Goldsboro hammers Rosewood

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on August 24, 2008 12:13 PM

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Those who doubt there's strength in numbers may need to spend a little time around the Goldsboro offense.

With plenty of holes to fill entering the season, the Cougars showed on Friday night that running back by committee may leave defenses scratching their heads as they rushed for 394 yards and seven touchdowns in a convincing 59-0 season-opening rout of visiting Rosewood.

Tyrelle Jackson, who has taken over at quarterback for ineligible Dustin Uzzado, fired a 50-yard touchdown strike to Josh McCoy on Goldsboro's second offensive play of the game. The Cougars (1-0) recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and converted just two plays later on Freddie Jones' 28-yard scamper. Jones tacked on the two-point conversion and Rosewood trailed 14-0 less than five minutes into the ballgame.

"We had some Rosewood guys roll by practice early in the week and holler out, 'Eagle pride,' and that kind of sparked it for us," Goldsboro head coach Eric Reid said. "Anytime you can get a hometown rivalry going that's a big booster for us. I was proud the kids came out and executed and we even got a chance to look at some of the young guys and it worked out for us in the end. We know our tasks are going to get harder as the weeks go on but this was a good testing point for us."

A.J. Parker dashed 64-yards to the endzone with less than four minutes remaining in the first quarter. Emmeul Lewis' extra point was no good and the Cougars led 20-0.

Tyquan Sprangle added an electrifying 42-yard punt return for a score in the second quarter, and Jones and Andre Montgomery pitched in rushing touchdowns before the half. At the break, Goldsboro had its first win of the season well in hand with a 40-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, the Eagles (0-1) failed to record a first down in the opening half while gaining just 34 yards. Rosewood finished the game with 72 yards of offense and four turnovers.

"First of all, I think we played a heck of a good Goldsboro team," Eagles head coach Robert Britt said. "They were more physical than we were, though I thought my kids fought hard. I think my kids were at least able to get some positive things. They never quit. We'll find some good things about it and watch film and see the mistakes we made."

Montgomery torched the Rosewood defense for a 70-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter and ended the night with 115 yards and two scores on just eight carries.

Darren Pittman and Darrius Currie both chipped in rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter as five different Cougars running backs found the endzone. Parker finished with 93 yards and a touchdown on eight carries and Jones added 74 yards and a pair of scores.

"I saw some good things," Reid said of his backs. "The things that weren't so good will be easy to fix. I think our line has to do a little bit more of sustaining their blocks and our backs have to read their holes a little more. I know I'll never get another Hykeem Coley and Anthony Council, but we have the ability to get out there and open up. But, we still have work to do and we're not satisfied. We're going to go to work Monday and keep getting prepared."

Goldsboro's defense was also impressive, surrendering just three first downs, forcing a pair of fumbles, intercepting a pass while having another pick called back on a penalty and turning the Eagles over on downs once. Rosewood's punting unit was kept busy all night.

"We had a new defense put in and a new defensive coordinator and everybody on the defensive side of the ball was new," Reid said. "We were quite pleased with the kids effort and even with the subs we put in. Any time you can get the kids to come out in the first game of the year and execute the way they did that let's you know you can get better as the weeks go on."

The Cougars entertain county foe Eastern Wayne next Friday while Rosewood visits Chocowinity Southside.

Rosewood 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Goldsboro 20 20 6 13 -- 59

First quarter

G -- Jackson 50 yard pass to McCoy (Lewis kick failed), 8:35

G -- Jones 28 run (Jones run), 8:10

G -- Parker 64 run (Lewis kick failed), 3:48

Second quarter

G -- T. Sprangle 42 yard punt return (Lewis kick failed), 7:55

G -- Jones 1 run (Giron kick failed), 4:37

G -- Montgomery 14 run, (Moses run), 52.6

Third quarter

G -- Montgomery 70 run, (Lewis kick failed), 8:22

Fourth quarter

G -- Pittman 3 run, (Giron kick failed), 6:34

G -- Currie 31 run, (Lewis kick), 2:03

GHS RHS

First Downs 11 3

Rushes-yds 45-394 26-62

Passing-yds 74 10

Total Yards 468 72

C-A-I 2-3-0 2-9-1

Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-2

Penalties-yds 8-75 7-47

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Rosewood -- Eric Martel 7-17; Josh Holmes 14-51; Ahkeem Simms 1-2; Brandon Ash 3-(-4); Team rush 1-(-4). Goldsboro -- Andre Montgomery 8-115, 2 TDs; A.J. Parker 8-93, TD; Freddie Jones 7-74, 2 TDs; Darius Currie 2-40, TD; Vontarius Kornegay 9-38; Lamar Hicks 4-20; Darren Pittman 6-2, TD.

PASSING -- Rosewood -- Brandon Ash 2-7-0, 10. Taylor McGill 0-2-1. Goldsboro -- Tyrelle Jackson 2-3-0, 74, TD.

Receiving -- Rosewood -- Will Beasley -- 1-4; Eric Martell 1-6. Goldsboro -- Josh McCoy 1-50, TD; Enrique Moses 1-24.