GREENVILLE – Dylan Beaugard returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, setting the tone for a fast-paced scoring night for Wilmington, who beat Greenville 60-27 Friday night in Greenville.
Only one of Wilmington’s scoring drives took more than four plays as the Hurricane scored early and often with their offense, defense and special teams.
After the opening kickoff return, Wilmington’s second score of the night came when Brett Bell blocked a Greenville punt, which the Green Wave recovered in the end zone for a safety with 9:44 remaining in the first quarter.
After the quick start for Wilmington, the tide turned as Greenville scored twice to take its first lead of the night.
Following a strip sack, Greenville went 51 yards on a 10-play drive with Jarrad Crist scoring from 3 yards out to put the Wave within 9-6.
Two minutes later Owen Paulus connected with Alec Fletcher for a 43-yard touchdown pass to give Greenville its first lead of the night at 13-9 with 2:17 remaining in the opening quarter.
Wilmington answered Greenville with its longest scoring drive of the game, going 75 yards in 10 plays with DJ Ames scoring on a 1-yard run to put the Hurricane up 16-13.
Greenville answered, though, with Paulus and Fletcher connecting again – this time from 56 yards out – to put the Green Wave back up 20-16.
That was the last time Greenville would lead, though, as Wilmington scored 40 consecutive points.
It took Wilmington just 55 seconds to regain the lead with Beaugard scoring on a 4-yard run to make it 23-20 WHS with 8:08 left in the second quarter.
After forcing a turnover on downs in Greenville territory, Wilmington needed just one play for Ames to run 45 yards for a score and a 30-20 lead.
The next Wilmington drive lasted just two plays with Beaugard scoring on a 27-yard run to increase the lead to 37-20 with less than five minutes remaining in the half.
The next Hurricane drive lasted only three plays with Frantz Cherisca scoring on a 1-yard run to increase the advantage to 44-20.
Wilmington added one more score before the half ended, this time using three plays to go 71 yards with Beaugard catching a 3-yard touchdown pass from Brady Evans to put the Hurricane ahead 51-20 entering halftime.
Greenville and Wilmington traded turnovers to start the second half, which put the Green Wave offense deep in its own territory. Garrett Hickey then sacked Paulus in the end zone for the second safety of the night, making it 53-20 in favor of the Hurricane.
Ames took the ensuing kickoff to the Greenville 6-yard line then one play later Craig Schiff scored the Hurricane’s final touchdown of the night to make it 60-20.
With Wilmington’s backups on the field, Greenville scored the game’s final points of the night late in the fourth quarter with Paulus connecting with Marcus Wood for an 81-yard touchdown pass.
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