West Brunswick football starts new era with win over South Brunswick

On Friday, August 21, West Brunswick football made a powerful start to their 2026 North Carolina high school football season by defeating county rival South Brunswick with a final score of 41-20. Though the two programs are no longer part of the same conference, their shared history and rivalry remained evident throughout the game.

Led by wide receiver Eden Romero, who caught two touchdowns, West Brunswick's excitement was evident from the beginning of the match. South Brunswick's early 7-0 lead soon faded away as the Trojans took a 14-13 lead into the halftime break.

Aaron Powell, who took over as head coach from defensive coordinator this year, had his first win since the promotion. The 43-year-old inherited a team that had recently finished with a 7-5 record and a playoff victory the previous fall. However, Friday night represented a fresh start and the opportunity to usher in a new era for Shallotte.

Shane Handy, who led the Trojans in 2025 before retiring in January, and Jimmy Fletcher, the longtime athletic director who retired after the 2025-26 school year, left the door open for Leslie Reeves to assume leadership roles at the school.

West Brunswick's transformation from a struggling program from 2022-24 to a rejuvenated team that started the season with a win was palpable. Quarterback Josiah Borton contributed to the victory by throwing two touchdowns and rushing for two more, as the Scorpions struggled to contain the fast-paced and dual-threat option.

The Trojans understood that replicating last fall's success would not be an easy task. Nevertheless, their impressive performance on Friday night seemed to signal a promising future for the team, as they continued their journey to keep the momentum going. Assistant head coach Powell expressed his pride and happiness for the community, acknowledging that they overcame an early setback with determination.