news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Josh Morehead thought he would have a good game, but it turned into a special game for the former Eastern Guilford star.

The defensive back, who will be playing for N.C. Central this fall, had an interception, a fumble recovery that set up a touchdown and was named the game’s defensive Most Valuable Player. He helped the West snap a three-year skid to the East with a 22-7 victory.

“I was expecting to have a good game, but then it turned into a special game,” Morehead said. “Everybody wants to have their moment here. After halftime I took a deep breath and relaxed and played my game. This tells me that I can go back and work harder and get better.”

With the West leading 9-0 early in the fourth quarter, Kurt Odom (Robbinsville) scored from 4 yards out to make it 15-0 after Morehead’s fumble recovery.

After a hook and ladder played worked for 29 yards, the West added to its lead with a 9-yard touchdown by Kevin Jeter (Gastonia Forestview).

The West’s Josh Dula (Lenior Hibritten) had the first big play of the game when he fielded a punt after it bounced and immediately started running toward the left sideline with several defenders in pursuit. He stiff-armed one defender, did a balancing act along the sideline and then got a crushing block by Steve Williams (Reidsville). Dula then cut back to the center of the field to beat the punter and one other defender, then raced to the end zone for a 73-yard touchdown with 27 seconds left in the first quarter.

The East had a chance to answer a short time later after a fumble by the West. Quarterback Gabe Henderson (Southeast Raleigh) started the drive with an 18-yard run after being forced from the pocket.

But two fumbles by the East killed its chances for a touchdown and it lined up for a field goal. A high snap forced holder Zack Lee to run with the ball and he was knocked out of bounds by two West defenders at the 1.

“This was a great defense,” Morehead said. “If we played together starting as freshmen we would have won back-to-back-to-back-to-back state championships. We were like a family.”

An East fumble with 1:14 left to play in the first half gave the West excellent field position and the team took advantage of it.

Patrick Smith redeemed himself for an earlier miss by kicking a 41-yard field goal as time expired to give the West a 9-0 halftime lead.

Although Morehead was listed as a defensive back on the roster he was also on the field for the offense and ran several reverses. After the first one gained 10 yards, the others went for negative yards or were called back for penalties.

“I was really frustrated because every time I get my hands on the ball I want to score,” Morehead said.

West 6 3 0 13 — 22
East 0 0 0 7 — 7

West—Josh Dula 73 punt return (kick blocked)
West—FG Patrick Smith 41 yards
West—Kurt Odom 4 run (kick blocked)
West—Kevin Jeter 9 run (Smith kick)
East—Adrian Scott 10 run (Warren Harvey kick)

First downs — West 12, East 6
Rushes-yards — West 40-83, East 24-58
Passing yards — West 140, East 77
Att-Comp-Int — West 20-8-1, East 18-7-1
Punts-average — West 3-78, East 1-9
Fumbles-lost — West 3-1, East 4-2
Penalties-yards — West 7-48, East 5-58