Late-surging CBA knocks off Saints

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on November 9, 2008 9:28 AM

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DUDLEY -- Wait and see.

That was Charles B. Aycock head football coach Randy Pinkowski's message for his team after their 35-7 victory over county rival Southern Wayne at the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex on Friday.

The Golden Falcons won two consecutive games on the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference scene in order to become playoff eligible. They spent Saturday waiting to see if a playoff spot would come their way. With Beddingfield, Kinston and Wilson Hunt securing the three automatic postseason berths, Aycock (4-7 overall) played its way into at-large position with a fourth-place finish.

"I really hope that this group of kids gets the opportunity to play one more week," said Pinkowski. "They have played their hearts out the last two games."

The Saints (1-10, 0-5 ECC) battled to a scoreless tie after one quarter, but were unable to keep the Golden Falcons out of the end zone before halftime. C.B. Aycock fullback Tyheim Pitt broke a 27-yard touchdown run and gave his team a lead it would never relinquish.

"I can't say enough about that young man," Pinkowski said of Pitt. "When Marcus Cobb was ready to step back into the tailback role, he unselfishly moved to fullback and he has been doing a great job."

The Golden Falcons lengthened their advantage in the third quarter when David Gurganus found Khendra Reid on a 17-yard scoring strike. Cobb put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter with a 6-yard scamper.

Trailing 21-0, the Saints made a momentary attempt at a comeback when Jordan Williams uncorked a 76-yard touchdown pass to Eric Long.

"We had a lot of young guys on the field tonight," said Southern Wayne head coach Bob Warren. "I think fatigue set in late in the second half and that's when it got away from us."

As the game wore on, Cobb got stronger. A number of punishing runs and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns by the new-found offensive leader sealed the win for Aycock. Cobb finished with 179 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries.

"When we decided to go back to the I-formation offense we knew who had to go in at tailback," said Pinkowski. "I pulled Marcus aside, and before I even asked him to make the move, he said he was ready to go."

Aycock finished with 294 yards rushing as a team.

"I have officially, and absolutely, put a stake in the heart of the spread offense at C.B. Aycock," joked Pinkowski. "I think our offense has come a long way the last three games since we went back to the 'I'."

James Jones led the Saints with 79 yards on 18 totes.

"We put the ball on the ground a couple of times tonight and it cost us," said Warren. "We will take a week or so off, then we will start hitting the weight room and preparing physically for next season."