East Burke comes out on top

Credit: Wayne Whaley | The News Herald

East Burke High player Chris Collins, No.10, rolls out of the pocket against Bunker Hill on Friday night in Icard.

By: Lee Shook | Morganton News Herald
Published: September 26, 2009

Connelly Springs --

East Burke earned its first Catawba Valley Athletic 2A football win Friday night with a 44-29, rain-soaked win over visiting Bunker Hill. It was the first time the two schools had met in football.
The Cavaliers rushed for 410 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Kenneth Gaither rushed for 150 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns. Senior running back Dustin Wilson picked up 96 yards and pushed his career total to over 1,000 yards. Eric Carson also rushed for two touchdowns for East Burke.
The bright spot for Bunker Hill was on special teams where the Bears returned two East Burke kickoffs for touchdowns. John Seagle had an 85-yard return and Devontaye Wilson returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.
"I thought Bunker Hill played courageously," said East Burke coach Mike Biggerstaff. "They had a good game plan. We kept them in the game with poor kick coverage. I'm glad we didn't play them on a dry field."
Bunker Hill drew first blood with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Beard to Chris Propst. The Bears needed just eight plays to get in the end zone. Chris Spencer booted the point after to give Bunker Hill a 7-0 lead.
But East Burke tied the score on its second play from scrimmage when Carson scampered 49 yards for the Cavs first touchdown. Justin Powell added the PAT kick to tie the score at 7-all.
East Burke's Josh Debro returned a Bunker Hill punt 67 yards for a touchdown, but the play was called back on a penalty. The teams exchanged pass interceptions with East Burke getting the best end of the deal after Matt Langer picked off a Beard pass near midfield. The Cavs drove 57 yards on six plays with Gaither finishing off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run.
Then Seagle ran through East Burke's kickoff team for an 85-yard kickoff return. That was followed by a 2-yard touchdown run by Carson for East Burke.
The Cavs defense got into the act on Bunker Hill's next possession. Defensive lineman Tyler Blackwood sacked Beard. Beard fumbled and several players scrambled for the loose ball which eventually went out of the back of the end zone for a safety and a 23-14 East Burke lead.
East Burke added three touchdowns in the third quarter. Gaither scored on an 18-yard run. Justin Lail passed to Cody Evans in the end zone for the second touchdown and Lail ran in from 4-yards for the final East Burke score.
Bunker Hill added two Wilson touchdowns in the second half. Wilson had a 96-yard kickoff return and a 35-yard run for a touchdown.
East Burke (4-1, 1-0) travels to Draughn next Friday at 7:30 p.m. Bunker Hill (2-3, 0-1) will host South Iredell.

East Burke comes out on top

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