South Columbus stuns East Bladen again in one-point win

TABOR CITY, NC (WWAY) — Last week, Bladen County bested Columbus County in football and for our Team of the Week. This week, the Columbus County schools came back strong. That’s where we find our 5th Quarter Team of the Week for Week 5.

It’s the South Columbus Stallions who bring home the Team of the Week honor following their thrilling win against East Bladen.

The officials signal the game-winning extra point is good to give South Columbus the 14-13 win over East Bladen. (Photo: Sarah Johnson/WWAY)

“It felt awesome,” South Columbus Daron Stephens said. “We had a lot of people that thought we weren’t going to win, but we just came out there and did what we were able to do and what we knew we could do and at the end of the night it felt good.”

What a feeling it must have been for these South Columbus Stallions to go on the road and get another close victory over East Bladen. Wins like that make you our 5th Quarter Team of the Week. The game winning extra point and game tying touchdown wouldn’t be possible if not for the huge catch by Griffin Hanna to set South Columbus up on the one.

“I was at the right place at the right time and I just never gave up on the play,” Hanna said. “It just worked.”

That never give up attitude showed true for the Stallions Friday night as they answered back multiple times after trailing the Eagles in this game.

“You just have to keep your mind right and eyes on the prize,” Griffin said. “Focus on what you have to do and do our jobs right.”

That mindset and attitude comes from Head Coach Russell Dove and this staff. Who has yet to lose a game in the Three Rivers Conference.

“Man, this is a great group,” South Columbus Head Coach Russell Dove said. “If people could just go in the locker room before games and before and after practice, they have a good time and gel together. We created a family atmosphere.”

Getting back to the game Friday night, this family really stepped up to get the team victory.

From the game winning drive with the extra point, down to containing the Eagles run game to only 13 points, they truly won as a family. But the work is not over.

“Now offensively we just have to find our flow,” Dove said. “We had some early season injuries that kind of hampered us there but that’s no excuse. We have to get ready and keep going.”

The Stallions continue their quest for perfection this week with a game against the West Columbus Vikings.

We’ll have those highlights and more on WWAY’s 5th Quarter.