In a match with both teams trying to end four-game losing streaks, Kinston scored on all six of its drives in the first half and then cruised into a 52-7 victory against Pleasant Home Thursday night.
The Eagles started the game on offense on their own 29-yard line. Jacob Bryan had a 17-yard run on the second down, and after that, the chains were moved to midfield. The drive came to a halt when the punt was transferred. Beginning at the 17-yard line, Colby Tew found an opening that allowed him to run sixteen yards in the initial play from the scrimmage. Brant McCollough scored on the first downs, completing runs of 9 and 6 yards. Brodie Walker completed the 8-play drive, which lasted 3 minutes and 16 seconds, by scoring a touchdown of 17 yards. The kick was not successful however it put the Bulldogs up 6-0 with 4:45 to go in the opening quarter.
Talan Warley gained a 1st down in the next drive. However, Whitt Floyd snatched the ball before returning the ball to the home side 23. McCollough carried the ball into the red zone after the ball for 10 yards and then throw a six-yard touchdown pass to C.J. Lunsford. Tew did not miss the two-point conversion. This gave Kinston (2-4 3-1 1A Region 2) an 14-0 lead at the close 1st. Warley started the second half by running 20 yards to gain a first-down. A couple of minutes later, Bryan ran through left-hand side and took 51 yards into the end zone. Vance Kelley booted the PAT to Pleasant Home (1-5, 0-4) reduced the deficit at 14-7 with 10:49 remaining before the break.
The Bulldogs quickly responded on only two plays. Tew was able to run 39 yards and was the catalyst for Walker’s touchdown run of 25 yards and a two-point conversion to give them the lead of 22-7. The Eagles were able to see the turnover bug and retaliated by fumbling their next game. Beginning at the opposing 37-yard line, Kinston extended its lead to 30-7 after a two-yard touchdown run. Kinston was able to convert another attempt to score two points from Tew. Pleasant Home earned two first downs on its following possession when Gray Warthen completed the catch of 16 yards from Warley as well Bryan was able to run 17 yards to the opposing 29-yard line. Walker was able to make an interception when the game was abruptly ended.
In the wake of an offensive facemask penalty, Tew took a handoff and sprinted down the opposing sideline for a 73-yard touchdown. Walker took advantage of the two-point conversion, and extended the score to 38-7 at 2:35 remaining until halftime. The Eagles made a three-and-out play on their final drive and then gave the ball back one final time. The Bulldogs did not show mercy when Walker ran 52 yards in the first down, which was at the 10-yard line. Tew went on to score from there, and the punt resulted in a 45-7 lead at the time of the break.
The second half was full of 12-minute quarters, with the clock running. Walker ended the scoring of the night with a one-yard run at the end of third quarter and a point later the score was 52-7 with 5:13 remaining in the quarter. There was no scoring throughout the final quarter.
Pleasant Home next hits the road for a lengthy road journey through Houston County on Friday, October. 13.
The article Eagles lose to Kinston in their home regional game 52-7 was originally published in The Andalusia Star-News.
