South Lenoir starts the season 1-0 with a win over Jones Senoir
TRENTON—Two teams trying to forge an identity opened the 2026 season Monday at Jones Senior High School.
While South Lenoir’s 42-6 victory over the Trojans looked impressive on the scoreboard, it was mostly a work in progress, according to both teams’ head coaches.
“It’s good to start with a win, but we’ve got a long way to go,” Blue Devil coach Brandon Proctor said. “We were basically sleepwalking through the first quarter. It was a typical first game, and it’s obvious there’s a lot of work to be done.”
With a roster of just over 20 players, Jones Senior entered the game already facing an uphill battle. Still, coach Stephen Perry liked what he saw from his young, under-manned squad.
“If we had eight or ten more kids to help with our depth, we’d really be on the right track,” Perry said. “I told our kids that every game will be a war because of our numbers, but tonight I couldn’t be more proud. They gave me everything they had and never quit.”
SOUTH LENOIR RUSHING ATTACK
After both teams traded first quarter touchdowns, a 24-yard keeper by SL quarterback Christian Wooten, and a three-yard dash by Jones QB Antorian Boomer, the Blue Devils began pounding away with its running game.
Michael Jones bolted in from nine yards out to give the Devils a 14-6 lead, and then Wooten scored again on two-yard run one play after a bad snap on an attempted Trojans punt set SL up with first and goal.
Jayden Jones capped off the 20-point second period with a nine-yard TD jaunt that put South Lenoir ahead 26-6 at the half.
“The running game is our bread and butter, and we had some good moments tonight,” Proctor said. “Our offensive line started moving the pile in the second quarter. We were able to wear them down a bit.”
THIRD QUARTER EXPLOSION
Remarkably, the Blue Devils ran just two offensive plays in the third quarter as Jones Senior twice ventured into SL territory and controlled the clock.
Unfortunately for the Trojans, a pair of turnovers stalled promising drives, while South Lenoir scored on both of its plays.
The first, a 47-yard sprint to paydirt by Jones, followed a Jones Senior punt. The second was the highlight.
After a Jayden Mason interception stopped the Trojans at the SL 21, Jones took a direct snap into the line and somehow emerged upright from a pile the bodies to scamper 79 yards for his second TD of the night.
“Michael did a great job of playing to the whistle,” Proctor said. “Everyone thought the play was over but he kept his legs moving.”
For the game, Jones carried five times for 103 yards, second on the team to Jones, who amassed 146 yards on 11 attempts.
As a team, South Lenoir churned out 350 yards on the ground.
The Trojans managed just 81 total yards, but were stymied when Boomer left the game with an injury late in the first quarter. He did return in the third quarter, when the Trojans were able to move the ball more consistently.
South Lenoir (1-0) will travel to The Swamp to visit arch-rival North Lenoir (0-1) on Friday, while Jones (0-1) will also hit the road to Columbia, which will be playing its season opener.
BY THE NUMBERS
South Lenoir: Jayden Jones 11 carries, 146 yards rushing, 2 TD’s; Michael Jones 5 carries, 103 yards rushing, 2 TD’s; Christian Wooten 8 rushes, 56 yards, 2 TD’s, 2-5 passing, 41 yards; Jaylen Stallworth 2 catches, 41 yards.
Jones Senior: Isaiah Meadows 7 catches, 70 yards; Antorian Boomer 5-10 passing, 64 yards, 5 rushes, 7 yards, TD; Jamar Langston 14 rushes, 27 yards.
