Goldsboro heats up

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 5, 2006 2:07 PM

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A sweat-soaked, weary Goldsboro High football team trudged off the field and seemed almost grateful when it stepped into the air-conditioned locker room Monday afternoon.

The Cougars, who struggled to handle the 90-degree heat and stifling humidity, basked in the cool air as they changed into street clothes. They also felt fortunate to withstand Jones Senior's second-half offensive surge.

The Trojans pulled within 14-12 early in the final quarter and moved into Goldsboro territory on their next possession. But junior defensive back Iveon Sprangle picked off a fourth-down pass, which set up the game-clinching touchdown for the Cougars.

Quarterback Tim Kornegay bulled his way over from the 3 in the final minute to save Goldsboro's 20-12 victory at Cougar Stadium. The Cougars (1-2) snapped their four-game skid at home, while the Trojans (0-3) suffered their ninth consecutive defeat against non-conference opposition.

"That 90-degree heat beating down on us and not having practiced in three or four days, we were tired," said Goldsboro coach Maurice Jackson. "That means we're going to have to increase the conditioning. I think both teams were tired, but we were just feeling it.

"We've got to be able to do what we need to do (to win)."

Goldsboro defensive back Hykeen Coley returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Treme Boone's two-point conversion run put the Cougars ahead just 13 seconds into the game.

Jackson's team struggled from that point.

The Cougars pushed the ball into Trojan territory on their next four possessions. An illegal block in the back negated one touchdown. Jones Senior defensive tackle Kamar Frost sacked Kornegay to stop another pair of first-half drives.

"We looked at halftime ... there was probably three or more opportunities where we should have scored," said Jackson, who won his first-ever afternoon game in four tries. "It's the little things right now that's killing us. We should go down there and push into the end zone, but instead, we relax and blow assignments.

"Then we end up putting ourselves in a bad situation."

An inspired Jones Senior defense shut down Goldsboro for 13-plus minutes in the second half. The Trojans registered five quarterback sacks and limited the Cougars to minus-5 yards rushing on 12 offensive plays.

Sophomore quarterback Covair Frost put the visitors on the board with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Deonte Moss midway through the third quarter. Frost threw two interceptions on Jones Senior's next three possessions, but also completed a 38-yard scoring strike to Don Hall.

"We've gone over the passing game since (the) Rocky Mount (loss)," said Jackson. "I keep telling them nobody is going away from the passing the ball on us. If they see that you're not going to stop it, they're going to keep doing it."

Frost finished with 100 yards passing on just five completions. His third interception occurred inside Goldsboro territory and Sprangle returned it to the Trojan 31.

Kornegay used Treme Boone as the workhorse on the seven-play drive. Boone's 16-yard run on fourth down set up a first-and-10 at the 13. Three plays later, Kornegay finished off the Trojans with his 3-yard plunge.

Boone ended up with 138 yards on 27 carries.

"You saw by that last drive, how easy it is we want to, we can just march the ball right down the field," said Jackson. "But you've got to want to (do it) all the time.

"When you're in control of the game and let them get back in the game, then you feel fortunate (to win) because your defense stepped up and made a big play. Then the offense came in and sealed the game for you."