Terry Sanford football playmakers ignite second-half run to fight off E.E. Smith
Terry Sanford all-purpose back Kamal Thames anchored the Bulldogs' 48-22 win over E.E. Smith on Monday to keep the Bulldogs' playoff hopes alive.
In a game postponed from Friday due to a flooded field at D.T. Carter Stadium, the Golden Bulls (2-7, 1-4 All American) , took the field to defend their home during homecoming night, but it was the Bulldogs (5-4, 4-2) who dominated.
Terry Sanford began the contest on the defensive end, coming up with a major sack, to help build momentum that led to the offensive end. After a turnover on downs by the Golden Bulls, the Bulldogs capitalized with a methodical opening drive leading to a Jaylen Wright to Kamal Thames connection in the end zone. Wright ended the game with 10-of-12 completions for 187 yards and five touchdowns.
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As the first half went along, the Bulldogs' game began to grow slower and a bit sloppy in the second quarter despite two huge passing plays including a 25-yarder to Rashid Jones and an 80-yard drop across the middle of the field to Thames. Terry Sanford managed to keep the lead, up 20-16 going into halftime.
"I thought we played very sleepy in the first half, but my coaches and I challenged the guys at halftime to play fundamental football and give more effort," Terry Sanford head coach Bruce McClelland said after the victory.
Coach "Mac" described the Bulldogs' opening two quarters as "weak" and deemed the performance as unacceptable if they had any chance of winning.
Terry Sanford responded in the second half, pulling away from the Golden Bulls in a matter of minutes.
The Bulldogs made adjustments and used the third quarter to attack the young E.E. Smith defense, allowing running back Kenyon Slaughter-Keen to get his share of touches and touchdowns, igniting a 21-point unanswered run by Terry Sanford and holding the Golden Bulls scoreless until the final minute of the matchup.
Slaughter-Keen concluded his fantastic performance with 15 rushes for 100 yards and two touchdowns of his own. The "emotional leader" for Terry Sanford, Thames finished with three catches for a whopping 106 yards and three touchdowns on the offensive end along with five tackles, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and an interception.
"We had a good practice getting ready for this game," Thames said. "I just had to do my job and listen to everything my coach said in film."
Terry Sanford looks to take it easy on their bodies with a short week heading into Friday night's match at home facing Western Harnett. E.E. Smith will finish its season at home versus Westover on Senior Night.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Terry Sanford football beats E.E. Smith Kamal Thames
