CREEKSVILLE – For much of the game in Creeksville Friday night, it looked like the Northampton East Senior football players would have a night to remember.

It was Senior Night for the Rams, but the visiting Warriors of Louisburg High School scored with less than a minute left in the game and walked away with a 25-22 win.

Both teams had a tough time moving the ball in the first quarter until freshman running back Greg Small scored on a nine-yard run with 4:14 remaining in the quarter. The two-point attempt was no good to give Louisburg a 6-0 lead.

The first quarter ended while Northampton East was in the midst of an impressive offensive drive. The hard running of Chris Price highlighted a ten-play drive for the Rams and quarterback Josh Reddish finished off the drive with a ten-yard touchdown run. Reddish found Derryel Anderson in the end zone to convert the two-point try. With 11:13 left in the first half, Northampton led 8-6.

After forcing Louisburg to turn the ball over on downs on the ensuing possession, Northampton again put together an impressive drive into Warrior territory. Aided by two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on the same play by Louisburg, Northampton East had the ball first and goal from the Warrior six-yard line. Demontae Lassiter finished the drive with a four-yard run for the score. Price ran the ball for the two-point conversion and the first half ended with East in the lead, 16-6.

On Louisburg’s first offensive play of the third quarter, Hakeem Strickland rumbled 65 yards for a touchdown. Again, the two-point try was no good, but East’s lead was cut to 16-12.

However, East answered Louisburg’s score quickly. On the ensuing kick-off, East returned the ball 62 yards to the Warriors’ eight-yard line. On the next play, Lassiter scored. The conversion try was no good, and East led 22-12 with 11:22 left in the third quarter.

Louisburg put together a grinding drive early in the fourth quarter on rushes by Strickland and Greg Small. On the 16th play of the drive, Strickland ran in from the five-yard line. The PAT was good and East’s led was cut, 22-19 with 5:22 left in the game.

Louisburg recovered an onside kick, but East forced a punt on the next possession. However, East could muster no offense and was forced to punt, as well, and Louisburg took over at the 50-yard line late in the game.

Sticking with the running game, Louisburg running back Strickland found a hole and ran 35 yards for the game winning score with 43 seconds left in the game. Northampton East desperately tried to answer, but there was too little time and the game ended with East taking the 25-22 loss.

Strickland ended the night with 148 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns for Louisburg, while Small added 139 yards on 19 carries and a score.

Demontae Lassiter was the workhorse for Northampton East, gaining 90 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns.