GATESVILLE – The word for the night was Cheer.

While the crowd at Gates County High School was excited to see the Red Barons claim their first victory of the season, the Cheer in question is the laundry detergent – something everyone on the Red Baron team needed after the game.

Gates County scored 13 points in the opening five minutes and cruised to a 47-22 win over Perquimans in a game that saw fifth-year Red Baron mentor Matt Biggy use every player on his roster.

DaShawn Stokely scored on two long runs to start the game as Gates County jumped out to a quick 13-0 lead. That was just the beginning of the scoring onslaught that was to come.

Before the first quarter was over, the Red Barons were in the endzone again – this time when freshman quarterback Andrew Wiggins connected with Dwane Minor for a score through the air. The PAT by Kyle Bedgett gave Gates County a 20-0 advantage.

The second quarter opened with Perquimans picking up just three yards and punting the football away to Gates County. The Red Barons picked up a first down, but quickly fumbled the ball away.

Two plays later, however, Chris Edwards got the ball back for Gates when he recovered a fumble.

The Red Barons went nowhere on the first two plays after getting the ball back, but then Brandall Riddick rumbled 46 yards to paydirt on third-and-11. Bedgett was again true on the extra point and the Red Barons held a comfortable 27-0 lead with 6:26 to play in the first half.

Both teams mounted threats over the next six minutes, but neither found the endzone and the Red Barons went into the intermission leading by four touchdowns.

The second half started well for Perquimans as the Pirates returned the opening kickoff to the Gates County 12-yardline.

On the first play, however, the ball came loose and Gates County’s Derrick Bellamy recovered the fumble.

Three plays later, Stokely raced 78 yards to paydirt and, with Bedgett’s extra point, Gates County held a 34-0 lead.

With Biggy beginning to make mass substitutes, Perquimans was able to score for the first time with 6:34 to play in the third quarter. The Pirates went 62 yards on eight plays and then added the conversion leaving Gates ahead 34-8.

The Red Barons stormed back, however.

After taking possession on the 44-yard line following an attempted onside kick, Stokely went 26 yards down to the Perquimans 28-yard line. From there, George Kee went the rest of the distance to get Gates back in the endzone. Bedgett added yet another conversion kick and Gates led 41-8.

Another Perquimans score closed the deficit to 41-14 with just seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Gates County then put together a drive with backup Logan Peterson doing most of the work on the ground. He added the score on a two-yard plunge to make it 47-14. The Red Barons took a knee on the conversion.

With mostly junior varsity players on the field the rest of the way, Perquimans added a meaningless touchdown with under a minute to play to establish the final score.

Gates County improved to 1-1 for the season heading into next week’s contest at Pasquotank County High School.