Early turnovers fuel Goldsboro's win over Rosewood

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on October 17, 2009 11:07 PM

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The Goldsboro Cougars are rolling.

After struggling through some offensive woes during the non-conference schedule, the Cougars have refined and kicked their ground attack into high gear.

Goldsboro compiled 481 yards of total offense and handed Carolina 1-A Conference foe Rosewood a 59-7 defeat at Branch Pope Field on Friday evening. In two league games, the Cougars have amassed nearly 1,300 yards of total offense and outscored the opposition 127-30.

"Our guys came out and showed me something tonight," said Goldsboro head coach Eric Reid. "We wanted to come out and play well, and pick up this second win in the league. We were able to work on some things and play a solid all-around game."

After Rosewood's first possession ended with a fumble, Goldsboro opened the scoring with a six-play drive capped by an Andre Montgomery touchdown. A second Eagle fumble on the team's next series led to another Cougar touchdown when Freddie Jones skipped into the end zone from 15 yards out.

Vontarius Kornegay added a six-yard scamper with 2:36 left in the quarter and opened the floodgates for the Cougars. Despite having the ball for less than four minutes, Goldsboro pulled out to a 19-0 lead.

"I thought we did some good things on offense early on," said Rosewood head coach Robert Britt. "But when a team has the potential to score every time they touch the ball, you can't give them two early fumbles and set them up at the 20-yard line."

The Eagles' highlight of the first half came with two minutes to play in the second quarter when the Cougars' muffed a punt inside their own 10-yard line. Rosewood defender T.J. Frost grabbed the loose ball and rolled one yard into the end zone.

Goldsboro (6-2 overall, 2-0 CC) moved the ball methodically before the intermission before Jones scored on the final offensive play of the first half.

Montgomery carried the ball 66-yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half.

The rest of the game became an exercise in teaching for both coaches, who each chose to use some young players for the duration.

"We were able to get some young guys in the game tonight and that will pay off come playoff time," said Reid. "Any chance you have to get some young guys some burn (action) is a great opportunity."

The Cougars were led by Montgomery's 158 yards on 11 carries. Jones tallied 129 yards on seven totes, all in the first half.

Kevin Lewis led the Eagles (1-7, 0-2) with 51 yards on 17 carries. Jyhkia Applewhite added 13 yards on eight rushes.