Goldsboro wakes up in 2nd half, shuts out Dixon

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on November 4, 2012 1:53 AM

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With his team's high-flying passing game grounded for much of the night, Goldsboro head coach Eric Reid turned to a tried-and-true offensive strategy.

The Cougars pounded the ball on the ground and wore down the smaller defenders from Dixon en route to a 40-0 victory in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-AA (large-school) football playoffs on Friday night.

Rasheid Malette led the Goldsboro offense with 190 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries. The Cougars rolled up 265 yards rushing and four touchdowns as a team.

"Some nights you have to make the best of what advantages you have as an offense," Reid said. "Tonight we challenged the offensive line and I thought they did a very good job of opening holes for our backs."

Goldsboro (10-1 overall) got on the scoreboard in the second quarter when a blocked punt set the offense up at the Bulldogs' 25-yard line. Four plays later, quarterback Julius Murphy ran the ball into the end zone from two-yards out. Luke McAlduff hit the extra point and gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead.

Karon Alston extended Goldsboro advantage just before the halftime break with a 41-yard punt return for a touchdown.

"I wasn't really pleased with how we played in the first half to be honest," Reid said. "We made a couple of big plays, but we did not really move the ball like I thought we should have."

Goldsboro opened the flood gates in the second half.

Asunji Maddox capped the Cougars' first drive with a one-yard touchdown. Toric Best's 8-yard scoring run ended Goldsboro's next possession.

The Cougars led 26-0.

Malette found paydirt to open the fourth quarter on a 38-yard breakaway and Alston capped the scoring one minute later with a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Goldsboro held a 350-158 edge in total offense.

C.D. Hansley paced the Bulldogs' attack with 70 yards on the ground on 16 carries. Hansley also completed four passes for 18 yards. Malik Simmons added 33 yards on 10 totes.

"I thought the defense played a good solid game overall," Reid said. "I thought the second half was better than the first half and I was happy that our guys finished strong."

Goldsboro visits Northampton County on Friday.