PRICEDALE – Juwan Adams threw for two touchdowns, ran for a touchdown and was on the receiving end of another touchdown pass as the North Pike Jaguars outscored Lawrence County 41-28 in Division 7-4A high school football action Friday night at North Pike Middle School.

North Pike took advantage of Adams’ great performance and a plethora of Lawrence County miscues to grab an insurmountable 27-0 lead in the first half. Lawrence County piled up enough points to keep things interesting in the second half, but North Pike’s lead held up.

With the win, Chris Smith’s Jaguars improved to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in division play. Lawrence County, under first-year coach Jaymie Palmer, fell to 4-3 overall and 0-1 in the division.

With both teams entering the games with 4-2 marks through non-division play, Friday’s match up was viewed by most as a fairly even contest. That didn’t prove true in the first half. While Lawrence County sputtered, many of its wounds self-inflicted, Adams and the Jaguars rolled.

Lawrence County turned the football over three times in the first 3:15 of the game (North Pike did so once in that span). The third, an Alex Breeland pass interception, set up Adams’ 15-yard touchdown run, giving the Jaguars a 7-0 lead.

With 2:38 left in the first quarter, Adams hit LaDarius Dunn for 36 yards and a touchdown, making it a 14-0 game. Kade Jenkins hit five of six extra point kicks for the Jaguars.

After the Jaguar defense stopped a Lawrence County penetration into North Pike territory, Adams flipped the field with an electrifying 60-yard run. On the next play, Colton Magee went in untouched to give North Pike a 21-0 lead.

When Lawrence County mishandled the ensuing squib kick, and North Pike recovered. The Jaguars piled on one more first half score. Nakia Trotter had runs of 19 yards and 11 yards, setting up Trotter’s 3-yard touchdown run.

In the waning moments of the half, Lawrence County got into North Pike territory, but the Cougars’ fifth turnover of the half, a Qmond Woods pass interception, ended that possession.

The second half was interesting, though Lawrence County never cut North Pike’s margin to less than two touchdowns. The Cougars’ Laderrick McCray recovered an on-side kick to start the half, setting up a 46-yard drive, on seven running plays. Quitten Brown scored on a 4-yard run, with Joshua Stephens kicking the first of four extra point attempts.

North Pike answered with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Adams to Colton Magee. A 70-yard, 11-play Lawrence County drive failed to produce points late in the third quarter. The Cougars got the ball back after a shanked punt, and quarterback Charl’Tez Nunnery scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.

With 3:36 left in the game, the Cougars cut North Pike’s lead to 34-21 as Nunnery hit Lane Rutland for 9 yards and a touchdown.

After a failed on-side kick gave North Pike good field position, the Jaguars used some trickery for its final touchdown. On fourth-and-four at the LCHS 18, quarterback Juwan Adams went in motion to his left. Running back Colton Magee took the snap from center and hit Adams for a score.

Lawrence County refused to go quietly even after that. With 1:48 left, Nunnery hit T-Tez Cole for 50 yards and a score, making it a 41-28 final.

North Pike quarterback Juwan Adams was a difference-maker. He rushed 10 times for 85 yards and a touchdown and completed 7 of 17 passes for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with his receiving touchdown. Trotter gained 96 yards on 20 carries. Javian Jackson caught four passes for 36 yards.

Quitten Brown gained 95 yards on 20 carries for Lawrence County. T-Tez Cole rushed eight times for 69 yards and caught two passes for 83 yards and a score. Nunnery completed 10 of 16 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns. Marcus Atterberry caught four passes for 63 yards.

North Pike and Lawrence County will both continue Division 7-4A action this Friday, both on the road. North Pike will travel to Purvis, and Lawrence County will visit McComb.