AHOSKIE – It’s been a tough mountain to climb for Hertford County’s football team this season, but the Bears have finally found the directions to the peak.

After losing four straight to open the season, HCHS has bounced back to win five of their last six outings, including a 45-7 drubbing of Manteo here last night (Friday) that evened the Bears overall record at 5-5 while improving to 5-1 in Northeastern Coastal Conference action.

Danny Dembry (127 rushing yards on 7 carries) and Jaquin Sessoms (7-100) each cracked the century mark on the ground as the Bears pounded the Redskins defense to the tune of 501 rushing yards.

For good measure, LaMarcus Bond produced 146 yards of total offense.

The Bears never trailed, building a 17-0, first quarter lead thanks to TD runs of three yards (by Sessoms) and 22 yards (by Bond) sandwiched around a 19-yard field goal by Michael Burton.

Burton was a weapon on this night, drilling all six of his PAT’s and adding the field goal.

Manteo’s only score came early in the second quarter on a one-yard run by Emmanuel Davis.

From there, the Bears poured it on.

Leon Eason’s three-yard scoring run late in the 2nd quarter staked the Bears to a 24-7 halftime lead.

HCHS added a pair of 3rd quarter scores on Dembry’s 25-yard run and Bond’s 54-yard gallop to paydirt off a punt return.

Bond closed out the scoring in the fourth quarter where, on offense, he scooped-up a teammate’s fumble and raced 40 yards to the endzone.

Defensively, Joel Britt, Cedric Fields, Chris Stanley and Tydreke Powell turned in outstanding efforts.

HCHS will close out their regular season next week with a Nov. 5 outing to rival Bertie. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m.