Hornets knock down Spartans' last hope

Durham Hillside's defense comes up big numerous times, particularly on the last play of the game, as the Hornets edge Southern Durham to advance in the 4-AA playoffs in Durham

DURHAM -- There was even more than bragging rights on the line this time.

Southern Durham and Durham Hillside, perhaps the city of Durham's most heated rivalry, had another encounter Friday night, with the winner keeping its dream of a state championship alive by advancing to the third round of the NCHSAA 4-AA playoffs and the loser going home much sooner than it had hoped.

It was only fitting that it came down to the final play.

Hillside's Cody McEachin broke up a pass intended for Southern's Nick Jones in the end zone with seven seconds left, preserving a 7-0 Hornets victory at Durham County Stadium.

"I thought it was going to be high scoring," Hillside coach Ray Harrison said. "But all that matters is that we came out on top. To gut it out like this is sometimes the best way ... 7-0 is good. I don't care if it was 2-0 as long as we won."

The Hornets' only touchdown came in the third quarter, when quarterback Corey Gattis connected with Jharrison Gillespie on a 20-yard touchdown to cap a six-play, 80-yard drive.

"I think that was big," Harrison said. "It put pressure on an offense that hadn't moved the ball and had trouble passing it."

The rest of the game can be summed up during a one-minute flurry of activity late in the fourth quarter.

The Spartans embarked on a 12-play drive that got the ball to the Hillside 14-yard line. Chris Jones picked off a Southern pass in the end zone, but the Hornets gave the ball right back with a fumble of their own.

With the ball at the Hornets' 9-yard line, the Spartans looked poised to tie the score, but quarterback Alan Lea, scrambling in for a potential touchdown, saw the ball slip out of his hand as he extended it to the pylon. The ball hit the pylon and the officials called a touchback.

"They had that no-quit attitude," Harrison said. "They hit us hard and made us fumble. I give them a lot of respect."

The Hornets, who avenged their only loss of the season by beating Southern, will play at Southeast Raleigh next week.