North Lenoir’s Jaden Kilpatrick fights for extra yardage during Friday’s game against Southern Wayne. Photo by T.J. Edwards / Mount Olive Tribune

By Junious Smith III

DUDLEY — This isn’t the same North Lenoir.

The Hawks proved it with a dramatic 14-13 victory over Southern Wayne Friday, improving to 3-0 on the season. North Lenoir went winless in 2018, but has rebounded with its best start since 1993 this campaign.

The Hawks will look to go 4-0 for the first time since 1980 with a win against East Carteret Tuesday.

“Our kids still believe in what we’re doing,” North Lenoir coach Jim Collins said. “We had a sluggish game, but we won it at the end—last year, I think we might’ve lost that game, but the kids did a good job persevering.”

Southern Wayne (1-3) had the momentum early, forcing a three-and-out on the game’s first drive before getting a 3-yard touchdown run from Xavious Speight. North Lenoir responded with a scoring drive of its own aided by a trio of Saints penalties. Filipo Sualevai scored from two yards out to tie the game and after the Hawks defense forced a punt, he picked up another short touchdown to put North Lenoir ahead by seven.

“When you make the little things happen, it flows well,” Sualevai said. “We stuck through it, kept it going, stayed together and got the ‘W.’”

North Lenoir went into halftime ahead 14-7, and both teams struggled to move the ball after the break. Southern Wayne had several great chances in the fourth quarter, but Sualevai recovered a Jamari Leach fumble with the Saints in Hawks territory early in the frame, before Ny’Jai Koonce’s interception deep in North Lenoir territory after a three-and-out. The Hawks punted the ball back to the Saints with 2:54 remaining and Southern Wayne went on a seven-play, 50-yard drive, finally converting when Leach found Paul Francis for a touchdown on a fourth-and-4 with 1:11 to play.

Southern Wayne was a mere extra point from tying the game, but the Saints’ attempt was blocked by North Lenoir’s Chris Russell. The Saints received a second chance due to their own false start penalty, but Russell got a piece of the ball again, forcing the kick to fall short.

“I thought this right here could determine the game, so I just gave it my all and just did my best to get back there and make a play,” Russell said.

Southern Wayne’s ensuing onside kick was recovered and North Lenoir finished the game in victory formation.

Saints coach Ronnie McClary said too many mistakes hurt the team.

“We figuratively shot ourselves in the foot,” McClary said. “In the second half we played better and were more aggressive, but North Lenoir made fewer mistakes. I am proud of the way we overcame our issues to get into the position we were in, but it wasn’t enough."

North Lenoir 14, Southern Wayne 13

NL           7              7              0              0 — 14 

SW         7              0              0              6 — 13

First Quarter

SW — Xavious Speight 3 run (Caroline Best kick), 7:27

NL — Filipo Sualevai 2 run (Trey Kivett kick), 1:52  

Second Quarter

NL — Sualevai 1 run (Kivett kick), 7:46

Fourth Quarter

SW — Paul Francis 9 pass from Jamari Leach (kick blocked), 1:11

                                NL           SW

First Downs        11           14

Rushes-yards     46-140   32-118

Passing                 2-2-0      4-13-2

Passing yards     14           35

Total yards          154         153

Punts-avg.          4-19.3    4-39.8

Penalties             7-67       11-90

Fumbles-lost      2-0          3-1

Individual statistics

RUSHING—North Lenoir: Jaden Kilpatrick 19-86, Malik Jones 6-24, Ny’Jai Koonce 11-14, Filipo Sualevai 6-11, Tre Olds 1-3, Savion White 1-2, Auston Dildy 1-0, Landon Shackleford 1-0. Southern Wayne: Jamari Leach 22-109, Xavious Speight 6-14, Demorgea Coley 4-minus 5.

PASSING—North Lenoir: Sualevai 1-1-0, 11; Dildy 1-1-0, 3. Southern Wayne: Leach 2-4-0, 24; Paul Francis 1-3-1, 14; Coley 1-6-1-minus 3.

RECEIVING—North Lenoir: Koonce 1-11, Logan Bigler 1-3. Southern Wayne: Francis 2-24, Kevin Brown 1-14, Leach 1-minus 3.