Indeed they were, because they had just beaten the No. 1 team in the N&O ranking of area schools.

Quarterback Alan Lea played a steady game, and running back Alonzo Hedgepeth rumbled in from 6 yards out in overtime, giving the previously winless Spartans a stunning 33-27 victory over Wake Forest-Rolesville on Thursday night at Spartan Stadium.

"This game was more important than any game that we played last year," Southern Durham coach Adrian Jones said. "If we lose this game tonight and go 0-3, it was going to be hard getting these guys back to believing in the team."

The Spartans (1-2) set the tone early when Reese Wiggins returned the opening kickoff 92 yards before most fans could settle into their seats.

But the Cougars (2-1), who had outscored their opponents 106-20 going into the game, quickly established control with touchdown runs from Trea Jones and Delano Tavares to take the lead.

Southern Durham, however, closed out an exciting first quarter with a 10-yard run from Lea to cut the lead to 14-13 and eventually took a 20-17 lead into halftime after a Lea pass was tipped but found wide receiver Quentin Lloyd in the end zone.

"We told them that if something good happens, keep playing, and if something bad happens, keep playing," said Jones, whose team had averaged six turnovers in two losses. "We told them don't worry about turnovers and stay together as a family."

Wake Forest-Rolesville quickly took the lead in the third quarter when linebacker Christian Woods recovered a fumble in the end zone and Torrey White connected on a 22-yard field goal for a 27-20 lead, but Lamont Pettiford's 20-yard touchdown tied the score going into the fourth quarter.

Pettiford finished with 138 yard rushing on 15 carries.

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