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By GENE MOTLEY

Special to the News-Herald

WINDSOR – Playing on their home field for the first time since October 2022, Bertie failed to cash in on their first win of the season as they fell to Edenton Holmes 22-16 here Thursday (Aug. 29).

It was the debut game of not just the renovated Roy Bond, Sr. Stadium, but also the premier home contest for first-year Bertie coach Ronald Pou.

The Falcons led at the mid-break thanks to a highlight-reel touchdown catch by senior receiver Zy’Miere Dempsey with just 17 seconds left in the first half.

Dempsey came up with big catch after big catch and finished the night with 8-of-11 grabs for 89 yards. Three of those catches were for 20 yards or more, including the 38-yarder he hauled in for the touchdown.

Bertie had the first possession of the game and christened the upgraded facility as they capped a 12-play, 66-yard drive for their first score of the game when quarterback Tayvien Ward scooted in from one yard out. The Aces helped their opponents’ cause thanks to gifting Bertie 18 yards in four off-side penalties. Falcons’ Jerry Mabine ran in the two-point conversion; and as they did a week ago at Northeastern, Bertie had the first lead of the game, 8-0.

Edenton answered with a six play, 50-yard drive capped by a TD pass from Fisher Bobbit to Nisir Basnight. Daniel Hare ran in the two-point conversion that became the equalizer in an 8-8 first quarter.

Bertie could only manage 10 yards in five plays on their next possession and ended up taking a short punt that set Edenton up at their own 38 yard line early in the second quarter. The Aces drove to the Falcons’ three yard line but Bertie got a big stop when Damilliyon Mabine and Arion Jenkins shot the gap and dropped the Edenton runner for no gain. Next, the Aces had a bad snap go over Bobbit’s head pushing them back to the 14-yard line. Kaden Parker came in to attempt a 31-yard field goal, but the kick missed as it sailed right into the backside of his blockers and Bertie escaped as they kept Holmes from scoring.

Highlighted by Ward’s 20-yard scamper on fourth down, Bertie came back and marched for the go-ahead score with less than 30 seconds left in the second quarter. Ward let a pass fly over the middle and Dempsey out-leaped the defender and came down in the end zone as Bertie fans in the stands went into a frenzy. Ward added the PAT run a 16-8 halftime lead.

After an exchange of possessions to open the third quarter, the Aces got great field position as they started a drive at their own 48. Several plays later, Hare scored on a two-yard run and then added the two-point conversion run to tie the game at 16-16.

Edenton would score again later in the third quarter on a TD run by Naijhir White. The conversion run failed, but Edenton had the lead at 22-16 and that margin held for the remainder of the game.

Edenton out-rushed Bertie 210 yards to 87, with 107 of the Aces ground game yardage coming off the feet of White.

The Falcons’ offense was pretty even: 87 yards on the ground and 93 through the air.

Edenton returns home for a date with the Rocky Mount Gryphons on Friday, Sept. 6 while Bertie plays a “rivalry” non-conference game across the county line on that same date at Hertford County.