Whale Branch gave undefeated Carvers Bay a scare before seeing its season end with a 39-25 loss Friday in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Jaheem Hazel scored three touchdowns, and CJ Brown threw two touchdown passes and rushed for another score to lead the Warriors, who trailed 13-6 at halftime and twice pulled within a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Bears (10-0) jumped out to a 13-0 lead on the first of Toronto King’s three touchdowns and Stephon Greene’s 68-yard fumble return for a score. Hazel punched in a 2-yard touchdown run before halftime to get the Warriors within 13-6.
After King’s second touchdown run, Brown found the end zone to make it 19-12 after three quarters. A long touchdown pass gave the Bears a two-score lead, but Brown and Hazel hooked up for the first of their two touchdown connections to cut the margin to 25-19.
King answered with a 94-yard touchdown, but the Warriors quickly responded with another Brown-to-Hazel connection to make it 33-25. The Warriors’ defense couldn’t come up with a stop, though, and Janaz Sumpter’s touchdown run sealed the win for Carvers Bay.
The Warriors finished the season with a 7-5 record.
