set the tone on the game’s second play from scrimmage, as Jon Howard found Johnathan Haddock on a slant for a 43-yard touchdown. After forcing a three-and-out, Joshua Cobb scored from 27 yards out before Haddock scooped up a fumble and scored from 9 yards on Jones Senior’s next possession. Cobb scored on a punt return after another Jones Senior three-and-out, and Cannon Davis made it 35-0 after one with a 53-yard touchdown run.

Howard would total more touchdown passes than incompletions, going 8 of 10 with 146 yards and three scores, including a 14-yard connection with Cobb to put South Lenoir ahead 49-0 at halftime.

“We’ve got the skill set to widen the field and pass more,” Howard said. “Passing is going to be key this year with the people we have.”

The defense prevented Jones Senior (0-2) from recording a first down all game, as the Trojans are still looking for their first points of the season. Jones Senior coach Tyler Hale said he did appreciate his team’s grit against South Lenoir.

“They kept playing (and) they kept grinding,” Hale said. “We just need to start faster than how we end—it’s like we reserve everything at the beginning. O top of that, it comes from inexperience. I’ve got kids that never played before or the last thing they played was middle school football. It’s a lot faster than most of them think, and it’s tough. The thing I’ll take from this is grit and that we never quit.”

For South Lenoir, the focus shifts toward Princeton Sept. 13 with a chance for the team’s first 2-1 record since 2016.

“We need to keep good attitudes, play together as a team and support each other,” If somebody does something wrong pick them up and if we work together, we can be successful this season.”

Jones Senior faces North Duplin at home Sept. 6.

SOUTH LENOIR 63, JONES SENIOR 0

JS            0              0              0              0 — 0

SL            35           14           7              7 — 63 

First Quarter

SL — Johnathan Haddock 43 pass from Jon Howard (Kodjo Missebukpo kick), 11:34

SL — Joseph Cobb 27 run (Missebukpo kick), 8:14

SL — Haddock 9 fumble return (Missebukpo kick), 6:36

SL — Cobb 55 punt return (Missebukpo kick), 4:04

SL — Cannon Davis 53 run (Missebukpo kick), 1:54

Second Quarter

SL — Cobb 55 pass from Howard (Missebukpo kick), 6:28

SL — Cobb 14 pass from Howard (Missebukpo kick), :00  

Third Quarter

SL — Carson Stroud 24 run (Missebukpo kick), 4:40

Fourth Quarter

SL — Missebukpo 51 run (Missebukpo kick), :51

JS                            SL

First Downs                        0                              11

Rushes                                 20--71                   14-230

Passing                                 0-6-0                      8-10-0

Passing Yards                     0                              146

Total Yards                          -71                         376

Punts                                    8-22.6                    1-25.0

Fumbles                               2-2                          2-1

Penalties                             2-10                       13-90

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Jones Senior: Junie Robles 4-1, Tyquan Murphy 2-minus 5, Kelvonte Murrell 10-minus 25, Derek Taylor 4-minus 42. South Lenoir: Cannon Davis 4-75, Kodjo Missebukpo 4-67, Xavier Mitchell 2-32, Joseph Cobb 1-27, Carson Stroud 2-23, Brett Huffman 1-6

PASSING — Jones Senior: Taylor 0-6-0, 0. South Lenoir: Jon Howard 8-10-0, 146.

RECEIVING — Jones Senior: None. South Lenoir: Cobb 3-72, Haddock 1-43, Matias Blount 2-22, Brett Huffman 1-12, Jayden Wooten 1-minus 3.