Goldsboro-Southern Wayne

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 7, 2014 12:02 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- Dangerous and desperate to snap a nine-game skid, Southern Wayne got the one spark it needed Friday evening.

And gained some confidence, too.

Jacob Hollingsworth's blocked punt led to a touchdown just before halftime and the Saints rode the momentum to a 22-15 victory over county foe Goldsboro at the Doyle Whitfield Athletic Complex.

Southern Wayne had gone 358 days without tasting a win.

"I'm just excited for our guys because they work extremely hard -- like all teams do," Saints head coach David Lee said. "We know every game is going to be hardfought with this young group. I was real proud of the kids for not putting their heads down (and) bouncing back."

Goldsboro (0-3 overall) built an 8-0 lead through one-plus quarters.

Rayvonne Barnes' 22-yard scamper around the right side capped a three-play, 63-second possession to start the game. A botched snap on a punt gave the Cougars a safety barely three minutes into the second period.

The Saints didn't unravel.

They marched, instead, behind a senior running back and defense that played stellar throughout the 3-hour affair. Tyaire Allen rambled for a season-high 182 yards and two touchdowns on 26 totes. The defense recorded two pivotal stops -- one in each half.

Allen's first touchdown and subsequent conversion run tied the game at 8-8 with 4-plus minutes left before halftime.

The teams traded possessions until the Cougars took over with 1:23 on the clock. Sophomore quarterback Nashir Bowden directed his team to the Saints' 45-yard line, but three consecutive completions set up a fourth down.

Punter Jonathan Stevens fielded a high snap, but Hollingsworth stuck out his paws and blocked the punt. Nick Kennon scooped up the loose ball and waltzed into the end zone from 10 yards out.

"I was talking to the defensive end because I knew him, and I said 'I'm going to get back there because you can't stop me.' He laughed," Hollingsworth said. "I just jumped, got the punt and I knew we had scored. I didn't see the ball in the end zone."

Southern Wayne led 15-8.

"Oh, it just hurts," GHS head coach Bennett Johnson said. "Jon did a good job catching the snap and tried to get it off, but the kid made a good play taking it off of Jonathan's foot."

Confidence brimming and just two quarters away from getting their 10th win over Goldsboro since 2001, the Saints got another break in the third quarter.

A roughing-the-kicker penalty gave Southern Wayne a fresh set of downs in Cougar territory. Five plays later, Allen bowled over from the 2 to extend the Saints' advantage to 22-8.

"I don't care who you're playing, you can't give second chances and I feel like we gave Southern Wayne a lot of second chances tonight, whether it was a mental or physical mistake when it was time for them to punt," Johnson said.

"That will come back to bite you every time."

Goldsboro closed the gap to 22-15 on Bowden's 16-yard touchdown pass to Taylin Davis with 2:59 to go in the third period.

After the teams traded possessions, Southern Wayne's defense turned in a stellar goal-line stand. Bowden fired a 26-yard pass to Joe Baker, who was taken down at the Saints' 1-yard line.

Two rushing plays netted minus-5 yards. Bowden's next two passes, both to Baker, fell incomplete.

"Our defensive line put great pressure on (the passes) and penetrated really well," Hollingsworth said. "When we walked off the field, I told every single one of them that was amazing."