The Caleb Pardue era at East Surry has started on a successful note.

The Cardinals defeated Robbinsville in a tight 21-19 ballgame to open up the season in Pilot Mountain. In addition to the game being the first under Pardue, it was the first game for the Cardinals on their beautiful new turf field.

Pardue took over the program after state championship-winning coach Trent Lowman decided to hop over the county line to take the lead job at West Stokes.

The game featured plenty of typical week one mistakes on both sides. In one instance in the second quarter, each offense lost a shotgun snap that flew over the head of the quarterback on consecutive plays.

East Surry’s kickoff coverage team didn’t get off to a great start as it allowed Cooper Adams of Robbinsville to take the opening kick back 85 yards for a touchdown.

From there, East Surry scored 21 unanswered before the break.

Junior quarterback Carter Motsinger hit returning HSOT All-State receiver Stephen Keener on a 68-yard touchdown pass to even things up. Keener completed a pass on a two-point conversion attempt to give the Cards an 8-7 lead with 11 minutes to go in the first.

Senior Troy Watson extended the Cardinals’ the lead with a 38-yard touchdown scamper. East took a 15-7 lead into the second quarter.

Later, in the second quarter, Motsinger kept it on a 22-yard touchdown run into the left side of the end zone. That made it a 21-7 game with just over five minutes left in the half.

Senior quarterback Bryce Adams got Robbinsville back on track with a two-yard rushing touchdown with a minute to go in the first half. The point after attempt was missed.

At halftime, East Surry led 21-13.

There was no scoring in the third quarter.

With five minutes left in the game, Robbinsville senior Bryce Adams hit Cooper Adams on a 53-yard touchdown bomb. The two point conversion attempt that would have tied the game if successful failed.

East Surry (1-0 overall, 0-0 Foothills 2A) will hit the road to Mount Airy in week two to try to knock off the Bears from their 31-game win streak. Robbinsville (0-1 overall, 0-0 Smoky Mountain 1A) is set to travel to 3A Franklin.

Source: highschoolot.com