Triton scores twice in the last five minutes

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on November 1, 2009 1:51 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- For more than two hours on Friday evening, senior night at Charles B. Aycock was one to remember.

However, folks in Pikeville will try to forget the last five minutes for quite some time.

Triton rallied from a two-touchdown deficit and escaped with a 22-21 win at Hardy Talton Stadium. The loss dashed the Golden Falcons hopes of finishing in second overall in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference football race.

"I still think if we have a good outing next week we can be at home in the playoffs," said Aycock head coach Randy Pinkowski. "It's going to put us in a little lower seed and we're going to have to dogfight a little more."

Marcus Cobb's 63-yard touchdown run and Craig Murdock's extra point gave the Golden Falcons a 21-7 lead with just under five minutes left in regulation.

The Hawks needed just 45 seconds and four plays to score on the ensuing possession. Chamond Thompson's 25-yard touchdown pass to Kiwon Warren with four minutes to play trimmed the margin to 21-14.

Triton (8-2 overall, 4-0 ECC) forced an Aycock punt and took over near midfield with less than three minutes to play. Warren appeared to have tied the game with a 51-yard touchdown run that was negated by a holding penalty.

Warren ultimately found the end zone on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Thompson. The Hawks elected to attempt a two-point conversion and Thompson's quarterback draw gave Triton a 22-21 advantage with less than two minutes to play.

"I thought we played great defense all the way down the end and then they got us scrambling a little bit," Pinkowski. "It was when they went into their standard run formation and started throwing out of their run formation that it was giving us some problems."

The Golden Falcons (8-2, 2-2) went back on offense at their own 24-yard line with less than two minutes to play and just one timeout. The drive ended when quarterback Tyler Farmer was pressured and had his passed intercepted by the Hawks' Derick McCoy.

Cobb's 19-yard touchdown run Aycock a 14-7 lead early in the fourth quarter. The senior tailback finished with 228 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries.

The Golden Falcons hurt themselves with eight penalties for 90 yards. Farmer's touchdown pass to Craig Murdock was called back on a holding penalty midway through the second quarter.

"You don't beat good football teams by putting yourself in first-and-25," said Pinkowski. "You don't beat good football teams by having an easy touchdown called back on a holding penalty. I don't want to blame it all on the kids because it's a big ballgame and they're trying to make a play.

"But, a lot of times the game's not won by big plays."

Cobb's 64-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game gave Aycock an early 7-0 lead. The Hawks answered with Michael King's 54-yard touchdown run on its next possession.

The Golden Falcons outgained Triton 183-59 in the first half but went into the locker room with the score tied at 7-7.