Goldsboro ends six-game skid, gives Johnson 1st win

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 11, 2014 11:25 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

DEEP RUN -- Sporting an 0-6 record after playing a brutal non-conference schedule, Goldsboro High's football team felt a little dissed Friday evening.

The Cougars didn't like serving as South Lenoir's homecoming guest.

"We felt a little disrespected," GHS junior linebacker Sterling Dodson said.

Playing with passion and fire, and keeping its composure at crucial times in the game, Goldsboro spoiled the Blue Devils' festivities with a dominating second-half performance. Jayln Moore rushed for two touchdowns and quarterback Nashir Bowden tossed a pair of TD strikes in the Cougars' 39-12 victory.

It was the initial triumph for first-year head coach Bennett Johnson.

"When you're 0-6 and things are going bad, it's very hard to believe and you've got to believe," Johnson said. "If you can believe under those circumstances, you can believe at any time."

South Lenoir twice held a one-touchdown advantage in the opening half.

Goldsboro, for the first time this season, answered each challenge. The Cougars grabbed a 7-6 lead on Moore's 44-yard gallop after he broke three tackles. Taylin Davis hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Bowden to put Goldsboro in front, 14-12, with 5-plus minutes to before halftime.

That score ignited a 32-0 run.

"When you're down a score and down a score again, you can easily hang up the towel," an energetic Johnson said. "They didn't."

One of the area's top receivers, Joe Baker snagged a 46-yard TD pass from Bowden with 61 seconds left before halftime. Baker finished the game with 77 receiving yards, while Bowden completed 6 of 13 passes for 109 yards.

South Lenoir senior running back Noah Stroud shredded the Cougars' defense for 99 first-half rushing yards. But he found little running room in the second half.

Dodson and his fellow linebackers closed the gaps, and limited the Blue Devils to 60 yards of total offense and one third-down conversion in six attempts. The unit recorded six stops that resulted in either zero or a one-yard gain.

Stroud ended up with 151 yards.

"We came into halftime saying that we need to get tougher, we can't just give up the easy yards," Dodson said. "(The second half) we came out and played harder ... came out with some fire. Everything we did worked and that's a credit to Coach (Mike) Harper."

The Cougars' Moore, Rayonne Barnes and Luke McAlduff (22-yard field goal) combined for 18 fourth-quarter points. Moore logged 88 yards and two TDs on two totes, while Barnes punished the Blue Devil defense for a season- and career-best 178 yards on 15 carries.

Goldsboro held a decisive 382-234 edge in total offense.

"Rayvonne ... a small guy, heart of a lion and runs very hard," Johnson said. "He's not going to come down with one person and has a lot of pop with that small frame."