AHOSKIE – The Bertie-Hertford County match up may have been dubbed as the &uot;Backyard Brawl&uot;, but it wasn’t much of a fight here Friday night.

The Bears’ were in control for much of the evening resulting in a 39-22 win over their neighboring rivals.

The Hertford County defensive front dominated the line of scrimmage in the first half holding the Falcons to only 54 yards rushing.

The result was excellent field position for the Bears’ offense and they took full advantage, scoring 27 of their 39 points before halftime.

The first score came when Bears’ quarterback Danny Dembry capped a 79 drive with a 36 yard touchdown pass to senior Jaquin Sessoms.

The extra point attempt by Michael Burton split the uprights and gave Hertford County the early 7-0 advantage.

The ensuing onsides kick attempt gave Bertie possession on their own 49 yard line.

The Falcons would score seven plays later when William Howard plowed his way into the endzone from two yards out.

The two point conversion run failed but the Falcons had cut the Hertford County lead to only one.

It was the closest they would get for the remainder of the game.

The Bears would score three more times in the first half.

Two of those touchdowns would come on the legs of Rayshawn Mercer with scoring runs of four and seven yards.

Mercer would end the game with 134 yards rushing on 21 carries.

Also scoring in the first half was standout LaMarcus Bond whose 20 yard touchdown dash to begin the second quarter left at least five Falcon defenders grasping for air.

Bond would also eclipse the century mark on the ground as he racked up 119 yards on only 10 carries.

The second half began much like the first did with the Bears striking first and the Falcons quickly following suit.

It was again the Bears’ defense that set the tone as they held the Falcons to only two yards on the opening drive.

The series was highlighted by a 17 yard sack by cornerback Leon Eason that forced Bertie to punt from their own 35 yard line.

It took only two plays for Hertford County to score as Bond followed a 30 yard scamper by Sessoms with a 38 yard run to paydirt.

The extra point attempt was blocked by Bertie’s Charles Newsome but the Bears held the commanding 33-6 lead.

The Falcons would again answer, going 75 yards on eight plays for the touchdown.

The drive included 23 yards rushing by Howard and a 29 yard run by Darrius Wesson but was highlighted by the 21 yard pass from Desmond Williams to running back Jairekus Creecy.

Howard plunged in from the one yard line for the score and Williams added the two point conversion to cut the Hertford County lead to 33-14.

The Bears’ were unstoppable however, this time driving 48 yards on the ensuing possession and scoring when Mercer bulled his way into the endzone from three yards out for his third and final touchdown of the evening.

The last Falcon scoring drive may have been the most impressive.

Twice Williams connected with Wesson, the first for 47 yards and the second from 32 yards out of the endzone for the score.

Williams added the two point conversion to cut the Bears’ lead to 39-22.

That would prove to be the last score of the evening however as the Bears held on for the 17 point victory.

Roanoke Chowan News Herald staff writer David Friedman contributed to this story.