Cougars run wild

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on August 26, 2012 1:52 AM

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Rivalry games are typically about renewing a bitter feud with an old nemesis.

On Friday night, Eastern Wayne's biggest nemesis was not Goldsboro -- it was Eastern Wayne. The Warriors committed six turnovers and the Cougars cashed in those giveaways for 28 points in a 48-26 victory at Cougar Stadium.

Goldsboro junior tailback Rasheed Malette scored five rushing touchdowns and finished with 100 yards on the ground.

Eastern Wayne's Lavoris Vick fumbled the game's opening kickoff and the Cougars' Karon Alston recovered at the Warriors' 14-yard line. A holding penalty negated Malette's 5-yard touchdown run and Julius Murphy's pass on fourth down fell incomplete.

Shawn Ham intercepted Eastern Wayne quarterback Jake Wiser on the Warriors' first possession and returned the ball to the Warriors' 8-yard line. Malette's 3-yard touchdown run on fourth down gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead.

Adrian Super's 46 yard interception return for a touchdown increased the Goldsboro lead to 14-0 with fewer than four minutes left in the first quarter.

Dayshawn Pridgen's 40-yard run set up Vick's 3-yard score late in the first quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed and the Warriors trailed 14-6.

"The kids played hard, they did their job for the most part," Eastern Wayne head coach Bubba Williams said. "There were a couple bad breaks here and there. I have just got to do a better job of preparing them."

Goldsboro (1-1) pieced together a 45-yard drive and Murphy's 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Bernard Cannon extended the margin to 21-6 with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Ham's second interception of the first half set up Malette's 3-yard touchdown run late in the first half as the lead swelled to 28-6. Clyde James and Asunji Maddox also had interceptions for the Cougars.

"Our defense did a wonderful job," Goldsboro head coach Eric Reid said. "Shawn Ham, Asunji Maddox and Karon Alston back there, those guys communicate so well in the defensive secondary and I think that is one reason we have so much positive outcome."

Terrell Downs intercepted Murphy and his return helped Eastern Wayne (0-2) score just before halftime. Mitch Pike's quarterback sneak and Vick's two-point conversion cut the deficit to 28-14 at the half.

Malette had touchdown runs of 2, 5 and 52 yards in the second half.

"Rasheed is a hard-nosed runner," Reid said. "We tell him to trust in the line and on his last touchdown run he finally listened to what we told him. It boils down to them focusing on the job at hand."

Pike connected with Lamorris Pridgen on a 24-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to trim the lead to 41-20. Dayshawn Pridgen also scored a late touchdown for the Warriors.

Eastern Wayne plays host to South Lenoir next Friday. Goldsboro travels to Charles B. Aycock on Sept. 7.