PILOT MOUNTAIN — There are sayings within football circles used so often they become cliché. Phrases like, “Taking it one game at a time,” or “Play hard no matter who’s across the field,” come to mind. But there is one game on the football schedule with an increased significance for East Surry’s Joe Reid Denny, and last night’s 42-7 homecoming drubbing of South Stokes was that night.

It was nine years ago on the eve of homecoming when Denny lost his older brother, Cameron Collins Denny, to cancer. While Cameron was, “really academic,” as Joe Reid described him, he loved to watch his four-years-younger brother play football. Homecoming is always a bittersweet reminder of the joy they shared and the tragic loss for Joe Reid.

“It’s different not having someone there that really loved to watch me play,” Joe Reid said after the game. “He really loved to watch me play...I know he’s still looking down on me.”

Instead of tears or a frown, Joe Reid’s face lit up and he smiled from ear to ear when speaking about his older brother. And Cameron would have been proud of the way his little brother played Friday night, as he rushed for 39 yards on seven attempts, blocked a punt and was his usual terrorizing self on defense.

“You go out, play hard and do one for the family,” he said. “Especially on homecoming. You let the family know that we play hard all the time.”

Denny was one of several East Surry seniors that played the first three offensive and defensive series against a Sauras team so decimated that by the third quarter only three reserves were left on the sideline.

Hunter Diamont rumbled for a game-high 65 rushing yards on five carries and found the end zone three times. Wide receiver Andrew Hunter had 42 rushing yards on three carries and scored twice on reverses. The Sauras were held to 43 rushing yards on 32 carries and mustered 57 yards of total offense against 250 for East Surry.

“It was one of those nights where everything went right,” Cardinals coach Dave Diamont said.

The Cardinals (8-0. 4-0 Northwest 1A/2A) benefited from not having lost a player to injury for the first time in three contests, Diamont said.

East Surry remained one of the conference’s two unbeatens (along with Mount Airy) by destroying a South Stokes (0-7, 0-4) squad short on players and lacking the skilled athletes to run with the Cardinals. Most of the Cardinals starters were taken out midway through the third quarter and South Stokes didn’t find the end zone until the final play of the game. The extra rest could pay dividends down the road.

“You can’t expect 15-, 16-, 17-year-old kids to go full bore all year long,” Diamont said. “We have not had the privilege or the opportunity to play kids that practice hard all year, so tonight was definitely that kind of night.”

And that will lead to better practices and games, Diamont believes.

“It’s going to help us morale-wise,” he said. “If the kid gets to play in the game, he’s going to practice harder. If he practices harder, it makes the whole ball club better.”

Contact Ed Phillipps at edphillipps@mtairynews.com or 719-1921.