WAYNE COUNTY CLASSIC: Warriors, Cougars square off on gridiron

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on August 26, 2016 1:48 PM

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By JUSTIN HAYES

jhayes@nwsargus.com

Last week's gridiron tilt at New Hope finalized the debut of Eastern Wayne alum and recently-minted varsity head coach Leander Oates.

As season-opening fare goes, it was palatable.

The Warriors spilled North Lenoir, 14-6, on the strength of a forced fourth-quarter fumble and the Lone Star State quicks of senior transfer Mathew Askew-Betts, who scampered for 117 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

Starting quarterback Ezekiel Best was solid, if not spectacular, going 7 of 20 through the air for 67 yards and a touchdown.

In total, the Warriors amassed 327 yards of total offense.

"Last week's game showed me our team had heart," Oates said. "I'm proud of them because they played selflessly."

Meanwhile, not much went according to script for Goldsboro High, which played the role of self-destructive protagonist during its 27-6 loss to Wilson Beddingfield.

Total offense, 48 yards.

Fumbles, six.

Total turnovers, seven.

Morale? Bruised, but with a side of Cougar strong.

For head coach Bennett Johnson, now in his third season on the corner of Dutch and Argo, the loss is no matter. There is no time to wallow or sulk in the aftermath -- what's done is done.

Moving forward as a unit is non-negotiable.

"We've really got no time to think about this game (Beddingfield)," Johnson said. "We've got to learn from it, correct our mistakes. We've got a county rival coming into our stadium (next Friday)."

Ah, yes.

The Wayne County Classic.

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The event is being fostered by community leaders and expects to draw from New Hope to Beech Street to all points in between.

It's a rivalry game, sure.

But given the recent sounding of community division bells across the country, it's one tempered with a shared sense of optimism.

There will be tailgating, a procession by the Goldsboro High student band and a trophy presented on the field to the winner of tonight's clash.

"I think the community-based activities are good for the student-athletes, parents and fans," Oates remarked. "This is a time where the entire community can come together to support these young men."

Here-here.

But before this year's contest -- a local model of insert-your-favorite-rivalry here, let's take a look back on the series:

SERIES RECORD

* Goldsboro leads 30-21-1.

TOTAL POINTS

* Goldsboro leads 1,009-723

AVERAGE SCORE

* Goldsboro 19, Eastern Wayne 14.

LONGEST WIN STREAK

* The Cougars won eight consecutive games from 1970-77. Eastern Wayne triumphed six times in a row from 1989-1992.

LARGEST MARGIN VICTORY

* Goldsboro -- 44 points (58-14, 2011)

SERIES SHUTOUTS

* Goldsboro 9, Eastern Wayne 0

BY THE DECADE

* 1970-1979 -- The Cougars dominating the opening 10 years of this series, winning nine contests by an average score of 21-3.

* 1980-1989 -- Eastern Wayne stepped into the spotlight, plucking six of 10 from the Cougars during this span, including three straight victories from 1985 through 1987.

* 1990-1999 -- The two teams faced off 16 times (the result of their affiliation with the Mideastern 4-A Conference) throughout the decade, with the Cougars compiling a 9-6-1 record. Anyone remember the 26-26 tie in 1996?

* 2000-present -- The Warriors hold a 9-7 advantage. In half those contests, the winner has escaped Friday night with a winning margin of six points or less.