WILMINGTON — Lumberton senior Maurice Lewis saved this season’s best individual offensive performance for the greatest spotlight of all - Monday night football.

Lewis took advantage of the rare opportunity in Wilmington , rushing for a career-high 285 yards and three touchdowns as the Pirates dismantled Laney, 34-7.

Lewis notched 229 yards on 19 carries in the first half as the Pirates jumped out to a 21-0 lead. As a team, Lumberton rushed 60 times for 453 yards, both season highs.

“This was our best total game,” Lumberton coach Mike Brill said. “We played well against Cape Fear and had a complete game tonight. Both sides of the ball played great.”

The Pirates are 3-0 on the road and 4-2 overall heading into the Southeastern Conference opener against Pinecrest Oct. 9.

Lewis scored on touchdown runs of 35, 4 and 6 yards, giving him a total of nine scores to lead all Robeson County backfield stars.

“I just kept my feet moving, that was the key,” Lewis said. “The line did an excellent job of blocking tonight and right now our offense is clicking on all cylinders.”

Fellow running back, Larry Parker, notched 74 yards on 16 carries and scored the game’s first touchdown with 5:49 to play in the first quarter. Parker’s finish capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive to open the game for the Pirates. Lumberton picked up 23 first downs without a pass completion.

A week after completing 24 passes in 36 attempts, Buccaneers (0-6) quarterback Mike Sheehan struggled against the Pirates secondary, missing the mark on 13-of-22 attempts. Sheehan was sacked three times and stripped from behind by Darius Bowman on Laney’s first play of the third quarter.

Lumberton linebacker Jalaquon McNeill, who also carries the spirit flag as team captain, collected 10 tackles and a memorable hit on a receiver along the Laney sideline. The 5-foot-10 senior said his team’s defensive effort continues to improve.

“We only allowed three points as a defense to Whiteville and seven total the last two weeks,” McNeill said. “We practiced against what Laney tried to do all week. Coach Brill had a great gameplan for us. We were victorious again because of our defense.”

Brill credited Lumberton ’s back-to-back wins with a defense that is taking its time watching film. The Pirates gave up a total of seven first downs and a 54-yard option touchdown by Laney’s Tevin Clay with eight minutes left in the third quarter.

“We really only made two mistakes tonight and that happened on the same play,” Brill said, referring to Clay’s highlight. “We did a good job against the pass, against a good quarterback. It was a team effort.”

After forcing the Buccaneers’ third straight three-and-out to start the game, Lewis’ 35-yard scamper in the second quarter gave the Pirates a comfortable 14-0 lead. Kendrick McGill would add his fourth touchdown of the season before the half on a 4-yard plunge, widening the lead margin to three scores.