Goldsboro's ground game excels at N. Lenoir

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on November 5, 2013 1:49 PM

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La GRANGE -- Goldsboro's offense, for one night, looked like it has in years past.

The Cougars rushed for 329 yards and six touchdowns during their 40-8 win over Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference foe North Lenoir at Bullock Field on Monday evening.

Senior tailback Rasheid Malette rushed for 236 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries for Goldsboro, which had 14 running plays that went for 10 or more yards.

"To be able to establish the run like that gave our offensive line some confidence," said Goldsboro head coach Eric Reid, whose team snapped a two-game losing streak.

"We were able to play some of the linemen that haven't gotten a lot of playing time this year. It was just good to get back in the win column for the first time in a while."

Goldsboro's first offensive possession lasted just three plays and culminated in Malette's 18-yard touchdown run. Malette tacked on a 30-yard score midway through the second quarter, and ended the first half with 162 yards on 13 carries.

A gimpy ankle that slowed Malette earlier this season is finally starting to heal.

"I just had to depend on my offensive line, they came through for me tonight," Malette said. "I really like that about them. Coming off the injury I just had to do a lot of physical therapy to get me right. (My ankle) is pretty close to 100 percent but I still have some work to do."

The Cougars' lead swelled to 21-0 on Toric Best's 3-yard scoring run less than two minutes after Malette's second TD of the night.

North Lenoir's offense struggled throughout the first half. The Hawks had just 15 yards of total offense and converted two of nine third-down plays.

"The defense did a great job," said Reid. "They read their keys well. Not being able to play Friday and having a long weekend you never know what you're going to get once the ball is kicked off. They stayed focused and I'm proud of my guys for that."

Malette continued to torch the North Lenoir defense in the second half. His 44-yard run set up Best's 2-yard score early in the third quarter.

North Lenoir (2-8 overall, 1-4 ECC) converted a pair of key third downs before Landon Baker's 15-yard touchdown pass to Larry Boskey on fourth down cut the margin to 27-8 late in the third quarter.

Ricardo Woodard raced into the end zone from 25 yards out, extending the Cougars' lead 34-8 in the closing seconds of the third quarter. Woodard capped Goldsboro's scoring with a 7-yard TD run midway through the final period.

Mitch Bryant and Adrian Conyers each intercepted a pass in one of the few bright spots for North Lenoir.

Goldsboro (4-5, 2-2) concludes regular-season play at Greene Central on Friday.