Topsail 40 Pender 14
Topsail rushed for over 250 yards and D.J. Montano found the end zone three times as Topsail cruised to a 40-14 win over Pender in Hampstead on Friday.
Drew Gaither put the Pirates in front with 5:21 to go in the first quarter on a two-yard dive, while Montano scored from 13 yards and 32 yards out to grab a three score advantage midway through the second stanza. Justin Smith also found Jacob Floyd on a 29-yard touchdown pass late in the first half to give Topsail a commanding 26-0 lead at the break.
Montano added to his touchdown total with a 20-yard run with 9:39 to go in the third quarter, while Smith broke a five-yard run to close out the Pirates’ effort. Montano finished with 129 yards on 15 carries, while Gaither rushed the ball 14 times for 95 yards.
Topsail improved to 2-0 in non-conference play and face Dixon at home on Friday, September 4.
Pender 0-0-0-14=14
Topsail 8-18-14-0=40
Topsail stats: Rush – Drew Gaither 14-95; D. J. Montano 15-129; Chris Nixon 3-3; Jacob Floyd 4-11; Justin Smith 7-41. Pass- Jacob Floyd 3-9-56; Receiving – Danny McDonald 1-14; Aaron Pacheco 1-13; Justin Smith 1-29.
Pender stats: Rush – Chris Devane 6-8; Justin Hooper 11-37; Josh Kea 1-35; Pass – Jake Rawls 3-10-21 (2 int); Receiving – Sammy Hudson 1-12; Justin Hooper 1-minus 5; Josh Kea 1-14-TD.
West Brunswick 20 South Columbus 13
South Columbus had a chance to tie the game with 2:48 left in the fourth quarter and the ball on their own 10-yard line, but Tariq Thomas secured the victory with a fumble recovery as West Brunswick held on to a 20-13 result in Shallotte on Friday night.
Hunter Ashburn hit Owen McDowell on a 28 yard touchdown pass to give the Trojans a 7-0 lead with 4:20 left in the second quarter. An interception return by the Stallions made it a one-point game early in the second half after a missed extra point.
West Brunswick responded with a six-yard run by Maleik King and Anthony McCray took it 65 yards for the touchdown to give the Trojans a 20-6 advantage late in the third quarter.
Nate Gilbert led a strong push up front on the defensive line, while Jimmy Cochran and Brandon Wehrly both picked up an interception.
West Brunswick improved to 2-0 and play host to North Myrtle Beach on Friday, September 4.
S. Columbus 0-0-6-7=13
W. Brunswick 0-7-13-0=20
