The opening play of the game looked like it was going to be a replay of last week's dismal first half as the Jackets watched the high and short 15-yard opening kick bounce and a Warrior player recover on the Roanoke Rapids 37-yard line.
The Warriors overcame a fourth and 7 and marched down to the Roanoke Rapids’ 13.
Louisburg lined up to kick a field goal from the 13 on another fourth down. Rather than kick, it was a fake. A.J. Alston intercepted a Marcus Davis pass at the 5 and ran it out to the Roanoke Rapids 13.
The Jackets needed just five plays to drive 87 yards. Most of the yardage gained came as quarterback Justin Rawles dropped back to pass, scrambled but couldn't find a reciever, took off up the middle, sprinted to the right sideline and scored on a 68 yard touchdown run. Owen Bridges added the point after for a 7-0 lead at the 6:31 mark of the first quarter.
In the second quarter the Warriors' Jonathan Aycock recovered a fumble at the Jackets’ 23 but gave the ball right back to the Jackets after four plays on an interception by D.J. Epperson.
Epperson ran the ball back 93 yards for a touchdown but the play was called back to the Roanoke Rapids 34. Tyrell Everette busted loose for a 25 yard run to the Warriors’ 39.
Rawles ran a quarterback draw up the middle for his second touchdown of the night. Bridges added the extra point and the score was 14-0 with 8:32 left in the first half.
Roanoke Rapids lost their second fumble of the night to let the Warriors right back into the game with 3:07 left in the second quarter.
Louisburg drove down inside the Jackets’ 20 with time running out.
On a bizarre play on fourth and goal from the Jackets’ 16, Ozzie Peralta came in to kick a field goal. The kick was blocked by J.J. Patterson, careening left towards the sideline.
The ball hit a Jacket player's foot, was picked up by Steven Burnette of Louisburg who shoveled the ball to the holder and quarterback Sport Williams.
Williams scampered along the sideline 14 yards for a touchdown as time ran out in the first half. Peralta kicked the extra point and the Jackets' lead was cut to 14-7 going into the locker room.
Bridges kicked off to start the second half and Gregory Clifton brought the ball out to the Warrior 20-yard line.
Two plays later Alston picked off a Williams pass at the Jackets’ 39-yard line, just keeping his feet in bounds along the sideline.
Rawles ran the next play 61 yards for a touchdown but the play was called back on a holding penalty.
After Rawles was mauled on a face mask penalty, he was thrown out of bounds into a chain link fence for a personal foul penalty. Alston was grabbed by the face mask after catching a Rawles’ pass at the Warriors 4- yard line, Rawles took the ball in on another quarterback draw. Bridges added the extra point and the score was 21-7.
On the first play from center after bringing the ball out to their own 27-yard line the Warriors fumbled.
Patterson recovered the ball. Everette carried the ball twice, once on a 23- yard run to the 4-yard line and then for a 3-yard score off tackle into the end zone. Bridges added the extra point and the Jackets had a very comfortable 28-7 lead for about three plays.
Less than 30 seconds later on second and 20 from his own 16, Warrior Ervin Hunt hit the line on a quick trap play up the middle for an 84-yard touchdown.
The Warriors got the two-point conversion on a shuffle pass from Williams to Jamal Lucas and now trailed by 13, 28-15, with 4:18 left in the third.
Two minutes and nine seconds later, Rawles hit Alston on a 33-yard slant for a touchdown. Bridges kicked the point after and the Jackets led 35-15 going into the fourth quarter.
The final quarter of the game was mostly defense on both sides of the ball.
Field notes
The most interesting aspect must have been how Epperson must have felt. It was as if the father and three uncles of an ex-girlfriend from grade school made up the officiating team. He already had a 93-yard touchdown run called back. With 10:19 left in the fourth he ran a punt back over 76 yards for a touchdown only to have it called back on a roughing the kicker penalty that wasn't. The punter fell to the field after he kicked the ball and was not roughed or run into. That's all we'll say about that one.
The Roanoke Rapids Yellow Jackets are the real deal. Coach Russell Weinstein should be relatively happy tonight. He and his coaching, equipment and training staff (Pete Edwards, Al Carter, Chad Thompson, Brett Ziegler, Brandon Clay, Tory Vincent, Bobby Lyons, Marcus Carey, Greg Clifton, Steve Berry, David Dean, Rusty Bolt and Linda Weinstein) did an exceptional job this week.
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