By JORDAN HONEYCUTT

New Bern Sun Journal

 

BAYBORO — The Southside Seahawks seemingly had Pamlico County right where they wanted them with time ticking off the clock Friday night.

Facing third-and-goal from the 2-yard line with 38 seconds left, trailing 29-22, the Seahawks handed the football to running back Trajan Rhome and he tried to leap over the top for a touchdown.

Rhome fell short at the 1 and the Seahawks had to scramble to get another play off as the clock was running.

Quarterback Will Warren had trouble handling the snap and the Hurricane defense swallowed him up at the 2, then took a knee and ended the game.

Southside trailed 14-8 at halftime and was down as many as 13 at 21-8 before mounting a fourth-quarter comeback.

Jamari Nelson scored the game’s first touchdown on a 16-yard run in the first quarter. The hosting Hurricanes went on to score three in a row. Standout Lamont Murray had consecutive touchdowns, including a 64-yard dash with mere seconds left in the first half.

The fourth-quarter surge began with a 4-yard scamper by Hayden Mayo. Jamison Bennett’s 2-point conversion cut the deficit to 21-16. That allowed for Trajan Rhome’s 10-yard touchdown to give Southside a 22-21 lead with less than five minutes left.

The loss marks three in a row for the Seahawks after they started the season 4-0. The win also returned the Fossil Bowl trophy to the Hurricanes.