Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Trojans clinch playoff spot behind potent rushing attack

SHALLOTTE, N.C. -- Maverick Pate wasn't expected to be back on the field for West Brunswick (N.C.) tonight, but it didn't matter anyway.

Pate, who has missed several games while battling an ankle injury, returned to the field for the Trojans, but teammates Bradley Bell and Vann Cobb stole the show as West Brunswick rolled to a 28-0 win over West Bladen (N.C.) to clinch a playoff berth with a week to play.

Bell ran for 127 yards - all in the first half - on just three carries with scoring runs of 75 and 35 yards, and Cobb had 126 rushing yards on eight carries with a 76-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.

Pate played sparingly, getting three carries for 12 yards.

"We have been struggling without Maverick," West Brunswick coach Jimmy Fletcher said. "We had some guys really step up tonight, and I'm hoping [Maverick] will be healthy next week."

The Trojans (6-3 overall, 3-2 in Waccamaw 2A-3A), know they will be playing again after next week's regular-season finale against South Columbus, though the seedings are still up in the air.

West Bladen dropped to 2-7 overall and 0-6 in the conference.

West Brunswick could be seeded as high as fourth with a win over South Columbus next week, which would mean a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

"We need to go win next week," Fletcher said. "We really want to get on a roll and you want to be playing good at this time of year."

Nick Napalitano also scored for the Trojans, returning a punt for 20 yards after the kick was blocked by Alfy Hill.