With Friday night’s win at a rain soaked Legion Stadium, the Wildcats kept their unblemished Mideastern Conference record and will settle the championship on the field this Friday as they host Hoggard who is not only undefeated in league play, but unbeaten on the year.
New Hanover moved to 5-0 in the conference with their fifth consecutive win, a 57-0 demolishing of win-less West Brunswick. They simply were too big and too fast for the undermanned West Brunswick team.
Cameron Clinton got New Hanover on the board first. After picking up a big gain and moving the ball deep into West Brunswick territory, Clinton went in with 9:16 to play in the first. Then Jamar Barnett got into the action as he scored from eleven yards out with 3:41 left in the opening quarter.
New Hanover then took to the air, as quarterback Colton Benford hit Travis Middaugh on a three yard touchdown to put the Wildcats up 21-0, after Thomas Trexler’s point after, early in the second quarter. Then with 6:47 remaining before the half, Clinton scored his second touchdown of the game. A rare missed PAT left the score at 27-0.
Meanwhile, the New Hanover defense would not allow the West Brusnwick offense to get started and shut them down completely. The Wildcats didn’t give up a first down until mid-way through the third quarter.
After a poor snap on a West Brunswick punt deep in their own end, the punter was forced to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety. On New Hanover’s ensuing drive, Benford hooked up with Tray Brown for a 18 yard touchdown, putting the Wildcats up 36-0 with 3:58 to play before halftime. Darryll Pulliam capped the first half with a 33 yard touchdown run and New Hanover went into the locker room up 43-0 and were able to get their reserves some quality playing time from there.
New Hanover tacked on two second half touchdowns en route to a 57-0 rout.
They certainly gave Scott Braswell and the Hoggard coaching staff, who were in attendance since their game was postponed, something to watch and take note of. While the Vikings haven’t been in a close game all year, the Wildcats sent a message and look primed for the Clash of the Champions on Friday.