LAURINBURG — The end of your high school football career is never an easy thing to accept, the Fighting Scots seniors learned that first hand on Friday night as they suffered their first and only loss of the season.
The 27-7 loss to Cape Fear in the 4A Eastern Regional Championship shattered the hopes of a state title run. As the final seven minutes of the game ticked off the clock, the realization hit home for the seniors and the tears started to fall. There was no amount of consoling that would stop them, the only remedy for the sadness would have been a victory.
Fighting Scots senior quarterback Sergio Gibson was taking the loss the hardest as he buried his head in his jersey. Wide receiver and fellow senior Alston Smith sat next to Gibson on the offensive bench with his head in his hands.
It wasn’t the way they wanted their last game as a Fighting Scot to end — they weren’t ready for it to be over.
It was a far cry from the rowdy and rambunctious group that had taken the field just two hours earlier.
When the game started the stands on both sides of Pate Stadium were packed and it was standing room only as the two powerhouses kicked off. The first quarter was a defensive chess match between the two teams as the Scots and Cape Fear were scoreless through the first 12 minutes.
Cape Fear struck first blood in the opening seconds of the second quarter on a pass from quarterback Justice Galloway-Velazquez to wide receiver Malik Knight set the Colts up for a nine yard touchdown run by Galloway-Velazquez on the following play. The extra point was good, which gave Cape Fear a 7-0 lead.
The Scots offense continued to sputter through the second quarter as they couldn’t get the run game established and the Colts were only giving up minimal yardage through the air. After another three and out by the Scots, the Colts offense responded with a big run to mid-field by Galloway-Velazquez to set up a touchdown pass to wide receiver AJ Baldwin to put the Colts up 14-0 after a successful PAT.
The fans and the Scots were stunned, being down two touchdowns hadn’t happened all season and an uneasiness fell over the home side of Pate Stadium.
The uneasiness quickly turned into a thunderous applause as Scots running back Zamir White returned the kick return for a touchdown — but a block in the back negated the run and gave the momentum back to the Colts. A personal foul penalty backed the Scots up even farther before a fumbled hand off from Gibson to running back Khalil Smith gave Cape Fear the ball back.
One play later the Scots were down 20-0 as Cape Fear’s Earlee Melvin scampered down the sidelines 80 yards for a touchdown. The extra point by the Colts was no good and with 59 seconds left until halftime the Scots were in unfamiliar territory.
The Scots offense tried to get something going to give the team a boost, but on the final play before halftime, Gibson threw an interception that was recovered by Cape Fear’s Baldwin.
Following halftime, the Scots defense came out angry and ready to dish out some hits. The Scots defense forced a fourth and 14, which the Colts elected to punt and with the second half underway the Scots offense was still struggling to get any yardage on the ground or in the air.
The Scots only touchdown of the game came on the following possession, after the Scots defense forced another three and out. White found the end zone from 80 yards out, the extra point was good and the Scots were back. Down 20-7 with over five minutes left in the third and the entire fourth quarter left, it looked like the Scots were back in business.
The third quarter ended without either team finding the end zone again. The fourth quarter saw Gibson get sacked and fumble the ball. The fumble set the Colts up with a short field at the 26 yard line. Galloway-Velazquez ran the ball in for the Colts final touchdown. The extra point saw Cape Fear take a 20 point lead, 27-7.
There was still time left for the Scots to mount a comeback but on their next two offensive possessions the Scots were unable to move the ball. The final nail in the coffin came on a last ditch effort by Gibson to get the ball to one of his receivers to put up a much needed first down. Cape Fear’s Marquel Evans intercepted the ball and Gibson left the field in tears.
The Scots leader was overcome with emotion, feeling like he had let his team down. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the 20 Scots seniors handled the end of their time as Fighting Scots differently. Some broke down, others got angry — but they all had tears rolling down their faces.
The Scots finish the 2016 season 14-1, six-time Southeastern Conference champions and the 4A Eastern Regional Runners-Up.
Go Scots!
Amber Hatten can be reached at 910-506-3170.
