Pinkowski receives extra birthday present Friday

By David Miller
Published in Sports on September 18, 2005 2:09 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock head football coach Randy Pinkowski couldn't have asked for a better 45th birthday present Friday evening at Hardy Talton Stadium.

Cortez Gilbert returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and that set the tone in a 41-7, non-conference victory over Wilson Fike -- believed to be the first-ever win against the Golden Demons in school history.

Fike (0-4) suffered its second consecutive defeat against Wayne County school in as many weeks. Eastern Wayne converted a last-second field goal last Friday and dealt the Golden Demons a 17-14 setback.

Gilbert's game-opening romp proved to be just the beginning of the Golden Falcons' offensive onslaught.

Working from the shadow of its own end zone, Aycock started a quick touchdown drive from the 1-yard line. Junior quarterback Thomas Pilkington needed just three plays to engineer the Golden Falcons' second touchdown.

After Josh Overton bulldozed his way to the 16, Dontay Taylor took the next snap from Pilkington. Taylor headed right on the sweep play, but cut back to his left. Once he ventured into open real estate, Taylor rambled to the end zone untouched for the first of three touchdowns.

With a defense led by linebacker Travis Milligan keeping Fike at bay, Pilkington needed only one play the next time he got the ball. Taylor snagged a 34-yard scoring toss with 3 minutes, 25 seconds remaining in the first period.

Pilkington, who was 4 for 9 for 94 yards and two touchdowns for the night, went back to the speedy Gilbert for his club's two scores in the second quarter. No match for Fike's defense, Gilbert snared an 8-yard touchdown strike. One series later, Gilbert broke loose for a 32-yard touchdown run.

Taylor Beamon successfully converted four first-half PATs and six of seven overall. The former soccer player figured into 13 plays, including consistently putting the Golden Demons in poor field position.

"My leg was feeling great tonight," said Beamon, who credited his extra attention on technique to assistant coach John Fidler.

"He's going to give us 'a leg up' out there for us the rest of the season," said Pinkowski. "Special teams were 'extra special for us out there tonight. Blocking a punt, our final touchdown of the night, and running a kickoff back for touchdowns goes back to how we have to play football here," he said.

"We just can't rely on the offense or defense to carry the load. We have to attack and play well in all three areas."

Aycock (3-2) has developed a strong nucleus of running backs through its first five games. Taylor collected more than 100 yards rushing. Gilbert, Spruce Lee and Carlos Dobbins combined for 112 yards on 15 carries.

"Our backs and offensive line, particularly center Josh Wall and guard Shane Lozier, have rededicated themselves to hitting the holes and picking up their blocks," explained Pinkowski. "Despite a lot of cramping, we had just enough speed and conditioning to stretch the field and get some long gains.

"We made some adjustments to their shotgun offense that paid off big for us. Gilbert was all over the field. Thomas Artis did well replacing the injured Montez Ham."

The Golden Falcons continue play at home next Friday against North Lenoir. The teams are meeting for the first time since 2002 when Aycock prevailed 41-21 in LaGrange.

Wilson Fike 0 0 7 0 -- 7

C.B. Aycock 21 13 7 0 -- 41

First quarter

CBA -- Gilbert 95 yd kick-off return (Beamon kick), 11:45

CBA -- Taylor 16 run (Beamon kick), 6:22

CBA -- Taylor 34 pass from Pilkington (Beamon kick), 3:25

Second quarter

CBA -- Gilbert 8 pass from Pilkington (Beamon kick) 10:03

CBA -- Gilbert 32 run (kick blocked), 7:41

Third quarter

CBA -- Reid kick recovery (Beamon kick), 6:34

WF -- Johnson 11 run (Fleming kick), 2:14

Fike Aycock

First downs 10 12

Rushes-yds 37-162 35-187

Passing yds 32 94

Total yards 194 281

Att.-Comp.-Int. 16-2-2 9-4-2

Fumbles-lost 4-3 1-0

Punts-avg. 5-23.8 2-30.0

Penalties-yds 1-10 6-50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Wilson Fike -- Marcus Johnson 16-63, 1 TD; Corey Jackson 9-46; Griffin Benton 8-43; Dajuan Lucas 1-9; Rashad Parker 1-1; Garbriel Amply 2-0. C.B. Aycock -- Dontay Taylor 3-113, 2 TDs; Cortez Gilbert 5-43, 2 TDs; Spruce Lee 9-41; Carlos Dobbins 1-28; Josh Overton 1-12; Joseph Toler 1-(-5); Thomas Pilkington 4-(-35).

PASSING -- Wilson Fike -- Marcus Johnson 2-12-2 32; Griffin Benton 0-4-0 0. C.B. Aycock -- Thomas Pilkington 4-9-2 94, 2 TDs.

RECEIVING -- Wilson Fike -- Charley Hayes 2-32. C.B. Aycock -- Dontay Taylor 1-34, 1 TD; Thomas Artis 1-28; Brett Lancaster 1-24; Cortez Gilbert 1-8 1TD.