Undefeated Pender spoils South Lenoir’s homecoming, 44–12
Deep Run — The South Lenoir Blue Devils (3–5) came out swinging on homecoming night, driving deep into Pender territory on their opening possession. But a pair of costly penalties stalled the drive — and that moment summed up much of the evening as the undefeated Pender Patriots (8–0) pulled away for a 44–12 victory Friday in Deep Run.
A strong start that slipped away
The Blue Devils opened the game with confidence, relying on their powerful run game and physicality at the line of scrimmage. The opening drive drained the clock and had Pender on its heels before penalties inside the red zone ended the momentum. From there, Pender’s efficiency and experience showed, but South Lenoir kept fighting.
Proctor: “We got in our own way”
After the game, South Lenoir head coach Brandon Proctor reflected proudly on his team’s effort despite the loss.
“We 100 percent got in our own way tonight,” Proctor said. “It was a heavyweight fight, and the scoreboard doesn’t reflect that. I loved the way we fought tonight.”
Uzzell-Graham leads the charge
Senior running back Kamarion Uzzell-Graham once again set the tone for the Blue Devils, rushing for 106 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter. His long run was a burst of energy for South Lenoir, showing his combination of power and patience.
Proctor spoke highly of his senior leader:
“Everybody needs somebody like him in the locker room,” Proctor said. “It’s going to be a huge loss at the end of the season — not only on the field but also in the locker room.”
Wooten earns captain status with gutsy performance
Sophomore quarterback Christian Wooten showed maturity beyond his years. He managed the offense with composure and connected on a 25-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver James Williams in the second half — one of South Lenoir’s few pass plays of the night.
“The kid is only a sophomore, and he talks like a senior,” Proctor said. “He has the kids’ back, and the kids have his back. We actually made him a captain tonight, and that speaks to what he’s done.”
Proctor also praised Wooten’s toughness after a late-game hit.
“Getting hit late on the very last play — on the ground for a second — and he pops up and throws that touchdown,” Proctor said. “He has an amazing heart.”
Physical play defines the night
The Blue Devils stuck to their identity, finishing with 189 rushing yards on the ground. Defensively, Isaiah Howard and Michael Jones made several key stops, but Pender’s offense was relentless — piling up 335 rushing yards and controlling the tempo for much of the game.
Looking ahead
South Lenoir drops to 3–5 while Pender remains perfect at 8–0. The Blue Devils won’t get a break — they’ll return to action next Friday on the road against Southwest Onslow, another physical opponent.
While the final score didn’t go their way, the Blue Devils continue to show growth and grit under Coach Brandon Proctor, a team built on toughness, leadership, and heart, heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
