SWANSBORO – Bertie traveled to Swansboro Friday, but came up short, falling to the Pirates 19-6 in a game marred by penalties on both sides.

The yellow flag was thrown 24 times amassing 331 total penalty yards and while Swansboro was responsible for 173 of those yards, it was the Falcons who seemed to victimize themselves at the worst possible times.

Bertie Head Coach Greg Watford was dissatisfied after the loss.

“So much of it was mental, that is what makes it so disappointing,” Watford said.

The Falcons barely saw the ball in the first quarter, deferring the kick to the second half and fumbling on their first and only possession.

Fortunately for Bertie, the Pirates were unable to capitalize on a long opening drive and the first quarter came to a close with the score knotted at zero.

The Pirates missed their second field goal of the game on the second play of the second quarter, but Bertie was flagged for running into the kicker.

Swansboro made use of the second opportunity and took the 3-0 lead with 11:04 remaining in the first half.

Bertie responded however with a six-play, 42-yard drive capped off by a 29-yard touchdown scamper by Jonathan Wilson with 8:49 to play in the second quarter.

Swansboro would immediately answer with a field goal, going 45 yards to setup the kick from the 15-yard line and tie the game at 6-6 with 2:39 left in the half.

Neither defense seemed willing to break after half time as both teams traded the ball, unable to score. That ended with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter when Pirate sophomore DeAndre Thompkins turned the corner on a reverse going 36 yards to pay dirt. The PAT failed and Swansboro took the 12-6 lead.

Both teams fumbled on consecutive possessions and the third quarter came to a close with the Falcons down six.

The opening drive of the fourth quarter ended when Bertie fumbled the snap to the punter and the Pirates took over on the 38-yard line.

Swansboro pounded the ball between the tackles and 5 plays later reached the end zone when junior fullback Willie Ware plunged in from two yards out to give Swansboro the 19-6 lead and what would prove to be the final score of the game.

The loss takes Bertie’s record to 1-1-1. The Falcons will host KIPP-Pride on Friday. Kick-off is 7:30 at Roy L. Bond Jr. Stadium.