Goldsboro must win regular-season finale to make playoffs

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on November 7, 2014 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

Excitement filled the air when Goldsboro's football season started.

There was a new coach with a positive outlook. Booster club members offered more support than they had in past years. A good core of returning players mixed with some new faces excited the coaching staff.

But the Cougars started losing.

And losing.

And losing.

Playoff hopes looked bleak after an 0-6 start.

Goldsboro finally won its first game at South Lenoir on the opening night of Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference play. The Cougars received a forfeit from county rival Southern Wayne, which had used an ineligible player.

Then came losses against Kinston and defending ECC champ Ayden-Grifton. Goldsboro remained two wins away from qualifying for the playoffs and shaved it to one with a victory against North Lenoir last Friday.

Now it's a one-game season.

The Cougars (3-7 overall, 2-2 ECC) face Greene Central at home tonight. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. The winner reaches the postseason.

"These guys just keep fighting every game no matter how bad it gets," Cougars coach Bennett Johnson said.

It's the kind of mentality Johnson hoped his players would have coming into the season. He them to show toughness and not back down when things were hard.

And the Cougars have experienced hard times this year.

"We struggled to start the season, but I feel like we've improved every week," middle linebacker Sterling Dodson said. "Now we've got one of the biggest games I've ever played in coming up. There's definitely some pressure because we have to win."

Dodson will have to play one of his best games of the year if the Cougars are going to win. Greene Central doesn't run between the tackles often, meaning the junior will have to run sideline to sideline for most of the night. He'll also have the responsibility to be ready in the middle of the field if Greene Central's athletes decide to cut their runs back to the middle if Goldsboro's defense cuts off the edge.

"It's very important for him to maintain that gap integrity," Harper said of Dodson. "They have some athletes so when they go to the edge they can cut it back very quickly, and he is going to have to be there waiting for them if they try that.

"If he's not it could be a long night."

Offensively the Cougars have been at their best when they spread the ball around. They have the area's leading receiver, Joe Baker, who has caught 39 balls for 764 yards and seven touchdowns. But junior quarterback Nashir Bowden doesn't always throw to Baker.

Ronnie Tookes has come on strong and supplanted himself among the leaders in receiving yards this season with 309. Taylin Davis a proven red zone threat with four touchdowns on just 14 grabs.

The Cougars' rushing attack has developed into a two-headed monster with Rayvonne Barnes leading the way as the speed back, and Jayln Moore as the power back. Barnes is the area's fourth-leading rusher with 691 yards rushing. A bruising runner, Moore has rushed for 175 yards and three scores on 16 during the last four games.