Bye weeks are over for the schools in Moore County and all three teams were back in action on a rainy Friday. Union Pines, Pinecrest and North Moore all posted wins in a successful night of football for the county.
Pinecrest 20, Richmond 12: The Patriots improved to 5-0 on the season and won their conference opener with their first win in Richmond since 2008.
With bad weather threatening, Pinecrest jumped out to an early lead on touchdown runs by Jaylin Morgan and Zymire Spencer. Morgan rushed 10 times for 38 yards in the game, while Spencer had 106 yards on 17 carries. With less than two minutes remaining, and Richmond looking to get in position for a game-winning score, down two points, Isaiah Shearin intercepted a Domonic Tillman pass and ran it back 28 yards for a game-clinching pick six.
In addition to his rushing score, Morgan also had three tackles for loss and two sacks on defense.
Pinecrest returns home to face Southern Lee on Friday.
Union Pines 40, Lee County 33, 2OT: Austin Mooring scored from two yards out to get the go-ahead touchdown in the second overtime, then Union Pines got a sack to end Lee County’s possession and clinch a win in a game of runs at Lee County.
The Yellowjackets scored the game’s first two touchdowns, both on rushes, as Lee County racked up 194 ground yards for the game, scoring all five touchdowns on runs.
Union Pines rallied, scoring 27 straight points. The Vikings got a boost from the defense, who recovered two fumbles in the second quarter and also saw linebacker Jeremiah Womack return an interception nearly 40 yards for a score.
Quarterback Anthony Goswick threw for nearly 130 yards on 14-of-24 passing, including a 24-yard pass to Hayes Tobias for the team’s first score and a one-yard run for the team’s second. He hooked up with Tobias for a 33-yard score later in the game.
The Vikings, 2-3 on the year and 1-0 in conference, enjoy a week off before facing Scotland in Laurinburg on Sept. 29.
North Moore 55, Jordan-Matthews 7: North Moore got back above .500 in a big way, blowing out Jordan-Matthews, 55-7, in a lopsided road win.
Jakarey Gillis rushed for 136 yards for scoring two touchdowns and leading a North Moore ground attack that racked up 417 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Kolby Ritchie had 87 yards and a score, while Nathan Rogers added 97 and a touchdown of his own. Colby Pennington caught all three of quarterback Nathaniel Dyer’s completions and turned two of them into touchdowns.
The Mustangs will try to keep things rolling on Friday with a road game at Bartlett Yancey. North Moore will be looking to beat the Bucs for the third straight year.
Union Pines returns to the field after a bye week last Friday. The Vikings will face a tough test with a road game at Scotland, who is a perfect 6-0, 2-0 on the season.
PREP FOOTBALL — WEEK 7
Friday Sept. 29, 7:30 PM
Pinecrest Patriots (5-0, 1-0) home vs. Southern Lee Cavaliers (3-3, 0-2) *Conference Game*
Friday Sept. 29, 7:30 PM
North Moore Mustangs (3-2, 2-1) at Bartlett Yancey Buccaneers (2-4,2-2) *Conference Game
Friday Sept. 29, 7:30 PM
Union Pines Vikings (2-3, 1-0) at Scotland Scots (6-0, 2-0) *Conference Game*
