GOW - County pride on the line

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 14, 2006 2:27 PM

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DUDLEY -- Don't let Goldsboro's 0-4 record fool you.

Just ask county coaches Randy Pinkowski and Bob Warren. Neither has let their respective team be misled by the talented football team's winless worksheet.

"People don't need to write them off right now," said Pinkowski after Charles B. Aycock's nail-biting 38-32 victory last Friday in Pikeville. "I'm telling you what. They're going to be a force the next couple of weeks if they stay with what they're doing.

"I don't see how some of these 2-A teams are going to be able to match up against them. Maurice (Jackson) is doing a good job and you can't lose focus right now."

Warren agrees with Pinkowski.

"Goldsboro, in my opinion, has an awful lot of talent," said Warren, now in his 11th season as Southern Wayne's head coach. "I think it's going to be another very competitive game ... a tough game for us. I don't expect this one to be any different."

Southern Wayne (2-2) has won three consecutive contests and four of the last five meetings overall against the Cougars since 2001. Goldsboro hasn't emerged victorious against a county opponent since 2003 -- a span of nine games.

The Cougars' last win against the Saints occurred in Dudley in 2002.

"It will be tough to go in there and play them at home," said Jackson, who is winless in three tries against Southern Wayne.

Goldsboro piled up a season-high 377 yards of total offense last week, including 292 yards on the ground. The Cougars kept the Golden Falcon defense off balance by working from the old T formation and their I formation.

Jackson just might employ the misdirection scheme more this week since it allows him to put more athletes on the field. Treme Boone ran for 144 yards and a touchdown on 19 totes. Hykeen Coley, who didn't touch the ball in the second half, gobbled up 116 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries.

"You've got three guys in the game who wouldn't normally be in the game at the same time," said Jackson. "They all can carry the ball and get things done for you. I definitely like the productivity and it keeps those guys on the field."

Jackson, however, added the Cougars must limit their mistakes. They committed two second-quarter turnovers that led to touchdowns. Add 15 penalties to the mix and all of a sudden, your offense is moving in the wrong direction.

"We can't have what we had Friday night (vs. CBA)," said Jackson. "We can't take ourselves out of the ball game and we, as a coaching staff, need to do what's best for the team."

The "T" offense could pose problems for the Saints, who return just one starter on defense. However, Warren's team turned its best defensive effort of the season a week ago at Western Harnett. The Saints limited the Eagles to 177 yards of total offense.

"Our defense is very young and we're making improvements," said Warren. "You have to play assignment-type football where you don't get confused. You have to play your area defensively, and you can't go with all the fakes.

"(The offense) does present some situations where you have to be very disciplined."

Jackson doesn't expect to have an easy time against Southern Wayne's offense, either. The return of quarterback Michael Holland and the emergence of Alex Aldridge at receiver has taken some of the offensive burden off Anthony Council's capable shoulders.

Aldridge is the area's fourth-best receiver with 186 yards and three touchdowns in four starts. Council, meanwhile, has piled up an area-leading 695 yards and averages 173.3 per game.

"On the tape from last week, Council almost looked bored at times," said Jackson. "He's a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. The line blocked well and they believe in their system."

"They're going to be a tough team to play."