Head Coach Stephen Allard coaching up the Southern Wayne Saints defense on a timeout. (Kareem Brown photo)
Southern Wayne Saints Quarterback No. 30 Jayden Moore and the offensive line on offense right before the ball is snapped. (Kareem Brown photo)
DUDLEY — It was a tough night for the Southern Wayne Saints as they fell to Wilson Hunt Warriors, 63–0, in a one-sided matchup. The Wilson Hunt Warriors dominated from start to finish, capitalizing on offensive momentum and defensive takeaways to secure the victory.
Tough start for the Saints
Southern Wayne opened the game by receiving the kickoff and starting at their own 23-yard line. QB No. 30 Jayden Moore handed off to RB No. 15 Logan Denning for a short three-yard gain, but the Saints went four-and-out and were forced to punt.
Hunt immediately went to work. QB No. 2 Mez Harris handed off to No. 24 Doryan Jones for a five-yard gain before a penalty pushed them back. A big catch by No. 19 set up Hunt in scoring position, and QB No. 2 Mez Harris ran it in for the first touchdown. With 9:39 left in the opening quarter, Hunt led 7–0.
The Saints again went three-and-out, giving Hunt excellent field position at their own 46-yard line. RB No. 24 Doryan Jones broke free for a huge run and finished the drive with a touchdown, extending the lead to 14–0 with 5:11 remaining.
The struggles continued for Southern Wayne, as Hunt’s passing attack struck next. QB No. 2 Mez Harris connected with No. 19 for another touchdown, pushing the score to 21–0 at the 3:26 mark.
On the next Saints possession, Hunt’s defense delivered a crushing blow intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown. With just 1:40 left in the first quarter, Hunt had built a commanding 28–0 lead.
Hunt takes control
The Saints attempted to rally, with QB No. 30 Jayden Moore connecting on a pair of passes and No. 8 Tyler Speight gaining tough yards on the ground. However, a turnover on downs gave Hunt the ball back, and No. 24 Doryan Jones once again powered his way into the end zone. The Warriors extended the lead to 35–0.
On the next drive, a fumble by Southern Wayne set Hunt up deep in Saints territory. RB No. 24 Doryan Jones wasted no time, punching it in for another score. At halftime, Hunt held a dominant 42–0 lead.
Hunt keeps rolling
Hunt picked up right where they left off, scoring quickly after receiving the second-half kickoff to go up 49–0.
Southern Wayne showed some fight with a strong run by No. 2 Jaylen Carr and hard-nosed defense, including a big tackle by No. 19 Jahari Ashby. However, Hunt’s offense remained unstoppable. RB No. 4 Jeremiah Thomas with help from QB No. 5 Cameron Pittman added another touchdown, making it 56–0 heading into the fourth quarter.
Special teams sealed the Saints’ fate early in the fourth, as Hunt returned a punt for a touchdown. With the extra point, the lead grew to 63–0.
Southern Wayne’s offense had a few bright moments, including a long run by No. 8 Tyler Speight and a key reception by No. 6 Ivory Moore but another interception ended their hopes of breaking the shutout.
Final Score: Southern Wayne Saints 0, Wilson Hunt Warriors 63
Post game interview
After the game, Southern Wayne Saints’ Head Coach Stephen Allard reflected on his team’s performance, highlighting their effort despite the loss. “We didn’t give up; we fought back despite this tough loss,” Allard said. Coach Allard noted that his team’s youth and ongoing development included the addition of new players to the roster. “This team is growing every day. We are very young, but when we have the experience as a team, we will be back stronger and ready for this tough competition,” he explained. Coach Allard also thanked the fans and players for their continued support. “We are building this team brick by brick, stone by stone, and once we are all a unit, there will be a turnaround,”.
The scoreboard was harsh, but the Saints’ sideline told a different story: players picking each other up, coaches staying vocal, and fans still clapping in the fourth quarter when a long run or hard tackle broke the silence. It wasn’t Southern Wayne’s night, but the fight is still there. In a season where growth is the goal, that might be the most important takeaway. Looking ahead, the Southern Wayne Saints will face Rocky Mount on October 3 in their next matchup away. Thanks to both coaches and staff for letting me cover this amazing game.
