A late touchdown by Scotland County saddled Pinecrest with a 12-8 loss in a battle between unbeaten jayvee football teams in Laurinburg Thursday evening.

The Patriots scored first on a 30-yard run by Raphael Alston on the first play of the second quarter.

Alston also carried for the

two-point conversion, giving the visitors an 8-0 lead.

A long punt return set up a Scot touchdown midway through the second period. Quarterback Caison Murphy carried the ball in from the five.

A conversion pass was incomplete.

The Patriots showed signs of answering when Alston returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards to the Scotland 41.

They moved the ball to the 27 before a penalty set them back 10 yards and they were forced to punt.

On the last play of the first half, the Scots' Isaiah Robinson intercepted a pass on his own 25 and returned it 50 yards before the Pats' Maurice Ervin made the saving tackle.

The Patriots' best chance to increase their 8-6 advantage came late in the third period. Quarterback Kyle Ocheltree connected with Marshall Smith over the middle for 26 yards to the Scotland 20.

But on fourth and 12 from the 22, Ocheltree was sacked for an 11-yard loss.

The two teams then traded turnovers with an interception by Lucas Stewart, setting up the home team at the Patriot 33.

Eight plays later, Dalton Floyd punched it in from the two. The conversion run failed, but the Scots led 12-8 with just under four minutes remaining in the game.

That was enough time for Pinecrest to make a bid to regain the lead.

Alston returned the kickoff 15 yards to his own 36.

A pass from Ocheltree to Damion Pride on fourth down gave the Patriots a first down near midfield.

Moments later, Harrison Deen gained 10 yards on a pass over the middle, and 15 yards were tacked on for a face mask infraction.

That gave the Patriots a first down at the Scot 29 with 1:15 remaining. But after an incompletion, the second interception of the night by Stewart ended the threat.

O'Neal Soccer Earns Win, Tie In Three Matches

The O'Neal soccer team has started to find its stride.

After starting 0-4 in the conference, the Falcons boys' soccer team (2-8-2, 1-5-1) has posted a win and a tie in its last three matches.

The Falcons dropped a tight 2-1 decision to Cape Fear Academy Thursday.

Alex Shore scored with three minutes remaining in the first half, only to watch CFA score two second-half goals in the final five minutes to earn the win.

The deciding goal was scored with 40 seconds remaining in the game.

Wednesday the Falcons battled Village Christian Academy to a 1-1 draw after it became too dark to play the overtime period.

The Falcons fell behind 1-0 after VCA converted a penalty kick late in the first half.

Alex Shore tallied the equalizer off an assist from Will Rittenhouse 12 minutes into the second half.

Ben Jackson recorded 15 saves in goal for the Falcons.

Prior to the match with VCA, the Falcons pummeled Harrells Christian Academy, 4-0.

Michael McGowan, Jamie McCall, Douglass Johnson and Charles Thompson scored for the Falcons who outshot their oppenent 49-3.

O'Neal Harriers Post Third Place Finishes

The O'Neal School boys' and girls' cross country teams ran at St. David's School in Raleigh early yesterday evening with the both teams finishing third.

The boys' team, led by Walker Parrish (ninth, 20:28) recorded 63 points while Blair Puleo (14th, 26:45) paced the girls to 99 points.

Top finishers for the boys include: Austin Puleo (10th, 20:36), Jordan Hunt (11th, 20:40), Evan Davies (14th, 21:42), Ian Maynor (19th, 23:05), Mark Pracht (26th, 25:27) and Patrick Colthart (30th, 26:04).

Top finishers for the girls include: Alana Godbey (17th, 27:07), Mulloy Manning (20th, 27:15), Whitney Cutler (23rd, 28:22), Nicole Moser (25th, 29:16), Micaela Wilkinson (28th, 30:12) and Hayden Taylor (29th, 30:23).

Wilkinson's finish was a new personal and season record.

PHS Golfers Win Non-Conference Match

Katie Roberts shot a 77 on Pinehurst No. 5 Thursday afternoon to lead the Pinecrest girls to a nonconference victory over Charlotte Country Day School.

Based upon the best three scores for each team, the Patriots out-pointed the visitors 242 to 251. Roberts was backed by an 81 from Tiffany Phasukkan and an 84 by Kerry Radigan.

CCD, coached by former Wake Forest All-American and 1994 North and South Women's champion Stephanie Neill Harner was led by Laura Wearn with a round of 75 and Laura Binkowski with an 84.

Monday's Mid-Southeastern Conference match hosted by Seventy-First will be held at Hope Mills Golf and Country Club.

Pinecrest Volleyball Stops Streak

The Pinecrest volleyball team broke a two-match losing streak with a 25-14, 16-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-7 home victory over Richmond Senior.

The win allowed the Patriots to maintain their hold on second place in the Mid-Southeastern Conference behind undefeated Scotland County.

They take an 8-2 league and 12-5 overall record into Tuesday's match at Hoke County.

Leading the Patriots against the Raiders were Morgan Ridge with 25 assists and 21 digs, Tatiana Suvorova with 15 kills and eight digs and Karmen Spencer with 22 digs.