CHOCOWINITY — For the first time this season, the Chocowinity Middle School Indians were battle-tested on the football field. They faced a 12-0 deficit to St. Peter on Wednesday afternoon, but 16 unanswered points for the Indians was enough to seal the deal. The Indians win their third straight Inner Banks Athletic Conference title with a 16-12 victory over the Wildcats.

The Wildcats got the ball first and gashed the Indians a couple times for big runs, and capped off the drive with a 45-yard touchdown run to take a 6-0 lead.

After a Indians turnover on downs, St. Peter put together a long drive that chewed up six minutes, that included two fourth down conversion on their way into the end zone and increased their lead to 12-0.

St. Peter attempted an onside kick — as they did on every kickoff — and nearly recovered. The Indians scored on the first play from scrimmage with Jamie Corprew bulldozing through the first level of tacklers, stretching the play to the sideline and tight-roped his way into the end zone for a 12-8 score going into the half.

To begin the second half, the Wildcats recovered an onside kick. They picked up one first down before turning it over on downs.

On the ensuing drive, the Indians scored on two out of three plays that were called back for a holding and a block in the back. On first and 35, Corprew found a seam and raced past the defenders for the 16-12 lead.

“What are you going to do in a fight when you get punched in the mouth? Punch them back,” Corprew said. “I’m really proud of all these guys, we fought back tonight when we needed to.”

St. Peter had a chance to take the lead, driving down inside the Indians 30-yard line, but turned it over on downs. Chocowinity ran the clock out and the celebration began.

Indians head coach Alan Swain said there was a bit of doubt early on, but was glad his team pulled it out.

“That first drive they punched us in the mouth and drove down the field. That’s only happened one other time this year with a team manhandling us down the field like that,” Swain said. “But, our kids responded the right way. We battled. Luckily, our defense stepped up and rallied around (Corprew) when he went down with that cramp. He’s the absolute leader out here, it was great see that.”

Tequon Moore flew around the field defensively and made a bone-crushing tackle that wowed all in attendance on Wednesday evening. He said he was excited about winning the conference for a third straight season.

“It feels pretty good,” Moore said. “We stepped up when we needed to and came out with a dub.”