Week 2 was troublesome for Washington and Northside. The Pam Pack was pummeled by visiting Tarboro, and the Panthers dropped their first road game of 2017 at North Duplin.

Southside, however, took it to Dixon to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Seahawks, despite running fewer plays, were efficient in averaging nearly eight yards per play. They executed their offense to near perfection in a 20-point third quarter that sealed the win.

Here are the football standouts from the second week of the season:

 

AMARI PEELE, SOUTHSIDE

There was no player more efficient than Amari Peele in Week 2. In three rushing attempts and one catch, the Southside junior amassed 96 yards and two touchdowns — both on the ground.

Dixon had cut its deficit to 10, 28-18, in the third quarter. Peele answered less than three minutes later with a 49-yard touchdown run. It was the second of three touchdowns the Seahawks scored in the quarter. His explosiveness helped Southside outgain the hosting Bulldogs, 333-150.

 

JAMARI NELSON, SOUTHSIDE

Jamari Nelson was a two-way contributor for Southside. On defense, the sophomore had nine tackles (three solo), including a pair of sacks. He and Quinton Vick helped carry over the quarterback pressure that helped the Seahawks blank Ayden-Grifton in their opener. Nelson and the defensive front worked to limit the Bulldogs to 2.4 yards per rush.

Offensively, Nelson added his touch with a 2-point conversion run after Trajan Rhome’s touchdown in the second quarter. It helped push Southside’s lead to 16-8 at the time.

 

RAYDARIUS FREEMAN, NORTHSIDE

While Johnathan Clark and Matthew Marslender led the rushing attack for Northside at North Duplin, Raydarius Freeman was the finisher for the Panthers. His two touchdowns came from inside the 5-yard line.

Freeman’s first score came late in the first half. After finding themselves behind, 14-0, Freeman was able to make it a one-possession game heading into halftime. He scored again in the third to cut the deficit to 14-12, but North Duplin was able to pull away with a pair of touchdowns in the fourth.

 

QUASHAWN GAYNOR, WASHINGTON

Washington’s defense certainly struggled in its 48-0 loss to Tarboro on Friday. The Vikings executed to near perfection as they took what they wanted when they wanted. They stuck to the ground all night, with the exception of two failed pass attempts.

Even though it was hard to contain Tarboro’s powerful run game, junior cornerback Quashawn Gaynor was seemingly all over the field all night long. Gaynor ran to the ball at every opportunity. He sometimes struggled to make the tackle on his own, but he did manage to slow the Vikings when he made contact.

 

WILL WARREN, SOUTHSIDE

Will Warren has two wins in two starts as Southside’s varsity quarterback. The junior has shown impressive confidence in running the offense thus far. It takes a lot for the likes of Amari Peele, Brandon Sullivan and Trajan Rhome to run the way they did at Dixon, but part of it due to Warren’s execution under center.

Warren made a handful of plays of his own, too. He punched in a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave Southside a 48-18 lead at the time. He also completed a 26-yard pass to Peele for a first down.