W.Cart.-CBA

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on August 21, 2005 2:18 AM

• Print
• Email

By DAVID MILLER

News-Argus Correspondent

PIKEVILLE -- You only get one chance to make that first impression.

Playing under a full moon under sauna-like conditions at Hardy Talton Field, Charles B. Aycock football coach Randy Pinkowski's team did not disappoint.

The Golden Falcons opened their 2005 season in fine form, sending visiting West Carteret back to Morehead City smarting from a resounding 40-0 whitewashing.

First year coach Michael Turner's Patriots were throttled by a fierce Aycock defense and could never get untracked offensively. Aycock's defense limited their former Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference foe to only two first downs. West Carteret managed just a meager 39 yards of total offense, all on the ground.

"I was pleased with our overall effort tonight," said Pinkowski. "After a poor scrimmage, we now seem to have our program moving in the right direction."

According to Turner, "the game was lost in the weight room."

It took only one play to prove the point. Junior Montez Ham took Brandon Johnson's opening kickoff at his own 12, turned on the after-burners, then raced down the right sideline untouched in a matter of seconds to score Aycock's first touchdown. The score was the first of Ham's varsity career.

"I can't say enough about his contribution to our team," said Pinkowski. "Don't forget that's a basketball player now playing football. That play also highlighted one of the better aspects of our game, the special teams."

Both teams ran 16 plays in the first quarter, but Aycock made the most of their offensive opportunities. After an interception that ended the opening series, quarterback Thomas Pilkington came right back on his next opportunity -- hitting Andre Reid for 18 yards.

"A great win for us tonight," said Pilkington. "We needed to come out and show people what we could do. Our 'no huddle' offense just wore them down."

The junior signal caller then called on his backs. Two handoffs to Lee was highlighted by a 15-yard scamper around left end at 5:18, making the score 14-0. Less than two minutes later, Cortez Gilbert banged in from the one for Aycock's third score.

Stymied by a fumble on their opening drive of the second quarter, the Falcons were not to be denied on their next two offensive opportunities. Lee, who rushed for 76 yards on only eight carries, picked up his second score of the evening at 5:14 on a nine-yard run.

Lee then turned over the running chores to Dontay Taylor. The junior capped a nine-play drive with a three-yard trek to paydirt just before the half. The leading rusher on the night with eight attempts for 89 yards closed out the scoring for the night with a 32-yard bolt up the middle at 5:06 of the third quarter.

"The line did a great job for us tonight," said Taylor. "Credit our conditioning program. Our running and lifting is really paying off for us," he said.

Pinkowski credited senior captain Edward Jackson for anchoring the offensive line. Tight end Brett Lancaster also picked up special praise from his coach.

Aycock also benefited from a fierce defense.

"Coach John Fidler had his unit out there just hammering away tonight," said Pinkowski. "Although we're young, we're very, very physical. We're blue collar and just love to hit."

The Falcons return to Pinkowski's old stomping ground, Clayton, next Friday.

"It will be a great measuring stick for us," said Pinkowski. "They have a great program with wonderful fans. It will be a tremendous opportunity for our kids to step up and show people where we are at and how hard they've worked."