NCHSAA Football - Generic Graphic
Dec 13, 2008
RALEIGH — Damien Lee took advantage of his chance to add to his school's rich football history.
Lee spearheaded a dominant defensive effort with 10 tackles, four of them for a loss, as Reidsville beat East Lincoln 24-7 Saturday in the Class 2-AA North Carolina High School Athletic Association championship.
The Rams (16-0) won their 32nd consecutive game and repeated as state champions for the second time this decade.
"It's the best feeling in the world," said Lee, a senior defensive lineman who was named the game's MVP. "If you look back at 2002 and 2003 and look at those guys and what they're doing now, it just feels good to follow in their footsteps."
Tyrell Houghton rushed for a 17-yard touchdown to tie the score at seven in the second quarter and he threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to E.J. Foster on the first drive of the third quarter to put Reidsville ahead for good.
But the story of the game was the Rams' defense as East Lincoln (14-2) gained just 177 total yards, 80 of which came on its game-opening touchdown drive.
"Offensively, we just couldn't keep moving the ball," East Lincoln coach Mike Byus said. "When you go to a fireworks show, you're supposed to do the finale at the end. I guess that first drive we had was our finale because we fizzled out after that."
The Rams totaled seven sacks and five pass breakups while holding the Mustangs to six yards rushing. Linebacker Michael Stacey, who had nine tackles and two sacks, capped the scoring with a 12-yard fumble return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
"Our defense did a great job of bailing us out two or three times," Reidsville coach Jimmy Teague said. "It was really a defensive effort. The offense did just enough to get the win."
Preston Perry intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble for the Mustangs, who were playing in their first state final after setting a school record for victories in a season.
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