3A east playoffs: EW-So. Guilford game moved to Saturday

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 28, 2014 1:51 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

GREENSBORO -- Eastern Wayne vanquished a 36-year-old demon last week when it won a road playoff game for the first time since 1978.

Extending the streak to two promises to be a difficult task.

The fifth-seeded Warriors (10-2 overall) are the guests of No. 1-ranked Southeast Guilford in eastern semifinal-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A football playoffs Friday.

The Storm (13-0 overall) swirls around 3,000-yard back Reggie Gallaspy, who has committed to N.C. State.

"He's a solid back, strong, quick, never stops his feet, runs through contact ... which is hard to teach a high school running back," EW head coach Bubba Williams said of the 6-foot, 215-pounder.

"He's a majority of their offense. I'm sure if we had a kid like that, we'd probably give it to him a majority of the time."

Gallaspy averages 25 touches a game and has rambled for a state-leading 46 touchdowns. The remainder of the team has cobbled out 931 yards on 151 totes and 12 scores.

Quarterback Nate Stoner has completed 84 passes for 1,420 yards and 17 touchdowns. Junior wideout Ron Hunt has hauled in 40 receptions for 767 yards and 11 TDs.

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Southern averages 43.3 points a game.

"They have athletes," Williams said. "They've never had a weak game where they didn't show up to play. We've played New Bern and J.H. Rose, and I think it's going to be hard to find teams in the state that are comparable to those two.

"If we show up and play, I think we'll be OK."

Eastern Wayne, much to Williams' disappointment, hasn't put together a complete game in the postseason. Its bread and butter has been a defense that's permitted just four touchdowns in eight quarters, and held two opponents to less than 200 yards of total offense.

Last Friday, the Warriors coerced Southern Nash into six turnovers and converted two first-half miscues into touchdowns. Dameko Artis returned a fumble 76 yards to the house and quarterback KK Best cashed in with a short run just before halftime.

"Defensively, that side of the ball picked us up (against SN)," Williams said. "I've got nothing but praise for the way they played and the effort they gave. We can't have what we did offensively last Friday and expect to win.

"I think our kids already know that."

The Warriors committed two turnovers on three possessions, including two inside the red zone. Penalties proved costly, especially a holding infraction that negated DayDay Pridgen's run inside the 20.

EW's offense eventually stalled on the drive.

Quarterback KK Best rushed for 87 yards, threw for another 153 yards and accounted for two touchdowns. Williams stressed the importance of having more playmakers involved in the offense, which will make it more difficult to defend.

"You can't have continual mistakes that cost you the game," Williams said. "Everybody is good now. There are no bad teams left. You've got to play your best game to move on."