CREEKSVILLE – Northampton-East gave Greg Watford a win in his first home game as the Rams head coach, dominating Mattamuskeet 46-0 here last night (Friday).

East rushed for 273 yards, led by sophomore Laquan Jacobs with 99 yards and Rashawn Mercer with 56.

On the other side of the ball, East’s defense stifled the Lakers, holding Mattamuskeet to just 77 yards of total offense, 72 of which was return yardage.

The Rams wasted no time finding the end zone as Jacobs returned the initial kickoff for the score, but the touchdown was called back after East was whistled for clipping.

Two plays later Mercer ran 22 yards to paydirt as East took a 6-0 lead.

On their next possession history repeated itself as a Corey Neal touchdown was called back due to a penalty.

After carries by Jacobs and Mercer drove East to the three-yardline, quarterback James Long faked the handoff to Mercer and then carried the ball in for the score.

Demar Smith’s extra point attempt sailed through the uprights as East extended their lead, 13-0.

The Lakers tried to mount an offense, but on third and 10 East senior William Bellanca recovered a fumble on the Mattamuskeet seven-yard line.

Long ran in the score on the next play.

Just before the end of the first quarter with the Rams leading 20-0, Tyrell Williams recovered another Lakers fumble to set East up on their own 45 yard line.

On fourth-and-four, Watford kept his offense on the field but East was whistled for an illegal shift.

Despite the five yard penalty Watford stuck with his game plan and Long completed a 37-yard pass to Latael Ashe, who grabbed the ball out of the defender’s hands.

Jacobs added a 33-yard run before Long capped off the drive with a three-yard scamper to the end zone.

The extra point attempt was blocked. but East held a comfortable 26-0 lead.

With two minutes left in the half the Rams found the end zone again, this time a 46 yard run by Mercer.

The extra point gave East a 33-0 lead at the half.

Dewayne Deloatch intercepted a Mattamuskeet pass to end the Lakers first drive of the third quarter.

Five plays later Neal carried the ball 20 yards for the score.

The extra point attempt was wide as East extended their lead, 39-0.

Mattamuskeet experienced d\u00E9j&192; vu at the start of the fourth as East again recovered a Lakers fumble.

Bellanca caused the fumble which was picked up by Derrick Eley, Jr. at the 14-yard line and returned to the one.

Rudolph Bishop punched the ball in the final yard for the Rams final score and a 46-0 lead.

East’s defense wasn’t done as Je’Wan Boone picked off a Lakers pass to preserve the shutout as East improved to 1-1 on the season.