Pinkowski finally gets win against Clayton

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 27, 2006 2:18 AM

• Print
• Email

PIKEVILLE -- Randy Pinkowski grabbed the game ball and cradled it underneath his arm.

The eighth-year Charles B. Aycock football coach headed toward the bench, sat down and spent a few moments savoring that sweet nectar of triumph over his former boss -- Clayton coach Gary Fowler.

An assistant under Fowler for 11 seasons, Pinkowski entered Friday night's contest winless in three tries against the Comets. Now he's 1-3, because the student finally beat the teacher.

Dontay Taylor rushed for three touchdowns, including two in the opening quarter, as the Golden Falcons blitzed the Comets 25-0 before a standing-room-only crowd at Hardy Talton Stadium. Aycock is 2-0 overall for the first time in the Pinkowski era and posted its first shutout since week 11 of the 2004 season.

Clayton exited 0-2.

"The scoreboard beat Gary Fowler tonight," said Pinkowski. "I only hope that in this lifetime I'm able to do as much for my community and kids as Gary has done in his career.

"That's the only way I'll ever consider myself even close to being anything that Gary Fowler is."

A humble Pinkowski passed credit along to offensive coordinator Jay Westbrook and defensive coordinator Trevor Pilkington. A solid game plan allowed the Golden Falcons to capture their eighth consecutive home win and 12th overall in their last 13 outings since 2004.

Clayton grinded out 153 yards of total offense against a Golden Falcon defense that yielded just five first downs and one successful third-down conversion in 11 attempts. Aycock has held opponents scoreless in seven of eight quarters this season.

Senior inside linebacker Travis Milligan (5-foot-10, 189 pounds) emerged the defensive leader with five solo stops and five assists. Senior end Tim Umeofia added five solo tackles and two assists, while Javontea Taylor collected five tackles and three assists.

"Our defense didn't give them a whole lot," said Pinkowski.

Aycock amassed 317 total yards of offense, including Taylor's 168-yard effort on 22 carries. Taylor followed right guard Travario Uzzell, who used his 5-10, 227-pound frame to open holes on either side of the line all night. Two Uzzell blocks led to a 40-yard touchdown on the Golden Falcons' first offensive play and a 1-yard plunge midway through the first quarter.

"Taylor is a heckuva back and he put us in a hole right there from the get-go," said Fowler. "Those linemen, on both sides of the ball, were giving us a fit up front. We're just inexperienced. This puzzle just isn't put together right now.

"These kids (at Aycock) play hard-nosed football and that carries you a long way in this business."

Senior quarterback Thomas Pilkington recorded his second consecutive 100-yard outing with six completions in 15 attempts for 132 yards. He threw a 66-yard touchdown strike to Montez Ham as the first quarter expired.

The Golden Falcons ran 45 offensive plays and averaged seven yards per attempt. They converted 50 percent (3-for-6) of their third-down plays.

"I think we were very focused all week in practice ... prepared offensively and defensively," said Westbrook. "This means a lot to us because Clayton is a perennial 4-A power and we wanted it for Coach Pink. He's put so much hard work, tears and sweat into this program.

"We felt like, one time, we wanted to come out and give it our all."

C.B. Aycock plays host to unbeaten Greene Central next Friday. The Rams, who have played the Golden Falcons every year since 1962, won last year's contest in Snow Hill. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.