Thurston Cox had two of the three interceptions taken by the Pride and added a receiving touchdown to his night.

"The interceptions mean more," Cox said. "But I like getting into the end zone too." he added.

Cox now has five interceptions on the season to go with his four receiving TDs.

While the Pride's offense sputtered, the defense helped them out giving Leesville Road short field situations to work with.

"The defense rose up and made the plays," Leesville Road head coach David Green said.

In the first quarter the Pride's defense stopped East Wake on fourth-and-1one at the Pride's 45-yard line. Three plays later on the ensuing possession, Austin Berrios' 16-yard reverse for the touchdown put Leesville Road (4-0) on the board. Chris Hawthorne's extra point made it 7-0.

In the second quarter, the defense pinned East Wake in its end again and forced a punt leaving the Pride with good field position at its own 40-yard line. Quarterback Josh Stanley broke off a 47-yard run to the East Wake 13-yard line. Three plays later Stanley capped it with a 20-yard touchdown run, shedding several tacklers on his way to the end zone.

Special teams responded for Leesville Road, as well, recovering a fumble on the ensuing kick at the East Wake 27-yard line. Tafter, Stanley found Cox streaking across the end zone on a third-and-9 nine play with 42 seconds left in the half. Hawthorne's extra-point put Leesville Road up 21-0 heading into the break.

"We were out-physicaled, and I rarely say that about my team, so you know how much it hurts me to say it," East Wake head coach Jimmy Williams said.

The Warriors (1-3) struggled moving the ball on offense and were unable to find a rhythm. Quarterback Chris Pernell, whose heroics helped lead to an upset win over Millbrook last week, totaled 110 yards passing but had three interceptions, one in the end zone, and one returned for a touchdown. Leesville Road's Brandon Pittman snagged a Pernell pass and ran 74 yards for the score in the third quarter to put the Pride up 28-0.

It was the only offense for Leesville Road in the second half, as East Wake held the Pride to minus-10 negative10 yards rushing in the second half and no pass completions.

"There was definitely potential to play better," Cox said of the Pride's second-half performance. A sentiment shared by Green, but the head coach still sees growth for his undefeated team.

"We're getting there. I think we're getting better," Green said.