N&O area football roundup: Leesville Road upsets Millbrook 31-3

Athens Drive 47, Apex Friendship 34: O.J. Flowers, Brandon Ray and Xzavier McNeil each scored two touchdowns to lead the Jaguars (4-6, 4-3 Southwest Wake 4A) past the Patriots (1-9, 0-7) in a shootout. Athens quarterback Robert Ruffin threw three touchdown passes to help the Jaguars overcome a nine-point deficit and take control of the game. Jaden Roundtree, Kaleb Jones and Jacob Kelley combined for 190 receiving yards for Friendship, and Scott Sidney led all rushers with 135 yards.

Dave Malenick

Enloe 31, Broughton 14: A big night on the ground propelled the Eagles (3-7 1-5 Cap-8) past the Capitals (2-8, 0-6). Hamilton Moore led the Eagles with 136 yards on 22 carries. Quarterback Carleon Merritt contributed by passing for 29 yards and rushing for another 52. Both of Broughton’s scores were on long plays by junior wide reciever Tyair Smith. Smith opened the game by scoring on the Capitals’ first touch of the game, a 65-yard touchdown run on a direct snap. Smith scored again on a 75-yard punt return in the third quarter to keep the game close.

Terrell Wilkins

No. 11 Cardinal Gibbons 41, East Chapel Hill 0: In a conference matchup between two unevenly matched teams, the Crusaders (9-1, 4-1 PAC-6 4A) easily defeated the Wildcats (1-9, 0-5). Cardinal Gibbons was up 35-0 at the half and cruised for most of the game. Dalen Spruill had 132 yards and four touchdowns on the ground for the Crusaders. Playing on his senior night, East Chapel Hill lineman Mujahid Turner recovered two fumbles in the first half.

John Bauman

Jordan Matthews 26, Carrboro 0: The tandem of Noah Wright and Genesis Brooks combined for 249 yards and four touchdowns as the Jets (2-8, 1-2 Mid-State 2A) handed the Jaguars (2-8, 2-2) their second straight loss. Wright rushed 22 times for a game-high 137 yards, while Brooks scored on first-half runs of 20 and 9 yards to pace Jordan-Matthews to a 13-0 halftime lead.

W.E. Warnock

Knightdale 21, East Wake 14: Two big plays by Knightdale’s Nyjil Thomas in the final minute lifted the Knights (2-8, 2-4 Greater Neuse River 4A) over rival East Wake. First, Thomas returned a punt 47 yards to set the Knights up with a first down at the Warriors 18. Then, he caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from D.J. Conner on third down for the winning score. East Wake (2-8, 0-6) got 115 yard rushing and two touchdowns from Mikekale Engles.

Bill Woodward

No. 5 Hillside 42 Jordan 14: Running back Jamal Currie-Elliott enjoyed a multi-touchdown performance for the fourth time in as many games since rejoining the Hornets midseason as Hillside (8-1, 5-0 PAC-6 4A) won its 10th straight game against Jordan (1-9, 1-5). The Hillside defense forced three turnovers, and defensive back Corey Mitchell picked off two passes – one of which he returned 61 yards for a touchdown – in the win. Jordan running backs Sincere Parker and David Thompson combined for 136 yards on 16 carries.

Brennan Doherty

No. 24 Holly Springs 69, Cary 14: Broderick Taylor (216 yards, seven carries) scored on his first three runs – from 47, 65, and 18 yards out – and later added another first-half touchdown on a 36-yard run. He didn’t play in the second half. The 69 points are the most in Golden Hawks (6-4, 5-2 Southwest Wake 4A) history. Cary (1-8, 1-5) scored twice on passes from Keeyon Hicks to Kameron Gillespie and Shaheed Manynor.

Justin Hill

Leesville Road 31, No. 12 Millbrook 3: The Pride upset their Cap-8 4A Conference rivals behind the short passing game of quarterback Vince Amendola to end a three-game losing streak to the Wildcats. Amendola completed 26 of 32 passes for 226 yards and 3 touchdowns for Leesville Road (5-5, 3-3). Pride receiver Cooper Eason-Riddle had touchdown catches of 21, 20 and 8 yards and had 113 yards on 11 receptions. Millbrook (7-3, 4-2) was paced by running back Larry Rountree III’s 92 yards on 16 carries.

Randy Jones

South Johnston 42, Corinth Holders 15: DeParis Patterson threw for three first-half touchdowns, two of them to Javonte Smith, to lead South Johnston (4-6, 2-2 Two Rivers 3A) by Corinth Holders (2-7, 2-2). Johnavan Neal threw for one touchdown pass and caught another in the closing seconds for the Pirates.

Mike Potter

No. 22 Southeast Raleigh 49, Harnett Central 12: The Bulldogs were up 42-0 at halftime Tyler Williams caught a touchdown pass and returned two interceptions for scores to pace the Bulldogs (7-3, 4-2 Greater Neuse River 4A). Harnett Central (1-9, 1-5) scored its lone touchdown on Qyrell Street’s 88-yard kickoff return.

Randy Capps

No. 25 Southern Durham 49, Cedar Ridge 14: Southern senior quarterback Jalen Greene threw for 286 yards and a touchdown to lead the Spartans (6-4, 4-1 Big 8 3A) past Cedar Ridge (5-5, 2-3). Southern running back Joey Strong Jr. rushed for three touchdowns.

Bonitta Best

No. 7 Southern Nash 21, No. 6 Rocky Mount 10: The Firebirds (9-0, 3-0 Big East 3A) dethroned last year’s 3A state champion thanks to defense. The Gryphons managed just * yards on * carries. Running back Kendrick Bell had two rushing touchdowns in the win. N.C. State recruit Nadir Thompson had the game-sealing interception two plays after Rocky Mount returned a kickoff to the 15 with about a minute left.

J. Mike Blake

Triton 59, Smithfield-Selma 7: Triton rolled over winless Smithfield-Selma, spoiling the Spartans’ homecoming as the Hawks improved to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the Two Rivers 3A. SSS is now 0-10 (0-4).

Triton’s De’marius Staton carried for 101 yards and two touchdowns and caught one 43-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Cruse. After the Spartans drove for their only score, Zion Massey took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for another Hawk score.

Ty Johnson

OTHER SCORES

No. 23 Southern Lee *, Union Pines *

St. David’s 50, Cary Christian 0

This story was originally published October 29, 2016 at 3:44 PM with the headline "N&O area football roundup: Leesville Road upsets Millbrook 31-3."