It was a long night of football Friday at Gardner Park as the Washington Blue Lions welcomed the Hurricane of Wilmington.
The game was close in the first half as Wilmington held a 21-14 halftime lead.
However, mistakes by Washington and some big plays by Wilmington led the Hurricane to a 49-28 victory.
Wilmington improves to 6-1 overall, 4-0 in the SCOL.
Washington falls to 3-4 overall, 2-2 in the SCOL.
Wilmington put the first score on the board with 10:34 to play in the opening quarter, a 72-yard run by quarterback Matt Credit.
Credit scored again late in the first on a 51-yard run to make it 14-0.
Washington was able to make some nice plays of their own and soon the Blue Lions scored on a 34-yard run by Kyle Garrett that made it 14-7.
Wilmington fumbled the ball deep in its own territory, but a combined holding and unsportsmanlike conduct call against the Blue Lions soon ended that possession.
Dylan Beaugard soon scored on an 11-yard run and the kick by Brady Henry made what would be the halftime score of 21-14.
It was a tough start to the second half for Washington, advantageous for Wilmington as the Hurricane recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff at the Blue Lion 13-yard line.
Credit soon scampered in from two yards out to make it 28-14.
After Washington turned the ball over on downs, Wilmington was soon in the end zone again, this time on an 18-yard run by Beaugard to lift the score to 35-14.
There were interceptions on back-to-back plays, first by Austin Camp of Wilmington and then Eric Barden of Washington.
Credit had a four-yard run to make it 42-14 with 1:20 to play in the third.
The Blue Lions executed a pass from Jarett Patton to Eric Barden, who heaved the ball down field to Kory Proby for a 45-yard touchdown. The try for two failed, leaving Wilmington with a 42-20 lead.
With 10 minutes to play in the game, Washington’s Aaron Greer scored on a seven-yard yard. Barden’s two-point run made it 42-28.
With 8:49 to play, Wilmington scored on a 38-yard run by Jones that made the final 49-28.
Wilmington had 524 yards of offense to 425 for the Blue Lions.
Washington completed 8 of 18 passes for 171 yards.
Wilmington was 4 of 9 passing for 43 yards.
Washington carried 42 times for 254 yards, while Wilmington carried 44 times for 481 yards.
Washington is at McClain next week to take on the Tigers.
