By Cale Colosimo

Correspondent

RALEIGH -- Word of God got a little more than it bargained for as it needed a second half surge to pull away from Rocky Mount Academy, 38-7 in the opening round of the N.C. Independent School Athletic Association eight-man playoffs.

The second-seeded Rams (9-1) trailed late in the second period when Eagles’ running back Linwood Jones scored from five yards out with 5:14 left in the half.

But the Rams’ marched down the field and Casty St. Louis scored on a three-yard run. Jason Fields connected with St. Louis on the two-point conversion and the Rams took a 14-7 halftime lead..

“I was very concerned. When you beat a team earlier, young kids tend to think they’ll roll over. It’s hard to beat someone twice in anything,” said Rams coach Kevin Washington.

On September 28th, the Rams defeated the Eagles 54-0.

The third quarter started out well for Word of God. Just two minutes gone by, Fields hit St. Louis for a 75-yard, fourth down pass to make it a two-score game.

“I kept my faith in my team. We did overlook (Rocky Mount), and we were slack in the first quarter but we turned it up,” said St. Louis of his team’s quick second half turnaround.

Rocky Mount was held scoreless the rest of the game.

The Rams scored when Fields took the snap, tossed a lateral to Jonathan Jackson, who threw a cross field pass back to Fields for a 10 yard touchdown. St. Louis later scored when Jackson lateraled the ball as he was being tackled.