FOUR OAKS - Just when it looked like Eastern Guilford might make history in the 3-AA prep football playoffs, South Johnston senior linebacker Josh Barbour made two game-saving plays inside of the 20-yard line Saturday night.

Barbour's plays -- a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown and a lead-saving tackle of Wildcats' quarterback Josh Morehead on the game's final play -- helped the Trojans escape with a 10-7 victory.

His plays highlighted a night of great defensive play on both sides.

"Our defense is playing championship ball right now," said South Johnston coach Joe Salas. "Josh and all of those guys did the job. They're playing championship ball.

"I'm glad he's on my team."

Eastern Guilford (4-8) scored the game's only offensive touchdown, cutting South's 10-0 halftime lead to 10-7 in the third quarter.

The Trojans, who set a school record for wins in a season, taking their 11th of 2009, drove to the Wildcats' 3-yard line on a 14-play drive and elected to go for the touchdown, instead of kicking a field goal to take a six-point lead with 3:26 to play in the game.

South went to the air on the fourth-down play with Eastern's Tre Radcliff coming out of a crowded end zone with the ball, ending the Trojans' drive.

"I thought the field goal wouldn't be enough," Salas said of the decision to go for the score. "We ran our best goal- line passes and if we complete it, it's a touchdown. We've just got to do a better job."

Morehead then drove the Wildcats down the field, converting a fourth down in South territory before working the ball to the Trojans' 9-yard line with 10.9 seconds to play.

On third down with no time outs, Morehead was flushed out of the pocket by the Trojans' defensive rush. It was a play he'd made several times on a night that he ran for a team-high 97 yards and threw for another 120.

"He's a monster," said Salas of Morehead. "He did it all. If he's got his CDL, he could drive the bus back home."

Morehead charged for the left corner of the end zone as the clock ticked down, but he was met by Barbour a yard short of the goal line. Without a time out, the Wildcats couldn't stop the clock and their dreams of becoming the first 16th seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the NCHSAA football playoffs ended there.

"It freaked the heck out of me," Barbour said of the game's play. "Because he was coming in fast with his hand on the blocker's tail. I didn't know if I was going to get to him in time."

South Johnston (11-1) will host Rocky Mount (7-4) in a second round game on Friday night.

The Trojans led all night, taking a 3-0 advantage when Edgar Herrera kicked a 22-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

Eastern had its chance to go ahead late in the second quarter, driving to the Trojans' 17-yard line. That's when Barbour stepped in front of and grabbed a pass by Morehead. He raced away 90 yards for the game's first touchdown. Herrera's extra-point put South Johnston up 10-0 at the break.

Barbour credited fellow senior linebacker Tyler Benson for reading the play before it started.

"Tyler gave me a hint," Barbour said. "He spends a lot of time studying film. He told me to look for a pass in my area. I moved into the place where Tyler was when he moved as the play started, dropping into a zone. Then I just saw the ball coming in."

South had little luck moving the ball through the air. Eastern intercepted three passes on the night. But the Trojans did get 95 yards rushing from Anthony Crumity.

"Offensively, we've got to catch up to where we're at on defense," Salas said. "We didn't have our usual night on special teams either. We're going to have to have a good week to be ready for Rocky Mount next week."