BY WILL HART/CORRESPONDENT
lenniehart2006@yahoo.com

COURTLAND—Southampton Academy will return to the state championship game for the first time since 2004 after defeating the Cary Christian Knights 64-36 in the semi-finals of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 8-Man state championship playoffs.

“The thing that set the tone for us was the way we came out of the gate tonight,” said SA head coach Dale Marks. “I’ve never seen this team this year as ready to play as they were in the ball game tonight.”

The Raiders improve to 11-0, while the Knights end their season at 7-4.

Leaders for the Raiders were sophomore quarterback Matt Rose, who went 3-of-4 for 115 yards with two touchdowns through the air and also had 7 carries for 90 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Junior Tonee Hill had 7 carries for 100 yards and 1 touchdown, and two kick returns for 117 yards, one for a touchdown. Junior Paul Parker had four catches for 80 yards and had one touchdown.

“It was a real good team effort tonight from everybody,” Marks said.

The Raiders first scored as Hill returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion by Hill was good making the score 8-0.

The Raiders next two scores came in the first quarter. With 8:11 left in the quarter Hill scored on 9-yard touchdown run, and the 2-point conversion by junior Paul Parker was good making the score 16-0. With 2:49 left in the quarter Parker found the end zone from 48-yards out, Junior Cameron Hines converted the two-point attempt, making the score 24-0.

“It makes things a little easier when you take the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and when you get a stop and get up early 24-0,” Marks said.

The Raiders next three scores came in the second quarter. With 9:36 left in the quarter sophomore Matt Rose found the goal line on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, the 2-point conversion was no good making the score 30-6. With 3:16 left in the quarter Hill caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Rose, the 2-point conversion was no good making the score 36-14. With 41 seconds left in the quarter Rose found the end zone again on a 3-yard run, the 2-point conversion was no good making the score 42-14.

The Raiders next two scores came in the third quarter. With 9:39 left in the quarter Rose ran in to the end zone on a 42-yard rush, the 2-point conversion by Hines was good making the score 50-14. With 6:26 left in the quarter senior Zachary Best caught a 45-yard pass from Rose, the 2-point conversion by sophomore Nate Williams was good making the score 58-14.

The Raiders’ final score came with 6:14 left in the game on a 21-yard touchdown run by sophomore Ethan Edwards. The 2-point conversion was no good making the score 64-21.

The Raiders will next host Word of God for the NCISAA 8-Man state championship. The game is scheduled for Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m. at Pillow Field.