Tim Candon, Correspondent
CARY - Leesville Road turned a three-point halftime deficit into a convincing 39-15 win Friday against Cary.
"We've been out in the heat, working hard this whole time, and it was so that when we got in a game like this, second half, fourth quarter, it was going to belong to us," Leesville Road coach David Green said.
Leesville's defense forced three turnovers in the second half -- five in the game -- and held Cary to 89 offensive yards in the second half. Cornerback Cody Lyon had two interceptions for the Pride (2-0).
"They came out and toughened up, and we were able to get some turnovers," said Green, whose team allowed Cary 224 yards in the first half.
Cary (1-1) stayed even with the Pride through first and second quarters, when it led by as many as nine points.
After Leesville quarterback Thomas Wilson's TD pass to Taylor Gentry put the Pride up 6-0, the Imps answered with two TDs. Denny Feracho (15 carries, 107 yards) scored on runs of 20 and 24 yards to put Cary ahead 15-6.
Wilson and Gentry hooked up again on third and goal from the Cary 3-yard line with 2:22 to play in the first half, cutting the Pride deficit to 15-12.
Gentry had nine catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half.
The Pride carried that momentum into the third quarter and regained the lead quickly.
Wilson broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run less than two minutes into the third quarter, putting the Pride up 19-15.
Wilson had 69 rushing yards to go with his 285 yards passing.
Two plays later, Lyon intercepted Cary quarterback Kendall Smith near midfield. That set the stage for Pete Mangum's 1-yard TD plunge to put the Pride up 25-15.
By the end of the third quarter, Cary ran seven offensive plays and had three turnovers.
Leesville tailback Damien Crowder (nine carries, 80 yards) tacked on two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
"Hats off to Leesville," Cary coach Ben Kolstad said. "They're a really good football team."
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Leesville Road 39,<\n>Cary 15
LVL CRY
Rushes-yards 37-187 41-250
Comp-Att-yards 17-31-285 4-10-63
Leesville Road 0 12 13 14 39
Cary 0 15 0 0 15
SCORING SUMMARY
LVL T.Gentry 13 pass from T.Wilson (D.Selisker kick blocked); LVL T.Gentry 13 pass from T.Wilson (D.Selisker kick blocked); CRY D.Feracho 20 run (B.Lehman kick); CRY D.Feracho 24 run (K.Smith run); LVL T.Gentry 2 pass from T.Wilson (D.Selisker kick failed); LVL T.Wilson 40 run (D.Selisker kick); LVL P.Mangum 1 run (D.Selisker kick failed); LVL D.Crowder 17 run (D.Selisker kick); LVL D.Crowder 23 run (D.Selisker kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: LVL D.Crowder 9-77, T.Wilson 11-59; CRY D.Feracho 15-100, K.Smith 13-72.
Passing: LVL T.Wilson 17-31-285-0; CRY K.Smith 4-10-63-2.
Receiving: LVL T.Gentry 9-171, C.Todd 2-28, W.Verser 2-41; CRY C.Castor 3-52.
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