Goldsboro spots Midway early lead, explodes for 26-point win

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 30, 2007 2:21 AM

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SPIVEY'S CORNER -- The pre-game meeting at midfield seemed like a prophecy -- for one quarter at least.

Midway football coach Paul Hall spoke with Goldsboro coach Eric Reid and said his game plan was to keep possession so the Cougars' explosive offense couldn't get onto the field. The Raiders proved Hall's theory by converting their first two drives into touchdowns for a 14-6 lead.

"His theory was working and we just couldn't get anything going," said Reid. "We were flat because we hadn't played in two weeks. Everything he said to me was happening and that was scary."

Down 14-12, a second-quarter fake field-goal attempt changed the momentum. Anthony Council rambled for a 92-yard touchdown on the next play and Goldsboro reeled off 30 unanswered points en route to 47-21 victory at Walter J. Ragan Field.

The Cougars concluded their 2007 non-conference schedule with a 3-3 mark heading into next week's Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference opener against Tarboro. Kickoff for the homecoming contest is 7:30 p.m. at Cougar Stadium.

"The boys really had me worried the first half," said Reid. "I was thinking it was going to be a long night. Once we found our comfort zone, we were able to get back on track and were able to stop them."

Linebacker Alex Aldridge set up the Cougars' final first-half touchdown with an interception return to the Midway 9-yard line. Dustin Uzzardo capped the four-play possession with a fourth-down, 5-yard scoring pass to A.J. Parker.

"You could smell it in the air that something was going to happen," said Hall. "A team with some big play-makers made some big plays. They got a little jump in their legs and little sway to them after that, and we lost that swagger."

The Cougars demonstrated their ball-control offense with a 9-minute drive to open the third quarter. They overcame seven penalties on the 81-yard drive and ended it with Uzzardo's 22-yard scoring pass to Enrique Moses.

Midway (4-2 overall) stalled on its next possession and Goldsboro punctuated its first three-and-out stop when Council partially blocked Garrett Knowles' punt. Junior tackle Carlos Atkinson scooped up the ball and dragged several Midway defenders with him to the 17-yard line.

One play later, Andre Montgomery tallied his first-ever varsity touchdown -- a 17-yard run.

"Once the boys stopped them, I felt like we were going to be all right," said Reid. "In the second half, they were a different team and I was really proud of them for that.

"They stepped up big time, especially Anthony. I wanted to get him out of the gate on offense and defense since he had missed two games."

Council recorded the Cougars' final touchdown, a 53-yard romp, late in the fourth quarter. The senior running back finished with a season-high 226 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries.

Hall wondered if Council drove the team bus, too.

"I didn't see number six (Hykeem Coley) out here, but number five (Council) took his place and his place," said Hall. "He took care of both of them; showed some wheels when he got to the edge.

"We knew if we didn't get him when he got started, it was going to be hard."

Goldsboro accumulated 427 yards of total offense on just 34 offensive plays. Midway piled up 298 yards on 64 plays.

Goldsboro 6 20 14 7 -- 47

Midway 14 0 0 7 -- 21

First quarter

M -- Blue 3 run (Best kick), 7:01

G -- Moses 58 pass from Uzzardo (kick failed), 5:38

M -- Tyndall 16 pass from Knowles (Best kick), 2:42

Second quarter

G -- Council 9 run (pass failed), 10:27

G -- Council 92 run (Sprangle run), 2:58

G -- Parker 5 pass from Uzzardo (run failed), 0:00

Third quarter

G -- Moses 22 pass from Uzzardo (Parker run), 3:19

G -- Montgomery 17 run (kick failed), 0:45

Fourth quarter

M -- Baggett 1 run (Best kick), 1:25

G -- Council 53 run (Uzzardo kick), 1:12

GHS Midway

First downs 13 16

Rushes-yds 25-283 51-145

Passing yds 124 153

Total yards 427 298

C-A-I 6-9-0 7-13-1

Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-yds 14-111 6-50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Goldsboro -- Anthony Council 14-226, 3 TDs; Iveon Sprangle 2-0; A.J. Parker 6-34; Andre Montgomery 3-23, TD. Midway -- Josh Baggett 21-63, TD; Jonathan Blue 11-38, TD; Anthony Williams 8-39; Garrett Knowles 7-(-8); Cameron Parker 1-14.

PASSING -- Goldsboro -- Dustin Uzzardo 6-9-0 124, 3 TDs. Midway -- Garrett Knowles 7-13-1 153, TD.

RECEIVING -- Goldsboro -- Enrique Moses 4-116, 2 TDs; A.J. Parker 2-8, TD. Midway -- Thelton Best 1-30; Josh Tyndall 3-39, TD; Josh Baggett 1-22; Gibby Allen 1-23; Cam Parker 1-39.