First Posted: 1/15/2009

LUMBERTON - Plagued by costly turnovers, things couldn't have gone much worse for the Lumberton High football team Friday night.
The Pirates, 1-1, lost three fumbles, in addition to an interception, and had two punts blocked as they were shut out 27-0 by visiting Scotland County, 2-0.
&#8220I thought our kids did a great job competing against Scotland, one of the best programs in the state, but you can't give up two blocked punts and let them go a total of 35 yards to score two touchdowns and you can't keep giving them a short field,” said Pirates coach Bill Dockery. &#8220We did more to give Scotland County momentum than they did to take it away from us.”
Lumberton's first turnover came less than three minutes into the game when fullback Bobby Moore fumbled at the Pirates' 11-yard line. With a short field ahead of him, Scots running back Justin Williams took two carries to reach paydirt.

On Lumberton's next possession, Pirates punter Lance Burleson had his punt blocked by Scotland's J.D. Douglas - the first of two punts blocked by Douglas on the night - and the Scots recovered at the Pirates' 35-yard line. Williams would eventually reach the endzone only to have it called back due to a holding penalty, forcing the Scots to settle for a field goal.
&#8220We're not to the point yet where we can make these mistakes and beat a Scotland County,” Dockery said.
Williams added another touchdown later in the half and Scots kicker Jay Wooten - who has verbally committed to UNC - connected on the second of his three field goals to give the Scots a 20-0 halftime advantage.
&#8220We told the players (at halftime) that Scotland hadn't done anything to us,” Dockery said. &#8220So maybe we can go out in the second half and work to help ourselves.”
To start the second half, the Pirates did just that as they put together their best drive of the game. Again, however, the drive ended after a crucial turnover.
After a 43-yard pass from Lumberton quarterback Kyle Allen to receiver Quinn Floyd got the Pirates to the Scots' 17, running back Jeffery Bromell pounded the ball down inside the 1-yard line. On the next play, though, Allen was hit by Scots lineman Travarian Robertson and lost the ball.
&#8220I think that was the turning point,” Dockery said. &#8220That was the one that really broke us. … I just knew we were going to score, but that happened and that just took the wind out of our sails.”
Scotland added another touchdown in the fourth when Williams, who finished with 127 yards on 17 carries, broke outside and raced 58 yards to the endzone.