By CALE COLOSIMO
Correspondent
RALEIGH -- The Broughton Capitals gained a huge advantage with their special teams play as they cruised to a 51-20 win over 4-A CAP 7 foe Sanderson (1-10, 1-5).
From their first possession to their last, the Capitals scored at will as they finished the season at .500 in conference play and 6-5 overall.
Just 12 seconds into the game, Capitals returner Tre O’Neal took the opening kickoff 80 yards to give Broughton an early 7-0 lead. After an intentional grounding penalty by Sanderson Spartans’ QB Alex Cody on their ensuing drive, the Capitals started their next possession on the Spartans’ 25 yard line after a fluke punt went -1 yards. Three plays later, Will Cooper connected with Parrish Crowder for four yards and a 14-0 first quarter lead, all happening four minutes into the game.
“We got off to a quick start, jumping up 14-0,” Capitals head coach Chris Martin said. “Sanderson did a great job of controlling the ball and keeping our offense off the field after that.”
After a fast start, Broughton would only run four more offensive plays in the first quarter, and just 11 for the first half. Sanderson controlled the game, but trailed at halftime 21-13. The Spartans ran 34 offensive plays, including a 56 yard touchdown run by Sha’Qua Davis to get the Spartans on the board late in the first quarter.
“First half we weren’t as physical as we needed to be,” said Martin. “Sanderson played great and took it to us early.”
The second half started the same as the first half did – a special teams play leading to a touchdown. Although this score took longer to develop, it gave the Capitals a 28-13 lead. Wilson Purcell blocked a punt and Carson Wooten jumped on the loose ball in the end zone.
