With 2:34 left in the third quarter of tonight’s game, Northeastern High School’s football team looked ready to win a 2A state championship. The Eagles led 3A J.H. Rose by a score of 33-7. Ultimately, the Eagles needed a late touchdown by freshman Damari McNeill to secure a 47-40 win.

Starting with a kickoff return for a touchdown, Rose had come all the way back from down by 26 to tie the game up 40-40.

Tonight’s win was a follow-up to the Eagles’ impressive 58-14 season-opening win over Bertie. Last year, Northeastern was only able to beat Bertie in a similar shootout to the one that it experienced tonight.

The Eagles were beneficiaries of four touchdown passes from senior quarterback Trevaris Jones. At one point in the third quarter, Jones left the game due to the first cramping issues of his career, returned a handful of plays later, and immediately threw a 29-yard touchdown pass on a 4th-and-20.

J.H. Rose was able to take advantage of multiple special teams blunders by Northeastern. Senior Dason Davis returned a kickoff for a 92-yard touchdown and Keion Davis returned a Northeastern fumble on a kickoff return for a touchdown.

After McNeill’s go-ahead touchdown with 4:52 left, Rose inched up the field, soaking up clock. Then, new Rampants quarterback Jimmy Martin misfired on a deep pass over the middle and it was interception by Khamani Bennet of Northeastern with 2:08 to play. With Rose out of timeouts, Bennett’s interception sealed the game.

Northeastern (2-0 overall, 0-0 Northeastern Coastal 2A/3A Conference) is on a bye week mext week. The Eagles will be back in action on the road at Rocky Mount on Sept. 13. J.H. Rose (0-2 overall, 0-0 Big Carolina 3A/4A) is going to hope to earn its next win next week in its home opener against Northern Nash, which is off to a 2-0 start after blowing out Fike tonight.

Scoring

First Quarter

• 7:56 – Jakael Brooks 50-yard touchdown pass to Tyell Saunders. Eagles 7, Rampants 0
• 3:42 – Ty’Jae SImpson 68-yard rushing touchdown. Eagles 13, Rampants 0
• 2:01 – Trevaris Jones 63-yard touchdown pass to Khamani Bennett. Eagles 19, Ramptants 0

Second Quarter

• 11:11 – Trevaris Jones 49-yard touchdown pass to Tyell Saunders. Eagles 27, Rampants 0
• 8:03 – Jaidon Lovett 8-yard touchdown rush. Eagles 27, Rampants 7
• 0:19 – Trevaris Jones 3-yard touchdown pass to Jakael Brooks. Eagles 33, Ramptants 7
• 0:08 – Dason Davis 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Eagles 33, Rampants 14

Third Quarter

• 2:34 – Trevaris Jones 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaekel Brooks. Eagles 40, Rampants 14
• 2:11 – Jimmy Martin 69-yard touchdown pass to Jaidon Lovett. Eagles 40, Rampants 21

Fourth Quarter

• 9:15 – Jimmy Martin 59-yard touchdown pass to Dason Davis. Eagles 40, Ramptants 28
• 8:59 – Keion Dixon 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Eagles 40, Ramptants 24
• 8:36 – Jimmy Martin 28-yard touchdown pass to Jaidon Lovett. Eagles 40, Rampants 40
• 4:52 – Damari McNeill 3-yard touchdown rush. Eagles 47, Rampants 40

Source: highschoolot.com