Trenton Jones 22, North Edgecombe 12

What happened: North Edgecombe’s season and Danny Ward’s career as head coach of the Warriors both officially ended Friday night but not without a valiant effort. Facing a defense that hadn’t allowed a point in the first two rounds of the playoffs, North Edgecombe scored twice in the second quarter. They seemed poised to take an even bigger lead as the third quarter began.

It would be easy to blame Morris Armstrong for his fumble in the second half that led to the eventual game-winning touchdown, but it wouldn’t be accurate. Yes, Armstrong’s fumble was a huge reason for the loss, but it wasn’t for anything Armstrong did incorrectly. He had the ball properly secured and was fighting for a very important first down.

With the way the Warriors defense was playing, a touchdown on that drive would have won the game for North Edgecombe. Instead, it went horribly wrong.

Why it happened: Dumb luck? Revenge? Effort? There isn’t really a reason why it happened. Some could point to a lack of a whistle that allowed Trenton Jones to strip the ball late, and others might look to a North Edgecombe offense that could break through an incredibly stout Jones defense.

The real reason, Jones wanted the victory just a little bit more. That’s the way Ward put it to his players afterward. No matter the reason, the end result won’t change.

Up next: Basketball season.