AHOSKIE n A fake punt seemed to turn the momentum n but it was an illusion.

After Pasquotank County High School’s varsity football team succeeded on a 35-yard pass completion on a fake punt, quarterback Creven Powell punched the ball in from one yard out. Kevin Barnes added the extra point and Pasquotank cut the Hertford County lead to 14-7.

It seemed the tide could be turning.

Unfortunately for the visiting Panthers, Laquan Tann turned it back just as suddenly, returning the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and igniting a 62-point onslaught as the Bears rolled to a 62-7 win.

Despite the extra point being missed, the Bears were getting ready to roll up points that would impress the most doubtful among the HCHS faithful.

Three plays after Tann’s touchdown, Kim Johnson recovered a fumble in the endzone which, coupled with Burton’s kick pushed the Hertford County lead to 27-7.

The Panthers then punted after going three-and-out only to see stellar HCHS quarterback Danny Dembry throw a perfect 37-yard aerial to Tann on the next play. Burton was again good on the extra point and the HCHS lead swelled to 34-7.

The Bears found the endzone one more time in the first half, that score coming on a three-yard Travis Greene run. His score was set up by a Johnson fumble recovery that gave the Bears the football at the Pasquotank 23-yardline.

Burton added another conversion to give the Bears a comfortable 41-7 lead at the intermission.

Scoring seemed to get even easier in the second half if that were possible.

Just three plays into the third period, Dembry scampered three yards for a score. The touchdown followed a 40-yard run by Greene and a 10-yard pickup by Tann. Burton’s PAT made it 48-7 with 9:06 still to go in the third quarter.

Hertford County added two additional scores, getting a 46-yard run to paydirt from Rayshawn Mercer and a four-yard score by Joseph Stephen.

Burton added the Pat on Mercer’s score while backup kicker Richard Burns added the conversion as HCHS took the 62-7 victory.

Hertford County took the early lead in the contest when Dembry broke a 64-yard run to paydirt with 7:40 to go in the first quarter. Burton added the PAT to give HCHS a 7-0 lead.

Just two and a half minutes later, the Bears were on the board again. This time it was Dembry’s arm leading the Bears to paydirt as he tossed a 27-yard pass to Latrael Ashe after scrambling away from three would-be tacklers. Burton’s PAT made it 14-0.

The offensive juggernaut that is Hertford County put up 302 yards in total offense thanks to 238 rushing.

They were led by Dembry’s 76 yards on just six carries while Greene had 67 yards on five carries and Mercer had 63 yards on five carries.

The victory kept the Bears tied with archrival Bertie atop the Northeastern Coastal Conference where both teams stand with identical 4-0 marks.

Hertford County (8-1) will enjoy a bye week next Friday before hosting First Flight October 27.

Score by Quarters

PCHS 0 n 7 n 0 n 0

HCHS 14 n 27 n 14 n 7

Scoring Summary

HCHS n Denny Dembry, 6-yd run; Michael Burton kick; 7:40, 1st

HCHS n Latrael Ashe, 27-yd pass from Dembry; Burton kick; 5:00, 1st

PCHS n Creven Powell, 1-yd run; Kevin Barnes kick; 9:03, 2nd

HCHS n Laquan Tann, 95-yd kickoff return; kick failed; 8:50, 2nd

HCHS n Kim Johnson, fumble recovery in endzone; Burton kick; 7:52, 2nd

HCHS n Tann, 37-yd pass from Dembry; Burton kick; 6:23, 2nd

HCHS n Travis Greene, 3-yd run; Burton kick; 3:07, 2nd

HCHS n Dembry, 3-yd run; Burton kick; 9:06, 3rd

HCHS n Rayshawn Mercer, 46-yd run; Burton kick; 0:53, 3rd

HCHS n Joseph Stephen, 4-yd run; Richard Burns kick; 6:57, 4th

Rushing

HCHS n Danny Dembry 6-76; Travis Greene 5 n 67; Rayshawn Mercer 5 n 63

PCHS n Kevin Barnes 2 n 17

Passing

HCHS n Dembry 2-8-0, 64

PCHS n Powell 10-29—3, 95

Receiving

HCHS n Tann n 1 – 37, Latreal Ashe 1 n 27

PCHS n Rashad Mercer 2 n 47, Darius Haywood 2 – 35