FOOTBALL -- C.B. Aycock @ Rosewood

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on August 21, 2016 1:48 AM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

Volume scoring, as advertised.

Charles B. Aycock's high-octane offense lived up to its advanced billing Friday night, scoring early and often en route to a 59-13 road win against Wayne County foe Rosewood.

Delayed by lightning for approximately 45 minutes, the triumph was the 11th in a row for the Falcons in the Little River Rivalry.

And matters escalated with fire-drill pace.

Aycock quarterback Jake Flowers wasted no time through the air, finding Chandler Matthews for a 46-yard strike on its opening drive.

The seed set up Caleb Gough, whose four-yard touchdown plunge a play later affirmed the game's tone and foreshadowed its outcome.

Gough, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in relative anonymity last season, seemed intent on being the lone occupant of the Golden Falcons' opening-night marquee. The senior was brilliant, rumbling his way to a game-high 215 yards on 21 rapid-fire carries.

He also filed two touchdowns.

"We ran the ball as well as we have in four years here," head coach Steve Brooks said. "But it wasn't just him (Gough). That's all those guys up front."

Aycock led 9-0 at the end of one

Rosewood was paced by senior quarterback Cameron Helt, who offset an opening-drive fumble and five three-and-out Eagle possessions with 184 yards and a touchdown on 13 bruising carries.

In total, the senior accounted for all but 24 yards of Rosewood's offensive production.

"A tough night," coach Robert Britt said. "Aycock has a very good football team. They established themselves early."

And as it turned out, often.

Leading 29-7 to begin the third stanza, the Golden Falcons tempered their usual air assault with heavy doses of running backs Tim Farmer and junior Michael Hemmingway. The duo registered 124 yards on the ground and two scores in relief of Gough, gaining over 10 yards per carry in the process.

All things considered, not a bad start.

Sort of.

"We didn't take what was given to us," Brooks said of the game's opening quarter. "Jake, I love him, but we gotta go back and watch film... we have to be crisp in what we're doing."

Aycock (1-0 overall) plays host to Greene Central next week. Rosewood (0-1) will seek its first win at Eastern Plains 2-A foe North Johnston.

Game notes from the Little River Rivalry:

TRENCHWORK

* Aycock's offensive line managed its work with aplomb all evening, creating hallway-style running lanes for its backfield. In total, the powder blue rushed for 343 yards and five touchdowns.

HO-HUM

* Aycock senior quarterback Jake Flowers filed a modest ledger, going 13 of 16 for 111 yards and three scores.. As usual, his primary target was Chandler Matthews, who caught four passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns. Matthews has 1,983 career receiving yards.

HELT-ER SKELTER

* Rosewood's Cameron Helt had two runs in excess of 50 yards on the night, part of a 184-yard outburst -- or just over 14 yards per carry.

OPENING NIGHT BLUES

* It was the sixth consecutive opening-night loss for Rosewood, but that's not to say all is lost. In each case, the purple-and-gold have gone on to make the playoffs.