EDENTON — When a team is averaging 50 points per game you would expect offense to be the story. However, Thursday night in Edenton, it was the Northeastern defense that paved the way to victory.
The Eagles kept John A. Holmes out of the end zone, allowing the Aces fewer than 100 yards of total offense as Northeastern shut out the Aces 41-0 to improve to 5-0 and 2-0 in the Northeastern Coastal Conference. The Aces, meanwhile, fell to 2-3 and 1-1 in the NCC.
The final tally was a little misleading, as the Holmes defense also played well, holding the visitors to just 14 points in the first half: two 1-yard touchdown runs by Eagle quarterback Trevaris Jones.
“This is a strong rivalry with a long history,” said Northeastern head coach Antonio Moore. “When we play Edenton, we know that they are going to be up for the game and give us their best effort.”
The game initially looked like easy pickings for the Eagles who received the opening kickoff. Northeastern drove 65 yards on nine plays for an opening touchdown. Damari McNeil carried the ball three times for 23 yards and Jones connected on four of five passes for 41 yards.
A second-down keeper by Jones put the visitors into the end zone for the first time of the night. The kick by Payton Paris was good and Northeastern led 7-0 less than three minutes into the game.
After three plays and out for Holmes, the Eagles got their next possession. They again moved the ball down the field, with a key play being a 24-yard halfback pass from Unique Blount to Tyell Saunders. However, the drive stalled at the Aces’ 14-yard line and Paris’ field goal attempt was wide.
An exchange of possessions would bring the first quarter to an end with no further scoring. The Aces would pick up their first first down early in the second quarter. David Sutton took the option pitch from quarterback Mason Byrum around right end for 14 yards, but the next three rushing plays came up short of the marker and Edenton again had to punt.
Starting at their own 37-yard line, the Eagles would score in 13 plays. Jones connected on passes to Saunders on the left sideline and Devon Shreaves in the right flat to keep moving the chains.
After McNeil left the game with a leg injury, Johnathan Nguyen took over as the Eagles’ primary running back. The junior carried the ball four times inside the red zone before Jones pushed it in on a third down and goal from the 1-yard line. Paris’ kick was good, increasing the Eagles’ lead to 14-0 with 3:08 left in the first half.
Still very much in the ballgame, Holmes looked to get off to a good start in the second half. However, a third-down pass from their own 29 was intercepted by Eagle linebacker Noah Chatman. The senior returned the ball 32 yards for a pick-six touchdown. Just like that, Northeastern was up three scores.
Holmes tried to respond. Amaree Jackson bulled his way up the middle for 14 yards, but four plays later, NHS stuffed a fourth-down rush, giving the ball back to the Eagles’ offense. Five plays later, Dominic Price scored on a 1-yard plunge. Paris’ kick was good and the score was 28-0.
Eagle defensive back Ty’jae Simpson would then record the second interception of the night for the Northeastern defense. The visitors were pinned deep in their own territory but executed a hook-and-ladder play that went for 43 yards. Jones passed to Saunders who quickly lateraled the ball to Ussiah Harney who bolted up the left sideline. Four plays later, Simpson beat single coverage and Jones connected with him for a 42-yard touchdown.
Simpson wasn’t done. Jones would again find him behind the Edenton secondary for a 41-yard touchdown pass, the only score of the fourth quarter that closed out the game.
Jones, Northeastern’s quarterback, again posted impressive numbers. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. He also had 29 net yards rushing and two touchdown runs.
Nguyen led the Eagle running backs with 61 yards on nine carries. McNeil followed with 41 yards on six attempts, and Price had 27 yards and a touchdown.
It was a tough night statistically for Holmes as the Eagles made nine tackles for losses. Jackson led the Aces’ running backs with 29 yards on six carries. The Aces completed just two passes, the longest 14 yards to Maddox Bass.
Northeastern travels to Hertford County next week to take on the Bears while Holmes will host Pasquotank.
Local News
Comments / 0