Oct 4, 2008
After last week’s loss to Knightdale, Southeast Raleigh coach Daniel Finn expressed the need for his players to increase their focus and intensity level at practice.
After downing Smithfield-Selma 41-13 on Friday, Finn was quick to remind his players what helped them earn the victory.
“Monday through Thursday we were focused,” Finn said. “And look what happened.”
What happened was the visiting Bulldogs put the ball in the end zone six times, compiled 463 total yards and forced four turnovers.
Southeast Raleigh quarterback Gabe Henderson said that last week’s loss was, perhaps, the wake-up call that the Bulldogs needed to help change their mentality at practice and, by extension, in games.
“We didn’t play with any emotion last week,” Henderson said. “This week we played with emotion.”
Henderson helped to fuel the Bulldogs early, rushing for three touchdowns in the first 15 minutes.
The first was a two-yard run, capping off a six-minute opening drive. An interception by senior linebacker Dominique Jones, which came on just the fifth play of the SSS’ first drive, put the Bulldogs on the Spartans’ 33-yard line. Henderson scored his second touchdown on the following play, with the powerful Bulldog offensive line and stellar downfield blocking leading him to the end zone relatively untouched. Henderson completed his hat-trick on the next Bulldog drive with another two-yard run.
With just less than nine minutes left in the first half, the Spartans found themselves 20 points behind. Without leading rusher Justin Dixon, who was serving a one-game suspension, a comeback was not in the cards.
Smithfield was able to put a dent in the Bulldogs’ lead with two minutes left in the half when Jarocka Jones powered his way into the end zone, breathing life back into the Spartans’ sideline. All hope for a comeback was silenced, however, when Henderson found Bulldog wide receiver Jamar Satterwhite in the end zone with just six seconds left on the clock.
Smithfield scored to start the second half after a 66-yard kickoff return by Josh Snead set up a D.J. Bunn touchdown. But that’s as close as the Spartans would get. Southeast’s defense held the Spartans scoreless for the remainder of the game, and the offense added two more touchdowns to close out the Bulldogs’ most productive offensive performance of the season.
With the win, Southeast Raleigh moves to 5-2 on the season, while Smithfield falls to 4-3. Both teams hit the road next week, with the Bulldogs taking on East Wake and the Spartans taking on Garner.
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