Eastern Wayne and Northeast Guilford

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on November 11, 2007 11:24 AM

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McLEANSVILLE -- Tied 21-21 with Northeast Guilford entering the second half, Eastern Wayne's offense sputtered at the worst possible time.

The Warriors opened the third quarter with two straight three-and-outs, as the Rams scored 21 unanswered points en route to a 42-21 victory in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-AA (large school) playoffs.

Following Eastern Wayne's second three-and-out series, Northeast Guilford fullback Tyler Woods put the Rams ahead for good with a 72-yard touchdown run. Woods tallied 227 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns.

Northeast (10-2 overall) finished with 306 yards on the ground.

Trailing 28-21, Eastern Wayne gift-wrapped the Rams' next score by fumbling into its own end zone. Kenny Rush fell on the ball for Northeast and that put the Warriors down 35-21.

"We made a ballgame of it in the first half," Warriors coach Jeff Price said. "We just couldn't take care of the football. We got hit on the goal line and laid the ball down. They had two easy scores right out of the gate. That's the kind of luck we've had this year."

Hassan Best led the Warriors with 92 yards rushing and a score, but Eastern Wayne (5-7) was outgained 349 to 209 on the night.

"If you make mistakes you probably aren't going to win," Price said. "Our boys played hard, and they got themselves in a situation to be there. We got a great effort all year long from our players ... it's a dissapointment to lose your last game in the playoffs."

Eastern Wayne 6 15 0 0 -- 21

Northeast Guilford 7 14 14 7 -- 42

First quarter

NE -- Woods 2 run (Moore kick)

EW -- Best 75 run (kick blocked)

Second quarter

NE -- Woods 9 run (Moore kick)

NE -- Bratcher 5 run (Moore kick)

EW -- White 29 pass from Price (Best run)

EW -- Midgette 13 pass from Price (Wooten kick)

Third quarter

NE -- Woods 72 run (Moore kick)

NE -- Rush fumble recovery in end zone (Moore kick)

Fourth quarter

NE -- Bratcher 1 run (Moore kick)

EW NE

First Downs 11 19

Rushes-yds 25-124 47/306

Passing-yds 85 43

Total yds 209 349

C-A-I 6-19-0 2-6-0

Fumbles-lost 2-2 0-0

Penalties-Yds 3-25 6-65