CARY, N.C.—Seniors Matt Nixon, Wesley Barnes and Thomas Taylor scored touchdowns in their final game as Southampton Academy Raiders, a 30-20 win over Cary Christian School on Thursday.

Although SA finished the regular season 7-1, the Raiders were ineligible for the playoffs because they joined the Colonial Carolina Conference late.

Coach Dale Marks used this as a motivational tool for the last two games of the season.

“These last two games we felt would be against good teams on the road,” Marks said. “We thought these would be our playoffs.”

Taylor was the first to score Thursday for the Raiders, a run from 20 yards out. Tonee Hill ran in the two-point conversion, which gave the Raiders an 8-0 lead.

Barnes connected with Nixon for a 42-yard touchdown. The conversion failed and the Raiders led 14-0 at halftime.

Taylor scored again in the second half, this time from 10 yards out. Hill converted the two-point play and the Raiders led 22-0.

Cary answered on a 17-yard pass to make the score 22-6.

Barnes then scored on a one-yard sneak and ran in the conversion to put the Raiders up 30-6.

Cary scored twice to make the final score respectable.

Hill ran 18 times for 88 yards to lead SA in rushing. Barnes followed with 84 yards on 12 carries.

Barnes also went 9-for-12 through the air for 152 yards. Taylor added 80 yards on 14 carries, and Nixon caught three balls for 63 yards.