Cougars drop pivotal ECC 2A football affair

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on October 31, 2015 11:30 PM

• Print
• Email

bdavis@newsargus.com

Goldsboro High's football team still controls its destiny despite a 40-8, senior night loss to Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference foe Ayden-Grifton on Friday evening.

But their playoff chances could end next Friday at once-beaten and state-ranked Greene Central. Should both A-G and the Cougars lose, the Chargers would own the head-to-head tiebreaker for the league's third -- and final -- automatic postseason bid.

"We can't waste a second worrying about this one," Cougars head coach Bennett Johnson said. "They (Goldsboro) have a huge one next week, and we got to start getting ready for it right now. All our eggs are in that basket so we got to find away to make it happen next week at Greene Central."

Goldsboro got on the board when its defense tackled an Ayden-Grifton player in the end zone seven seconds into the second quarter.

Senior quarterback Na'shir Bowden threw a 22-yard pass to junior wide receiver Ronnie Tookes -- the Cougars' lone touchdown of the night -- with 11 minutes to go before halftime. A-G blocked Jon Stevens' PAT attempt.

The Chargers scored twice within five minutes.

Stevens attempted a field goal in the second quarter, but missed his target.

Senior running back Ryan Ennis, junior running back Brandon Hardy and senior Tijuan Bryant each scored a third-quarter touchdown for Ayden-Grifton.

The Chargers sacked Bowden early in the fourth quarter and Bowden limped off the field. He never stepped back onto the field.

"He (Bowden) said he is good," Johnson said. "But he's a tough nut so we're gonna have to keep a close eye on him. I hope and pray he is okay."

Junior reserve quarterback/offensive lineman Dayquell Dawson stepped in for Bowden, but was unable to help his team recover from a 26-point deficit.

Collins scored A-G's final touchdown.

"I thought we came out and executed well early," Johnson said. "They (Chargers) found a play with that jet power, and they were really physical with it. Coach (Paul) Cornwell's been doing this for a long time. We, unfortunately, didn't have an answer for it."