The South Pike Eagles won their second consecutive game Friday night, 36-7 over Columbia at Colee Field.
The Eagles improved to 2-5 overall and 2-0 in Region 7-4A play.
“I’m proud of them,” said first-year head coach Willie Brown. “They’re playing hard and improving more and more.”
The Eagles scored on their first three possessions and coasted to the easy win.
Junior running back Dewayne Pounds capped the Eagles’ first possession with an 8-yard touchdown run to give South Pike an early 6-0 lead with 7:14 to go in the first quarter.
The Eagles began the second quarter with their second possession, topped off when senior quarterback Devonta McKnight threw his first touchdown pass of the game, a 5-yarder to sophomore running back Raheem Magee to extend South Pike’s lead. Pounds ran in the two-point conversion to make it 14-0 with 9:51 remaining in the first half.
Less than two minutes later, the South Pike defense stopped Columbia on fourth-and-1.
Pounds then broke free for a 12-yard scoring run with 7:03 before halftime and Magee ran in the two-point conversion to stretch the lead to 22-0.
Pounds led the Eagles’ ground game with 16 carries for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
Columbia answered with with its only score of the game, a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Ellzey to running back Derrick Coleman with 1:57 to go in the first half. Placekicker Ty Randall added the extra point to make it 22-7.
The Eagles’ scoring binge continued in the third quarter, when McKnight found the end zone on a 4-yard run with 7:15 to go.
Junior fullback Zadarius Washington ran in the two-point conversion to make it 30-7.
South Pike tacked on its final score of the night on Magee’s 21-yard touchdown run with 8:18 to play.
Magee finished with 13 carries for 123 yards. He also had a catch for five yards.
Junior tight end Russell Roberts carried nine times for 66 yards and sophomore fullback William James rushed six times for 57 yards.
Washington led the Eagles’ defense with seven tackles. Roberts and senior defensive lineman Cordaci Patterson had six tackles apiece.
Sophomore corner Chris Pittman had two interceptions. Senior corner Willard Hampton also had an interception.
The Eagles travel to Lawrence County next Friday. Lawrence County is now 3-5 after their victory over Crystal Springs Friday. Kickoff is set 7 p.m.
