Greene Central takes down Tarboro

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on October 31, 2004 2:01 AM

• Print
• Email

TARBORO -- Greene Central did a favor for its Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference mates, especially North Lenoir on Friday night. The Rams knocked the Vikings from the unbeaten ranks in league play with a 24-7 decision at Viking Stadium.

The Hawks are now tied with Tarboro for the EPC lead heading into next week's showdown in central Edgecombe County.

Greene Central (5-5) evened its EPC worksheet at 2-2 and concludes regular-season play next Friday at South Lenoir. The Blue Devils are the lone winless team in the conference.

The Rams opened the game with a 70-yard pass from sophomore Cameron Shelton to Tim McNair, setting up Mario Brown's three-yard run for a 7-0 lead. Tino Fernandez added a 40-yard field goal for a 10- ran lead at halftime.

Brown scored his second touchdown of the game late in the third quarter to boost the Ram lead to 17-0. Tarboro got on the board with a five-yard scoring plunge by Shawn Draughn in the fourth quarter, but the Rams answered as quarterback Travis Rouse hit Dreyan Willis with a 35-yard scoring strike with six minutes to play.

Rouse and Shelton, who came up from the junior varsity recently, combined for 128 passing yards for Greene Central. Damian Phillips had 45 yards in rushing before breaking his arm and leaving the game. Greene Central coach Jim Bob Bryant said the break was minor and expected Phillips to play next week.

Chris Hodges carried the ball for 16 yards in the first game for Hodges since having knee surgery in the third week of the season.

Rodney Wilkes led the defense with nine tackles and two sacks. Dreyan Willis provided eight tackles and picked off a Tarboro pass. Reggie Johnson collected six tackles.

Greene Central 7 3 7 7 -- 24

Tarboro 0 0 0 7 -- 7

First quarter

GC -- Brown 3 run (Fernandez kick), 6:20

Second quarter

GC -- Fernandez 40 FG, 5:42

Third quarter

GC -- Brown 1 run (Fernandez kick), 2:24

Fourth quarter

THS -- Draughn 5 run (kick good), 8:47

GC -- Willis 25 pass from Rouse (Fernandez kick), 6:06

GC THS

First downs 10 14

Rushing-yds 32-162 40-144

Passing yds 128 95

Total yds 290 239

Comp-att-int 5-11-0 7-15-1

Penalties 6-85 7-50

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0

Punts-avg 2-28 3-33

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Greene Central -- Damian Phillips 7-45; Mario Brown 9-37; Travis Rouse 8-36; Tim McNair 2-25; Chris Hodges 5-16; Cameron Shelton 1-3.

PASSING -- Greene Central -- Cameron Shelton 2-5-1, 72; Travis Rouse 3-6-0 51, TD.

RECEIVING -- Greene Central -- Tim McNair 2-89; Dreyan Willis 3-39, TD.