Goldsboro football faces must-win situation

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 30, 2014 1:48 PM

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Goldsboro is in the 11th hour.

One more defeat and the Cougars' postseason aspirations are dashed for the second straight season.

North Lenoir hopes to play the spoiler when the Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference teams clash Friday evening at Cougar Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

"If we lose another one, we lose that shot (at the playoffs)," GHS head coach Bennett Johnson said. "It's homecoming, so we want to put on a good show for the alumni coming back. For a record purpose and momentum purpose, it's a big week for us."

Big ... indeed.

The Cougars (2-8 overall, 1-2 ECC) need two wins to secure the third-place spot in the regular-season standings. The Hawks (2-7, 1-2) are in the same position after a one-point win last week.

Goldsboro must shake off a shutout loss to Ayden-Grifton, which held Johnson's squad to two first downs and 101 yards of total offense. One week earlier, the Cougars let a 20-point lead slip away against Kinston.

The two defeats have rattled the team's confidence.

"I think the Kinston game really took the wind out of our sails and that showed Friday night (vs. Ayden)," Johnson said. "Now we can't let the showing against Ayden-Grifton transfer into North Lenoir. It comes from everybody making up their mind it's not going to happen again.

"You've got to be focused, play with energy, play with passion. If you don't do those things, you won't be successful."

According to MaxPreps.com, Goldsboro heads into the game with the league's fourth-best scoring offense. Quarterback Nashir Bowden has thrown for 1,200-plus yards and 10 touchdowns, including four to senior Joseph Baker. Baker is the conference's top receiver.

Ronnie Tookes ranks third in the ECC.

First-year running back Rayvonne Barnes, a 135-pound senior, has rambled for 578 yards and three touchdowns.

Johnson wants to see better execution on offense.

"Moreso than that, I want to see some energy, passion and fire ... guys out there hungry to play and just having a good time," Johnson said. "I've told the guys not to look at records or common scores. If we're not ready to play, it's going to be dogfight.

"Then again, it's going to be a dogfight regardless."

An all-ECC performer last season, North Lenoir senior Donyae Hopkins is expected to get between 25 and 30 touches in the Hawks' run-oriented scheme. He ranks among the league's top five rushers, but is part of North Lenoir offense that has struggled to put points on the board.

NL averages 9.3 points against ECC opposition.

Goldsboro has the league's third-best scoring defense, led by junior linebacker Sterling Dodson with 105 stops. Teammates Taylin Davis (67 stops), Jamal Gaddy (58) and Eric Bufkin (54) also rank among the top five.

However, Johnson says the defensive unit must "buckle down" on third-down conversions, which was a problem area against Ayden-Grifton.

"We have to cross our T's and dot our I's," Johnson said. "(NL) is coming with a purpose, coming with a mission. Once you get that feeling of winning, you want to experience it again."