Going into Friday's game against Pinecrest, Lumberton had completed only 11 passes on 40 attempts in six games. In the 45-14 win over the Patriots, quarterback Jason Maynor was 5-for-5. Including a trick end-around pass thrown for a 28-yard touchdown by Damien Troy, the Pirates were 6-for-6 for 97 yards.

While two-time 1,000-yard rusher Maurice Lewis was being held to 12 yards on eight carries in the first half, the Pirates completed all four of their pass attempts. They went on to gain 316 yards on the ground -- just under their season average of 334.

"We had a strategy in the game to lose yards to make yards and we did it," Lumberton coach Mike Brill said afterward. "The big thing we did was throw the ball to open things up. I don't think they were expecting us to pass at all -- nobody was. We were going to throw it a whole lot more, believe it or not. We can throw."

Ben Williams completed 6-of-14 passes for 65 yards for the Patriots with James Baldwin catching three of them for 32 yards. The 87-yard punt return by the Pats' Jyhe Utley gave the defensive back his third touchdown of the season. The other two came on a fumble return and an interception return.

Lumberton kicker Conner Haskins, who accounted for nine points on six conversions and a field goal, had the assist on the only Lumberton goal during a 7-1 loss to the Pinecrest soccer team on Wednesday. The Pirate goal was scored by Jared Scott, the Lumberton place kicker in Thursday's jayvee contest.

As the Patriot players were taking a cool down sprint across the field after Friday night's loss, coach Chris Metzger exhorted them on. "We will get better, we will find a way," he shouted to them.

While the players lined up for one more run, the coach told them they would be meeting a Scotland County team next Friday on the road that was 1-0 in the league based on a third quarter score given by the stadium announcer, indicating it led undefeated Purnell Swett 29-16.

A Scotland win would have probably suited the Pinecrest and Lumberton coaches just fine, but it was not to be. It was learned a few minutes later that the Rams (7-0) rallied to win 38-37.

In Friday night's other Southeastern Conference game, Richmond Senior (6-1) trounced Hoke County (1-6) 49-20. Richmond and Purnell Swett meet this coming Friday in Rockingham.