SPORTS

South Brunswick glides past adversity behind Danny Parker, downs Topsail in MEC opener

Jackson Fuller
Wilmington StarNews

HAMPSTEAD -- The South Brunswick football team expected a new outcome this season in the Mideastern Conference, but the Cougars found themselves in an eerily familiar position midway through their first game in the league. 

South Brunswick trailed Topsail by two touchdowns with four seconds remaining in the first half Friday. The Cougars have had plenty of seasons that started hot and finished with a struggle once they reached conference play. Through two quarters, it felt like that script was writing itself one more time. 

But Then, in a flash, everything flipped, and South Brunswick turned the tide on its season with 35 unanswered points. Senior running back Danny Parker was the star, running for three touchdowns and 172 yards as South Brunswick (4-0, 1-0) rolled to a 35-14 win. 

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"I've always preached to these guys, what kind of character do we have when we're facing adversity? This is two games in a row where we got down and had to come back," South Brunswick head coach Rocky Lewis said. "Tonight was a little more difficult, but I'm proud of the effort. Momentum changed at the end of the first half."

Parker's biggest run came on the final play of the first half, with South Brunswick facing fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line. After three unsuccessful passes, Lewis called Parker's number, and the senior turned the right corner and dove for the pylon to score at the buzzer.  

South Brunswick running back Danny Parker runs at Topsail in Hampstead, N.C., Friday, September 17, 2021.     MATT BORN/STARNEWS

"I wanted the ball," Parker said. "You've got to give the ball to your best player at a critical time like that, and I just knew I was going to get the ball in the end zone. I wasn't going to go down before crossing that line. Once I got to a spot where I could dive, all I was thinking about was touching that pylon."

The Cougars then came out of the intermission and forced a fumble on the opening play. Jameson Prince eventually scored on a quarterback sneak, and in just 1:48 of game time, South Brunswick had erased a 14-0 deficit. 

Prince didn't put up big numbers, but the sophomore quarterback continues to improve. He went 12-for-22 with 103 passing yards and one 18-yard touchdown throw to Michael Shrewsbury. 

Prince started 2-for-8 before finishing on a heater, and his success helped open running lanes for Parker. 

"People are going to play the run on us until we can prove we can throw it," Lewis said. "But once that passing game starts clicking, that running game is going to follow suit. We're seeing Jameson get a little better. I thought he did a good job putting us in position to score at the end of the first half, and then it just carried over."

Jameson Prince's second half passing helped balance the offense for South Brunswick. MATT BORN/STARNEWS

Topsail (1-2, 0-1) built its early lead thanks to a pair of special teams mistakes by the Cougars. A muffed punt set up Demark Howell's 21-yard touchdown run, and Topsail went up two scores on a blocked punt that was recovered in the end zone. 

Facing its first big test of the season, the South Brunswick defense responded and pitched a shutout in the second half. The Pirates gained only 17 yards after going up 14-0. 

"We've got a tough group of players, and we've all agreed no one should score on us this season," South Brunswick linebacker Shelton Bocook said. "We're playing as hard as we can to not let anyone score touchdowns, and we're playing as a committed team. It's awesome."

The Cougars look to continue their winning ways with another stiff challenge next week at home against New Hanover. Topsail will try to avoid a three-game losing streak at Hoggard. 

Reporter Jackson Fuller can be reached at Jackson.Fuller@StarNewsOnline.com or 910-343-2262.