Lancers take ‘step back’ in regular-season finale

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Based on their record of alternating wins and losses this season, the Edinburgh football team seemed due for a win Friday night.

But Eastern Hancock’s Derrik Noel picked up the opening kickoff and raced 83 yards for a touchdown that set the host Royals on the way to a 35-12 rout of the Lancers.

A week after feeling like they let a win against Milan slip away, Edinburgh (4-5) once again fell victim to the big play.

Eastern Hancock (4-5) had 11 plays of 10 yards or more in the first half and built a 28-0 lead by halftime. The Royals racked up 257 yards of offense over that span, to just 64 for Edinburgh.

Edinburgh coach Bill Unsworth said the loss was not the momentum-builder the Lancers needed going into sectional play.

“This is a huge step back,” Unsworth said. “From the opening kickoff we didn’t play well. We chewed them out a little bit at halftime, and they came out and played a little better.”

This story appears in the print edition of Daily Journal. Subscribers can read the entire story online by signing in here or in our e-Edition by clicking here.