After a demanding three-game road trip to Scotland County, Lumberton and Hoggard, the New Hanover football team was glad to be back inside the friendly confines of Legion Stadium for the first time in a month on Friday night as the Wildcats cruised to a 63-18 win over Ashley.
The victory snapped a three-game skid and moved New Hanover to 1-1 in conference play and 3-4 overall, while Ashley (0-3, 0-7) looks to get in the win column for the first time at home against league leading Hoggard (2-0, 6-0) on Friday, Oct. 17.
“It’s been a tough year and it’s taken its toll with so many guys out,” said New Hanover Coach Kevin Motsinger. “It’s got to the point where we are 18 guys short because of injury, but I’m really proud of the way our kids have responded and continue to go to work.
“I don’t teach math, but we have so many kids hurt and the thing is our kids keep fighting. If we get healthy over the next few weeks, I would not want to see us in the playoffs.”
Senior Ward Coleman connected with Garrett Walston on three first-half touchdown passes and Keegan Santos took a brunt of the carries with key injuries in the Wildcats’ backfield as the sophomore made three trips to the end zone over the opening 24 minutes of action.
New Hanover used a seven-play, 70-yard opening drive and a Santos 3-yard touchdown run to get on the board early in the first quarter, but Ashley quickly responded and needed just four plays to answer with two key passes from Cham Carey to Damien Batts, who made a leaping grab on a 15-yard scoring reception for the Screaming Eagles.
A failed two-point conversation gave the Wildcats a 7-6 lead and Coleman hit Walston on a quick slant for the 37 yard catch and score on a 4th and 2 to go up by eight with 5:12 to play in the opening frame.
“Ward continues to lead this group and Garrett gives him a big target to throw to,” said Motsinger. “Even with these injuries, the process started a long time ago through last spring and summer. We try to give kids opportunities and we did that a lot during workouts.
“We knew Keegan at the ability, but he was our linebacker until all these injuries went down and just proud that he stepped up. Even he got banged up at the end of the first half and we’ll see what his status is moving forward.”
Coleman gave New Hanover a 21-6 cushion when the Wildcats’ quarterback threaded the needle for a 25-yard strike to Walston and the junior tight end put the game out of reach just before halftime on a four yard touchdown grab for his third score of the night.
Karon Reid also found the end zone early in the second quarter on a 44 yard reception as Coleman went to the air for four first half touchdown.
“We showed it midway through the second quarter and through the rest of the game against Hoggard and showed it again tonight,” said Motsinger. “We’re going to give it our best effort out there no matter who’s on the field and we’re going to keep scratching and clawing.”
Carey accounted for Ashley’s second score after a bad snap on a fourth down punt for New Hanover gave the Screaming Eagles possession at the goal line just 10 seconds into the second quarter. The senior quarterback also connected with Batts again midway through the third quarter on a 28 yard touchdown pass.
Burke Estes replaced Coleman at quarterback in the second half for New Hanover and the junior wasted no time to get into the end zone with an eight yard score. Coleman finished 8-of-13 for 177 yards and four touchdowns, while Santos rushed for 122 yards on 10 carries and three scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, New Hanover’s Nykheimna Walker had a sack and fumble recovery, while Ka’Twon Hill picked up an interception along with Ibrahim Bah, who took a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Alex Highsmith had 10 tackles for Ashley and Batts finished with six catches for over 120 yards.
“We have to see what we have at practice on Monday,” said Motsinger. “I stopped typing up practice schedules because of all the adjustments we’ve had to make. We just have to keep going to work and keep getting better no matter who’s out there.”
The Wildcats head into a key Mideastern Conference matchup at Laney on Friday, Oct. 17.
Box score
Ashley 6-6-6-0=18
NHHS 28-21-7-7=63
Scoring summary
First quarter
New Hanover- Keegan Santos, 3 yard run, (PAT, Aab) 9:21
Ashley- Cham Carey, 15 yard pass to Damien Batts, 7:50
New Hanover- Ward Coleman, 37 yard pass to Garrett Walston, (PAT, Aab) 5:12
New Hanover- Ward Coleman, 25 yard pass to Garrett Walston, (PAT, Aab) 3:29
New Hanover- Keegan Santos, 27 yard run, (PAT, Aab) 1:51)
Second quarter
Ashley- Cham Carey, 1 yard run, 11:48
New Hanover- Ward Coleman, 44 yard pass to Karon Reid, (PAT, Aab) 10.53
New Hanover- Keegan Santos, 15 yard run, (PAT, Aab) 3:09
New Hanover- Ward Coleman, 4 yard pass to Garrett Walston, (PAT, Aab) :07
Third quarter
New Hanover- Burke Estes, 9 yard run, (PAT, Aab) 8:21
Ashley- Cham Carey, 29 yard pass to Damien Batts, 6:19
Fourth quarter
New Hanover- Ibrahim Bah, 75 yard interception return, (PAT, Aab) 7:30
