By By KEVIN TRAVIS. Sun Journal Staff
BAYBORO – Jordan Benston, Southside’s back-up quarterback, was pressed into duty late in the game when starter Terril Moore went down with an injury. Benston made the most of his opportunity, scoring from a yard out on fourth down in the second overtime to lift the Seahawks to a thrilling 18-12 win over the Pamlico Hurricanes.
“I was nervous, but I knew I had to step up,” Benston said. “It felt good (to score the game-winner). My line helped me get the touchdown.”
The win gave Southside a 3-0 start, its best start since starting the 2005 season 13-0.
“This game right here helped with maturity more than anything,” Southside coach DeWayne Kellum said. “Having to face adversity, that’s what I liked about it. I’m glad we came out on top because we knew this was going to be a test.”
The Seahawks jumped out to a 12-0 lead on their first two possessions. Moore (10 carries, 78 yards) capped off a 9-play, 58-yard drive on the game’s opening possession with a two-yard plunge on fourth down. An 18-yard scamper by Julien Brown (25 carries, 75 yards) set up the score.
Southside then recovered the ensuing kickoff. Brown’s six-yard run ended the drive for a 12-0 lead.
Pamlico (2-1) rallied with 12 second-half points. Quarterback Worth Cowell scored from a yard out in the third quarter.
Cowell then hit Jordan Egan with a 17-yard pass with six minutes to play in the fourth to tie the game.
Treyshawn Blount picked off a pass on Pamlico’s first possession in overtime.
The Hurricanes’ Cody Molosky intercepted Benston on Southside’s turn.
Pamlico couldn’t move the ball in the second overtime.
Benston just broke the plane of the goal line on Southside’s possession, leading to the victory.
“We needed that,” Kellum said. “That was big.”
Southside plays host to Columbia on Sept. 10.
Kevin Travis can be reached at 252-635-5669 or at ktravis@freedomenc.com.
Pamlico 34, Southside 8
Southside 12 0 0 0 0 6— 18
Pamlico 0 0 6 6 0 0 — 12
First quarter
S — Terril Moore 2 run (run failed), 7:37
S — Julien Brown 6 run (run failed), 4:18
Third quarter
P — Worth Cowell 1 run (run failed), 1:02
Fourth quarter
P — Jordan Egan 17 pass from Cowell (pass failed), 6:00
Second overtime
S — Jordan Benston 1 run
Team stats S P
First downs 13 11
Total yards 225 220
Rushes-yards 60-225 34-123
Comp-Att-Int. 0-5-2 6-15-1
Punts-Avg. 6-25.0 2-31.0
Fumbles-lost 2-1 4-1
Penalties-yards 6-48 8-65
Individual stats
Passing — Southside: Terril Moore 0-3-1-0, Jordan Benston 0-2-1-0. Pamlico: Worth Cowell 6-15-1-97.
Rushing — Southside: Terril Moore 10-78 TD, Julien Brown 25-75 TD, Brandon Jordan 11-27, Marcus O’Neal 7-20, Treyshawn Blount 3-18, Jordan Benston 3-11 TD, Rakeem Miller 1-(-4). Pamlico: Cody Molosky 15-77, Jaquan Gibbs 7-56, Lucas Fornes 1-3, Juawon King 2-1, Antonio Jones 1-0, Worth Cowell 10-(-16) TD.
Receiving — Southside: None. Pamlico: Rakeem Best 3-77, Jordan Egan 2-20 TD, Cody Molosky 1-0.