East Davidson head coach Bryan Lingerfelt sure liked the sound of being 1-0 in the Central Carolina Conference after Friday night.

His Golden Eagles pushed around the Lexington Yellow Jackets, doubling them in time of possession en route to a surprising 17-7 win in the conference opener on Homecoming.

“With the distractions of Homecoming and everything, our kids did it right and were focused on the game,” said Lingerfelt. “We finished tonight. Offensively we are coming around and hopefully we can keep improving.”

Lexington (3-4) had come back to tie the score after trailing 7-0 through one half of play.

Lexington got its offense on track to start the second half, using its speed on the outside. Quandarius Crump scored from five yards out, tying the game with 7:46 to play in the third.

The East faithful had little to worry about with the change of events, as Dylan Gallimore would find the end zone to put the Golden Eagles up a touchdown. He took the toss from Warren over the left side and scampered in from nine yards out. Warren’s PAT made it 14-7.

“Good ole reliable Gallimore just kept grinding it out for us and that is what we wanted to do,” Lingerfelt said. “We take three downs and get 10 yards – we love that kind of offense.”

While that drive and score was important, it was a field goal by Taylor Warren that proved to be the key moment.

Warren usually has the spotlight off of himself with Gallimore getting the bulk of the offensive plays, but he took center stage with 3:31 left in the game.

With the Golden Eagles up by seven, Warren lined up for a 28-yard field goal attempt. The play almost never evolved with a bad snap to holder Blake Dodd. But the junior got the hold down and Warren lifted the lofty kick just through the uprights, sending East to a 10-point lead they would not relinquish.

“That made it a two possession game and was crucial for us,” said Lingerfelt. “Blake did a good job getting it down and Taylor kept his composure to make the field goal.

“We’ll enjoy it about five minutes and then we will be worrying about Thomasville already,” Lingerfelt said with a big smile.

In typical East fashion, the Golden Eagles chewed up time and yards on its initial drive of the game, as Gallimore and Malcolm Wimmer ran the ball right at the teeth of the Lexington defense. Gallimore broke loose for a 33-yard gain on the drive that moved the ball to the 30 of the Yellow Jackets. Much like its game against Ledford two weeks ago, though, a dominating drive yielded no points, as the offense stalled and Warren missed a 33-yard field goal wide left.

There would be no lapses the next time around after the defense of the Golden Eagles held.

Starting from its own 46, the Eagles used nine plays to reach the end zone, aided by a key pass interference penalty flagged against the Yellow Jackets.

The crucial call occurred on first down with EDHS at the Lexington 34. The penalty moved it to the 19, where Warren hit Blake Dodd out in the flat two plays later for a 14-yard strike with 9:05 showing in the second quarter.

East would keep that lead heading into the half.

Gallimore carried the ball 34 times for 177 yards and the one score. Lexington’s quick duo of Al Challenger and Crump were held to 114 yards combined on the ground. Dodd would add an interception on the final play.

East lineman Dean Small, Daniel Morgan, Allen Godbolt, Justin Hulin, Elliot Springfield and Dustin Sipes were solid all night long.

“Those guys do not ever get their name in the paper, but they did a great job for us up front,” said Lingerfelt.

East (4-3) will play at Thomasville next Friday.