Football -- Chargers edge Eagles in final five minutes

By David Williams
Published in Sports on September 26, 2004 2:01 AM

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Rosewood kept pace with Ayden-Grifton throughout Friday night's game with the Chargers.

Except for the last five minutes.

The Eagles gave up a late touchdown which proved to be the difference in the game as the Chargers beat the Eagles 35-29 at Branch Pope Field in the Carolina 1-A Conference opener for both schools.

Rosewood (1-5) outgained the Chargers 387-338 and outrushed Ayden-Grifton by 34 yards, but hurt its own cause with eight penalties for 60 yards.

Rosewood's Danny Langston opened the scoring with a 73-yard run on the first possession of the game. But Ayden answered with two scores to retake the lead. James Reusch closed the gap in the final minute of the half with a 16-yard scamper to put Rosewood within two at 15-13.

The Chargers again grabbed a two-score advantage in the third period on a pair of touchdown runs by Jecol Edwards, who had 72 yards in 12 carries on the night. But the Eagles again rallied to tie the game, on a Ronnie Butler 3-yard run and a 42-yard touchdown pass from Langston to Dustin Overman. Kyle Grey caught a conversion pass to tie the game at 29-29 with 7:44 left.

Ayden-Grifton's winning score came on a two-yard run by Richie Turner with 4:11 to play, and Rosewood could not answer the drive before the clock ran out.

Langston ran for 88 yards to lead the ground game and threw for 106. Derrick Bennett had 81 yards on the ground for the Eagles, who visit North Johnston next Friday.

Ayden-Grifton 7 8 14 6 -- 35

Rosewood 7 6 8 8 -- 29

First quarter

R -- Langston 73 run (Heitpas kick) 9:33

AG -- Edwards 9 run (Lee kick) 2:50

Second quarter

AG -- Tripp 2 run (Turner run) 8:04

R -- Ja. Reusch 16 run (run fail) :27

Third quarter

AG -- Edwards 50 run (kick fail) 9:01

AG -- Edwards 15 run (Turner run) 7:10

R -- Butler 3 run (Russell run) 1:40

Fourth quarter

R -- Overman 42 pass from Langston (Grey pass from Langston) 7:44

AG -- Turner 2 run (run fail) 4:11

A.-Grifton Rosewood

First downs 15 15

Rushes-yds 45-243 40-277

Pass yds 95 110

Total yards 338 387

Comp-att-int 7-12-0 6-11-0

Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-1

Penalties-yds 3-25 8-60

Punts-avg. 2-17 4-20

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Ayden-Grifton -- Matt Tripp 18-140; Jacol Edwards 12-72; Daniel Greene 5-25; Kip Lee 1-5; James Greene 2-2; Joe Lawrence 1-2; Quamell Moye 1-2; Richie Turner 5-(-5). Rosewood -- Danny Langston 11-88; Derrick Bennett 6-81; James Reusch 12-48; Ronnie Butler 3-41; Montrell Horton 8-19.

PASSING -- Ayden-Grifton -- Richie Turner 6-11-0-0, 80 yds; Jacol Edwards 1-1-0-0, 15 yds. Rosewood -- Danny Langston 6-11-0-1 106 yds.

RECEIVING -- Ayden-Grifton -- Jacol Edwards 3-30; Allan Wainwright 2-42; Ron Baker 1-23; Daniel Greene 1-0. Rosewood -- Dustin Overman 1-42; Kyle Grey 3-31; Ronnie Butler 2-37.