Aycock ends four-game skid against Greene Central

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on September 5, 2009 11:06 PM

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SNOW HILL -- What Charles B. Aycock's offense couldn't quite finish, its defense was more than happy to put away.

The Golden Falcons forced two turnovers in the final three minutes and held on for a 14-7 win at Greene Central on Friday night. It was Aycock's first victory over the Rams since 2004.

Trailing 14-7, Greene Central took over on its own 19-yard line with just over three minutes two play. On the second play of the drive, Aaron Harper's halfback pass was intercepted by Antonio Applewhite.

The Rams were handed another opportunity to rally after recovering a Golden Falcons' fumble with less than a minute remaining. Any comeback hopes were erased when Aycock's Greg Johnson recovered Greene Central quarterback Brandon Suit's fumble.

"We discussed with our kids that if you're going to be a good football team you've got to play good defense," said Golden Falcons head coach Randy Pinkowski. "Greg Johnson, the noseguard, played an outstanding game. He worked hard this week getting up and down the line of scrimmage. I can't say enough about all the kids and how they played their responsibilities."

With the game tied at 7-7 early in the third quarter, the Rams squandered another scoring chance. Moments after recovering a fumble inside the Aycock 10-yard line, Greene Central gave the ball right back on a fumble of its own.

Aside from Harper's 8-yard touchdown run that gave the Rams a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter, Greene Central couldn't get out of its own way offensively. The Rams were whistled for 10 penalties that accounted for 85 costly yards. Harper ended the night with 82 yards on 12 carries.

Greene Central has lost its first three games by a combined 12 points.

"You move the ball and then you shoot yourself in the foot," said Rams head coach Ken Grantham. "We're still a young team and we make mistakes. We had issues with holding penalties at the jamboree. That's part of the growing pains you go through early in the season in non-conference games and hopefully we'll get these fixed for next week."

Marcus Cobb's 40-yard touchdown run with less than four minutes to play in the first half tied the game at 7-7. Cobb scored the eventual game winner from 8 yards out late in the third quarter.

The workhorse tailback muscled his way to 139 yards on 19 carries, and had six carries of seven yards or more.

"I talked to Marcus this week about the fact that this wasn't going to be a Rosewood game where you're going to turn the corner and outrun somebody," said Pinkowski. "This was going to be the night where he was going to have to put both hands on top of the ball and show what a physical running back he could be. He just did a workman's job of sticking the ball up in there for us and I can't say how proud I am of him."

Aycock's Shepard Whitfield recorded eight tackles. Josh Dixon added six stops and three sacks. Shalando McBride had five tackles.

The Golden Falcons (3-0 overall) travel to Goldsboro next Friday, while the Rams (0-3) entertain Eastern Wayne.