Herald-Sun correspondent
DURHAM -- Southern was too good on offense, too good on defense and, well, too good for East Chapel Hill.
The Spartans (8-1, 4-0) had seven different players score a touchdown in a 47-0 thrashing of the Wildcats (1-8, 1-3).
"We did a good job of getting the ball in the end zone on offense, and I'm very proud of our offense," Southern coach Adrian Jones said. "But we had too many penalties, and penalties will end up hurting us in the long run if we don't take care of them."
After forcing a three-and-out on East's first possession, Southern needed just five plays to pick up its first touchdown. As they have so many times before at Southern, senior quarterback Alan Lea found senior receiver Tony Creecy on a deep fade for a 28-yard touchdown.
On the next play from scrimmage, Southern's defense got involved. Senior Terry Ross scooped up a fumble and scampered 34 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead.
The Wildcats' offense fumbled for the second time in three plays, and again the Spartans recovered. This time Southern's Telvon Thacker picked up the loose ball to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Alonzo Hedgepeth six plays later.
Southern needed just three plays on its next possession to make it a 27-0 lead. This time Desmond Lawrence squirted through the right side of the East defense for a 37-yard score.
When the first half ended, Southern had run 28 plays on offense to ECH's 12 and had outgained the Wildcats 194 yards to 8 yards. The Wildcats finished the game with minus-3 yards.
"On defense, we have been preaching shutouts, and we got one tonight," Jones said. "We are starting to jell on that side of the ball at the right time of the season."
Lea was picked off on the first play from scrimmage in the second half by East's Thomas Moore, who returned the ball down to the Southern 2-yard line. The Spartans' defense held, however, and the offense took over on its 17.
Southern's offense then went on a ball-controlling, 15-play, 83-yard drive that consumed most of the third quarter and gave Southern a 34-0 lead. Lea lunged 4 yards for the Spartans' fifth touchdown of the game.
Southern forced another three-and-out and needed just one play for backup quarterback Dorian Belcher to race to a 71-yard touchdown. Two plays later, Southern recovered another fumble to set up a 19-yard touchdown pass from Belcher to Kijuan Amey to make the score 47-0.
Southern 47, East Chapel Hill 0
East Chapel Hill 0 0 0 0-- 0
Southern 20 7 14 6--47
SCORING SUMMARY
S--Tony Creecy 28 pass from Alan Lea (Martinez kick), 6:33.
S--Terry Ross 34 fumble return (kick failed), 4:37.
S--Alonzo Hedgepeth 2 rush (Martinez kick), 0:59.
S--Desmond Lawrence 37 rush (Reavis kick), 9:14.
S--Lea 4 rush (Martinez kick), 3:26.
S--Dorian Belcher 71 rush (Reavis kick), 0:58.
S--Kijuan Amey 19 pass from Belcher (kick failed), 10:04.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--East Chapel Hill, Aquez Willis 10-10, Drew Moore 4-9, Thomas Moore 1-0, Drew Davis 4-(-30); Southern, Belcher 1-71, Lawrence 5-65, Hedgepeth 8-62, Jamal Bullock 7-52, Jeremy Thompson 7-47, Lea 9-38, Winston Williams 3-7.
PASSING--East Chapel Hill, Davis 1-7-8-0; Southern, Lea 6-13-87-1, Belcher 2-2-22-0.
RECEIVING--East Chapel Hill, Thomas Meyer 1-8; Southern, Creecy 2-51, Quentin Lloyd 1-21, Amey 1-19, Antonio Fogg 2-11, Khamari Everett 2-7.
Records--Southern 8-1, 4-0 PAC-6; East Chapel Hill 1-8, 1-3.
