CLARKTON – Malachi Oxendine scored 2 touchdowns in the fourth quarter Thursday night as Clarkton School of Discovery defeated Tar Heel 26-14 in the Bladen Five Middle School Conference opener for both schools.
Cameron Newkirk sprinted 21 yards for a first period touchdown as the Blue Devils grabbed a 6-0 lead. Teammate Jake Garrison raced 64 yards for a Clarkton touchdown in the second period that stretched the lead to 12-0.
Quarterback Khalil Lloyd broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run in the second quarter for the Panthers. Teammate Damarius Robinson ran the 2-point conversion as Tar Heel sliced the CSD lead to 12-8 at halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, Oxendine carried into the end zone from 4 yards out, and teammate Isaiah Whitaker scored the 2-point conversion on a run as the CSD lead grew to 20-8.
Lloyd answered with a 50-yard touchdown dash for the Panthers that trimmed the Blue Devil lead to 20-14. The Blue Devils answered as Oxendine bolted 19 yards for the clinching touchdown.
Clarkton School of Discovery will host Elizabethtown next Thursday, while Tar Heel will travel to Bladenboro.