Roanoke Rapids easily handles Garysburg in first playoff contest

The opening game of the Halifax-Northampton County Midget Football League playoffs pitted Roanoke Rapids against Garysburg on the Gaston College Prep field.

Roanoke Rapids came ready to play after a loss earlier in the week to Weldon, hoping that this would be the beginning path to a rematch against the Chargers.

DJ Jones started the game off kicking to Garysburg.

The Yellow Jacket Defense showed no mercy forcing Garysburg to punt on their opening drive.

The opening possession for the Yellow Jackets was a good one with the ball being moved down the field by DJ Jones and Mel’Quan Ames, with Ames running 25 yards for the Yellow Jacket touchdown.

He got the call again and powered his way into the end zone for the two-point conversion.

The Yellow Jackets defense took root led by tackles by Wheeler, Ames, Shearin and Acree, and the Jackets get the ball back.

With Jordan Sheppard at the helm, the Jackets move the ball down the field with a run by Irby and then the ball was given to Ames once again for a 23-yard touchdown run.

Sheppard kept the ball on the extra point try and scored two for a 16-0 Roanoke Rapids halftime lead.

At the opening of the second stanza, the Yellow Jackets moved the ball down the field on runs by Jones and Ames.

Ames broke loose for a 35-yard touchdown run bring the Jacket lead to 22-0.

Other highlights of the second half include an interception by Tyler Shearin and tackles were recorded by A. Lynch, E. Gowen, J.Collins, T. Acree, A. Harvey, B. Wheeler, J. Robinson, S. Isles, M. Morgan, B. Jenkins, K. Person, C. Harris and T. Shearin.

The Yellow Jackets advance to the next round of playoffs taking on the GCP Pride at the home of the Roanoke Rapid Yellow Jackets (Hoyle Field) today at 6:30 p.m.