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GREENSBORO - The Southern Guilford Storm entered the playoffs on a hot streak, having won three of its last four games.

But big plays did them in during their first-round game Friday against North Pitt, which rolled to a 40-14 win.

"I felt like our special teams let us down a little bit," Storm coach Darryl Brown said. "We gave up two touchdowns early with special teams. They had a couple of big runs. I thought our defense played really well in the first half.

"I kind of felt like emotionally we were a little gassed after everything these guys had to deal with this season."

The Panthers (7-5) set the stage for the theme of the night when their do-everything star Maurice Williams busted free for a 65-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-inches. Williams added the extra point for a quick 7-0 lead.

After Southern went three-and-out, Williams struck again, this time returning a punt 68 yards for a score.

"He's a good runner," Brown said of Williams. "We saw him on film and we knew he's going to be a good player. We contained him most of the night, but he had a couple that he busted off tackle for a big run."

The Storm (7-5) used its special teams to get back in the game when Warren Scott returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown with 13 seconds left in the first quarter. But the momentum was short lived, as O'Neil Burton returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for a score on the final play of the opening quarter.

After a scoreless second quarter, the teams traded touchdowns early in the second half.

Williams clinched the game when he broke a 48-yard run for a score which gave the Panthers a 33-14 lead. Williams finished with 138 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Scott had a fine night of his own for the Storm, finishing with 99 yards on 25 carries in addition to big runs on special teams.

"Warren's had to carry the load for us offensively," Brown said. "He's a hard runner and gets downhill. He's a tough kid and we're fortunate that he's going to be back next year."

While the Panthers move on to the second round of the 2-AA East playoffs, the Storm's roller-coaster season ended.

"I'm just proud of these guys for how they handled everything this year," Brown said. "They dealt with more adversity than any 16 or 17-year-old young men should have to deal with. When you lose Scotty Wayne and Darren Garcia - which I told people a long time ago that Scotty was the face of our football program and Darren was the heart of it. We went on to finish second in a tough league. I just think emotionally we were gassed and we ran out of steam."

N - Maurice Williams 65 run (Maurice Williams kick)

N - Williams 68 punt return (kick missed)

S - Warren Scott 59 punt return (Michael Mattocks kick)

N - O'Neil Burton 81 kickoff return (kick blocked)

N - Wesley Warren 76 pass to Donnie Carr (Williams run)

S - Matt Prioleau 1 run (Mattocks kick)

N - Williams 48 run (kick missed)

N - Chris Grimes 15 run (Williams kick)

Records - North Pitt 7-5, Southern Guilford 7-5.