Rams clobber Tarboro

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on October 23, 2005 2:18 AM

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SNOW HILL -- Greene Central scored in the first two minutes of the game and never looked back in a 51-0 domination of defending Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference champion Tarboro High on Friday evening.

Third-year Rams coach Jim Bob Bryant praised his team for its complete-game performance.

"We were clicking on all cylinders, our defense has been very good the last few games and our offense is coming around at the right time of the season," said Bryant, whose team remained unbeaten in three EPC contests.

Greene Central quarterback Cameron Shelton showed efficient accuracy with four completions, including two touchdown passes, on four consecutive attempts. Shelton concluded the night 4 of 7 for 117 yards, and added 40 yards on the ground.

Defensively, the Rams played stingy and limited the Vikings to 137 yards rushing. North Carolina recruit Shaun Draughn, who continues to recover from a deep-bruised knee injury, churned out a tough 69 yards on 17 totes.

"Our defense put a chip on their shoulder tonight," said Bryant, whose team has not allowed an EPC opponent to score.

After the opening kickoff, the Rams scored in just three plays. Shelton connected with Dreyan Willis for a 54-yard touchdown. Mike Sims added the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.

Shelton threw his second touchdown pass, a 16-yard strike to Harrison Walston, early in the second quarter. Rams linebacker J.J. Thompson accounted for the third touchdown -- a 53-yard interception return.

The Rams led 24-0.

Later in the second quarter the Rams faced a third-and-13 at their own 38 yard-line. Shelton pitched the ball to tailback Damien Phillips on an apparent run around the right end. Phillips stopped, and fired a perfect strike to Willis in traffic. Willis escaped several Viking tacklers to score and increase the Ram lead to 30-0.

Mike Sims added a two-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Chris Hodges and Mario Brown had touchdown runs of 5 and 11 yards in the fourth quarter.

The Rams defense was so good it allowed only two serious Tarboro drives in the game. The Vikings drove to Greene Central's 21 yard-line in the first quarter and missed a 38-yard field goal. In the final minute of the game Tarboro fumbled the ball away inside the Ram's 10-yard line.

The Rams used nine different ball carriers and amazed 242 yards on the ground. Willis had a stellar night receiving for the Ram's with three receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns

Greene Central (5-4) drew 12 penalties for 118 yards. The numerous flags overshadowed the Rams' fourth consecutive win over the Vikings (2-7) in the series.

"We are not a very good team to get so many personal foul penalties," said Bryant. "That's my fault and I will take care of that Monday."

Tarboro High, which joined the EPC in 1997, fell to 0-3 in league play. The Vikings haven't had a losing season since the 1970s when they participated in the old Northeastern Albemarle Conference.

"We did not have a good week of practice," said second-year Tarboro High coach Jeff Craddock. "I told our players after the game sometimes you reap what you sow. They are very good defensively."

Greene Central, which won back-to-back EPC titles in 2002 and 2003, travels to league newcomer Farmville Central next Friday. The Jaguars (4-5, 2-1) survived Goldsboro on Friday.

"We control our own destiny now," said Bryant. "The only way you can be sure to win the conference championship is to win them all."