C.B. Aycock remains unbeaten
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on September 26, 2009 11:12 PM
PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock doesn't have to talk about respect anymore it's earned it.
The Golden Falcons played stingy defense and rode the heels of two big offensive plays to a 13-7 win over Wilson Hunt on Friday night at Hardy Talton Stadium.
With the victory Aycock improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1981.
"Everybody's been raising cain about you haven't played anybody," said Golden Falcons head coach Randy Pinkowski. "We just played somebody as far as I'm concerned. This is about (our kids). They've worked hard and put in the time. I don't know here at C.B. Aycock what we have to do to make people believe and I don't care. Like us or don't like us we're here."
A stout Aycock defense forced three Warriors turnovers, allowed just 146 yards of offense, gave up only five first downs and forced Hunt into five three-and-outs.
Shalando McBride's fumble recovery ended the Warriors first possession of the ballgame.
Chris Dawson's tackle on Hunt tailback Caleb Bass on fourth-and-three from the Golden Falcons' 10-yard line ended the Warriors' opportunity to put points on the board.
McBride forced a fumble on Hunt's next possession that Aycock recovered and Dawson picked off Warriors quarterback Jacob Page just before halftime.
Linebacker Tyheim Pitt led the Golden Falcons defense with seven tackles and three assists. Josh Dixon added five tackles and Shepard Whitfield had four stops.
"That was an outstanding defensive effort I thought," Pinkowski said. "I thought we recognized some things they did offensively that allowed us to switch up our front this week. I thought our secondary played exceptionally. We executed the defensive plan and came up with big plays when we needed them."
Marcus Cobb turned running one-handed catch on a swing-pass from Tyler Farmer into a 77-yard touchdown with less than four minutes to play in the first quarter. Derek Ballard's extra point gave Aycock a 7-0 lead.
Late in the third quarter wide receiver Craig Murdock took a handoff from Farmer and hit Adrian Howell for a 51-yard touchdown pass. Ballard's extra point was no good and the Golden Falcons had a 13-0 advantage.
Hunt (3-3) marched 62 yards in less than a minute late in the fourth quarter and capped the drive with Tyrell Vinson's 30-yard touchdown pass to Travoris Loften. Harry Lamm's extra point trimmed the margin to 13-7 with under two minutes remaining.
The Warriors onside kick attempt was unsuccessful and with Hunt out of timeouts, Aycock was able to run out the clock.
Cobb paced the Golden Falcons offense with 88 yards on 28 carries.
As Aycock walked toward the end zone to celebrate following the game, Pitt crouched down near midfield to spend a minute alone gathering his thoughts. A senior that's suffered through a 7-14 mark over the past two seasons, for Pitt every victory gets a little bit sweeter.
"Tyheim's had two years where he's given everything to this program the last couple of years," Pinkowski said. "He's gone through the spread, he's gone through a position change and he's gone through a lot. He's our leader and he calls the plays on defense for me. He's that kid on the team that makes everybody else believe in what we're doing."
The Golden Falcons begin Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play on Oct. 9 at North Lenoir.