Spring Creek quarterback Darius Deal, right, hands off to MK Haynes on the game’s first play from scrimmage against Wayne Christian Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Spring Creek’s Orrin Tickles is tackled by a flock of Wayne Christian defenders on a kickoff return during opening-half action Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Spring Creek’s Brennan Chambers, behind, breaks up a pass intended for Wayne Christian’s Shiquan Ethridge. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Wayne Christian senior Elijah Anderson (10) chases after and eventually recovers a first-quarter fumble by Spring Creek during their game Friday evening at ‘The Swamp.’ (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — Two opening-quarter fumbles within a 90-second stretch spelled trouble for Spring Creek Friday evening.
County rival Wayne Christian converted the miscues — an errant handoff and muffed kickoff — into touchdowns during their 62-0, non-conference triumph in “The Swamp.”
“We cannot spot teams three touchdowns, four touchdowns and look to play positive football,” SC head coach Ron Wise said. “We can’t do that. But, most of all, we can’t have mental mistakes on the very first play of the game. I don’t know what went on tonight.
“I don’t know was going on in the players’ heads. I’m at a loss.”
Seconds after receiving the opening kickoff, the Gators (0-3 overall) lost possession on the first offensive play.
Wayne Christian senior Elijah Anderson recovered the ball at the Gators’ 27-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Nate Peck fired a 33-yard scoring pass to senior Shiquan Ethridge.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles’ Jonathan Jackson recovered a squib kick inside Spring Creek territory. The Gators’ defense broke up pass, stopped a short run and sacked Peck on third down.
A delay-of-game infraction backed Wayne Christian up to the Gators’ 42-yard line. Peck got flushed from the pocket and hit junior Jeremiah Winders in stride for the touchdown.
Peck and fellow quarterback Oliver Thomas guided the Eagles to touchdowns on each of their first six possessions during the first half. Peck threw four TD passes and ended the night with 168 yards on seven of 10 completions.
Thomas’ lone pass turned into a TD.
“We told them [in post-game] that this mentality has got to stop, we have to play four quarters of football and we have to cut out these mental mistakes,” said Wise, whose team committed three turnovers and allowed 370 yards of total offense.
“We are so much better than that. I can show you practice film where we’re on offense and defense, and we are clicking way better than that.”
The Gators’ offense moved the chains and collected a handful of first downs.
Offsetting penalties negated Spring Creek’s lone touchdown — a 57-yard pass from Darius Deal to Gabe Lopez. Officials flagged the Gators for an illegal block in the back and called defensive pass interference on the Eagles.
Wise’s club reached the red zone again in the fourth on two completions from Deal to Lopez. The potential scoring drive ended on an interception near the goal line.
Wayne Christian ran out the clock in its final 11-man game of the season. The Eagles (2-1) begin their quest for their second NC Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II 8-man state crown in the last three years next week.
The Gators visit Hobbton next Friday.
“Some weeks, it’s one thing [and] some weeks, it’s another thing…can’t really put my finger on one specific thing right now,” Wise said about the team’s solid practice ethic not translating to the football field on game day.
“We have athletes. We have plays. We have the coaches. We have all of the tools in the toolbox. I don’t know what it is.”
