BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity football team picked up a big win last week, beating Bayside North power North Caroline, 20-6, on a dreary, wind and rain-swept field at home on Friday.
The Seahawks faced unbeaten North Caroline at home on Friday hoping to shake off a disheartening loss to Easton on homecoming the week before. With a stout defense that forced the Bulldogs to turn the ball over on downs several times in the first half, along with a timely offense, Decatur got out to an early lead and hung on late for the big 20-6 win to even its season record to 3-3.
It has been a see-saw season for the Seahawks, who beat Indian River for the first time ever in its season opener, but failed to string together back-to-back wins all season. Decatur put it all together with the big win over North Caroline on Friday.
The Seahawks went on an 11-play, 73-yard drive capped off by a three-yard touchdown pass from Justin Meekins to Trip Ortega with 3:42 remaining in the first quarter. Austin Dundore’s extra point put Decatur ahead 7-0 early. The Decatur defense held North Caroline in check through much of the first half as the Bulldogs were reluctant to punt in the sloppy weather and turned the ball over on downs multiple times.
North Caroline finally broke through with a touchdown with just 46 seconds remaining in the second quarter to pull closer at 7-6, but the extra point attempt was blocked and the Seahawks took a one-point lead into halftime.
Decatur made it 13-6 early in the third quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by P.J. Copes. Trailing late in the fourth quarter, North Caroline was forced to go the air in attempt to tie the game or go ahead. With time running down, Decatur’s Andrew Borradaile picked off a Bulldog pass with just 37 seconds remaining and dashed 36 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory for the Seahawks by a score of 20-6.
Copes rushed for 89 yards on 24 carries, while Meekins accumulated 65 yards on the ground on seven carries. Borradaile rushed for 37 yards on six carries. Meekins went 4-5 through the air for 49 yards. Borradaile had three catches for 46 yards.