No. 11-ranked Scotland starts fast against Goldsboro

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 3, 2014 1:50 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Goldsboro High special teams coach Gerald Whisenhunt stepped into the post-game huddle and told the players they had just played the best team football team they'll see all season.

Indeed.

No. 11-ranked Scotland County scored touchdowns on five of six first-half offensive possessions and turned a punt into another score during a 40-13 victory over the Cougars on Thursday evening.

"That's a powerhouse program year in and year out, the way they work, the way they carry themselves, you learn a lot from teams like that," first-year GHS head coach Bennett Johnson said. "It's a good experience ... our guys can see they can play a top-ranked 4-A school and at the end of the night, we're still here.

"We learned we can survive, we can compete."

The loss ended a brutal non-conference schedule that included five teams who reached the postseason in 2013. Three of those teams -- Eastern Wayne, Jacksonville Northside and Scotland -- advanced to either the eastern semifinals or regional championship in their respective divisions.

Scotland's big defense line clogged the holes and held Goldsboro to minus-12 yards rushing. But sophomore quarterbacks Nashir Bowden and backup Dayquell Dawson found some success through the air. The duo combined to complete 15 passes to five different receivers, including a 50-yard scoring strike to Joe Baker and an 11-yard TD pass to Ronnie Tookes.

Baker ended the night with 152 yards on five receptions.

"We played for four quarters against a very good team," Johnson said. "At this age, it's very easy to put your head down when things go bad. Things went south, but the guys on the sideline were still encouraging one another."

The Fighting Scots (5-1 overall) wasted little time in building a three-touchdown advantage. Their first two drives lasted a total of 2 minutes, 6 seconds and ended on TD runs of 1 and 6 yards by Quadrin Williams and quarterback Dashaun Ferguson, respectively.

Travon Gibson's 16-yard punt return after Luke McAlduff managed to get off a bad snap, boosted Scotland's advantage to 20-0.

Williams ended the night with 68 yards and two TDs on nine totes. Teammate Zamir White emerged as the team's top rusher with 70 yards on six carries.

Ferguson threw for 119 yards.

Scotland held a 291-194 advantage in total offense.

"We kept the energy positive and (I) can live with that," said Johnson, whose team opens Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference play at South Lenoir next Friday.

"If we keep doing that, good things will eventually happen."