KINSTON, N.C.
Southampton Academy’s offense stalled on the first two drives, enabling Arendell Parrott Academy to quickly go up 16-0 and never look back in the NCIAA Colonial Carolina 8-man football semi final. The Patriots (10-1) ultimately bested the Raiders (8-3) 74-42.

“Their last score kind of epitomized how the ball game went for us,” said Raiders Head Coach Dale Marks. “They threw the ball up in the air, we had our second team out there, and Jalen Myrick comes over and makes a play on it. He tipped the ball, but it ended up going right to their receiver, and he scored on the play. It was just that kind of night.”

Marks said the long pass is what killed them Friday night.

“Their quarterback [Charlie King] threw the ball extremely well tonight,” he said. “We just couldn’t stop them.

“I would have liked for it to have been a little more competitive tonight, but we faced a good team that took advantage of what we were doing defensively. They are well coached, and they are a deep team with a lot of good players.”

Ethan Edwards finished the game with 20 carries for 106 yards and 2 touchdown runs. Matt Rose carried the ball 10 times for 87 yards and 1 touchdown. Through the air, Rose was 8-for-17 for 139 yards and he threw 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Andrew Lowe was able to get some reps at quarterback in the game as well, and he was 4-for-8 passing for 116 yards with 2 touchdown tosses.

Harrison Pope caught the ball 6 times for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns. Myrick caught the ball once for a 67-yard touchdown.

The Raiders had 506 yards of total offense compared to 534 for the Patriots. Of that 534 yards, 408 of it was through the air.

King finished the night 9-for-15 with 311 yards and 6 touchdown tosses. Chase Howard led the Patriots in rushing with 8 carries for 76 yards and 1 touchdown. Devin Cregan caught the ball 3 times for 124 yards and 3 touchdowns and Zaccheaus Rasberry had 2 catches for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns.

It was a tough night for SA’s seniors, Rose, Edwards, Nate Williams and Alex Hasty, the head coach said.

“It is always tough when you don’t win your last ball game,” Marks said. “But we won the championship 2 years ago. We lost in the championship game last year, and we lost in the semifinals this year. We’ve had a good run.”

Now it is time to pass the rock to the underclassmen.

“When you have seniors who are that good, and you rely on them like we have relied on Matt, Ethan and Nate this year, it is kind of easy for the underclassmen to just sit back and say, ‘They’ve got it.’” Marks said. “When they are gone, all of a sudden, ‘I’m the man. I’ve got to step up.’

“We’ll see where it goes. We’ve got to do some work in the offseason, but overall, it’s been a good year.”

The Patriots will go on to play Rocky Mount Academy in the finals at Rocky Mount.