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Jeremy Conyers rushes for 152 yards and 2 scores as the Trojans race to a 28-0 lead and hold on for the 28-20 win at Trojan Stadium. The Trojans defense bends but does not break on holding the Comets to just 100 yards rushing with terrific hustle all night by Aston Anglin-Stone who is everywhere and in on multiple tackles.
Conyers dashes 65 yards on the Trojans first play from scrimmage and a quick 7-0 Trojan lead. The Trojans get back to .500 at 3-3 and 1-1 in the Greater Neuse River Conference.
Connor McLaurin drops Clayton QB Chris Ferguson for a 3 yard loss on the Comets first possession to end their drive and the Trojans take over on their own 13. McLaurin carries for 10 yards and after a BG Howell incompletion, Conyers bulls his way for 16 and then 15 yards, into Clayton territory. Michael Brantley picks up a critical 4th and 1 and McLaurin follows with a 15-yard TD reception from Howell for a 14-0 Trojan lead.
The Trojan defense forces a quick 3-and-out as the Comets's drive gains a mere yard and Garner takes over on their own 45. On the second play of second quarter, Howell hits Ian Hunter for a 39 yard strike and the Trojans are up 21-0 after the PAT. Another Comet drive ends without a first down and Garner is able to go the 65 yards in 8 plays, with McLaurin picking up 35 and Conyers 20, including the final 5 yards for his second score of the night. Howell's kick makes it 28-0 and Trojan Stadium is sensing a blowout.
But the Comets have other thoughts and get on the board on their next series, aided by an ill-timed Garner personal foul to go the 66 yards, with Ferguson scoring from 12 yards out and Eric Winkler's PAT makes it 28-7 at the half.
Clayton opens the second half, driving 62 yards but the drive is thwarted by Anglin-Stone sack of Ferguson, one of his 13 tackles on the night and Dominque Mathis interception on an attempted halfback pass by Juwan Williams and Garner gets the ball back on their own 12. However, Howell is picked off Matt Boykin and the Comets have the ball back on the Garner 24 yard line. The four play drive ends with Adrian Smith rushing in from 8 yards out and cut the Garner lead to 28-14. The Trojans take the ensuing kick at their own 36, but manage only a first down and punt from their own 48 as the third quarter ends.
Again the Trojan defense stiffens and forces a Comet punt after their drive manages only two yards. After Ronald Moore fields the punt at the 34, Howell hits Hunter for a 33-yard gain, down to the Comet 33. On the next play, Tevin Smith picks up a Trojan fumble and rumbles 70 yards for the score. The extra point fails and the Trojans lead narrows to 28-20 with just over nine minutes to go in the game.
Needing some offense, the Trojans respond with a 13 play, 51 yard drive, with BG Howell picking up a huge 3rd and 13 with with his 32 yard run to the Comet six yard line. But the drive stalls and the Trojans forego the field goal attempt, failing on 4th and nine to turn the ball back over to Clayton on their own 9 with 1:46 to go. The Comets strike for a 47 yard pass from Ferguson to Anthony Hinton and first down on the Trojan 41. After an incomplete pass, Michael Ellis sacks Ferguson for a mammoth 15 yard loss and a Clayton penalty brings up 4th and 30 yards. The Comets last ditch effort falls incomplete and the Trojans stave off the Comet rally to win 28-20.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| CLY | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | - 20 |
| GAR | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | - 28 |
SCORING:
GAR: Jeremy Conyers 65 yard rush, Howell kick
GAR: Connor McLaurin 15 yard pass from BG Howell, Howell kick
GAR: Ian Hunter 39 yard pass from Howell, Howell kick
GAR: Conyers 5 yard rush, Howell kick
CLY: Chris Ferguson 12 yard rush, Eric Winkler kick
CLY: Adrian Smith 8 yard rush, Winkler kick
CLY: Tevin Smith 70 yard fumble recovery, kick failed
| GAR | CLAY | |
|---|---|---|
| Rushes-yards | 45-239 | 30-100 |
| Comp-Att-Yards-Int | 7-16-139-1 | 4-10-77-1 |
| Total Yards | 378 | 177 |
| First downs | 15 | 6 |
| Penalties | 4-30 | 6-45 |
RUSHING: Jeremy Conyers 25-152 yards, 2TD; Connor McLaurin 9-46 yards; Michael Brantley 6-15 yards; BG Howell 5-26 yards
PASSING: BG Howell 6-14-101, 2TD, INT
RECEIVING: Ian Hunter 3-56 yards, TD; McLaurin 2-37 yards, TD; Brantley 1-8 yards
The Trojans were treated to a performance of the National Anthem by the Vandora Spring Elementary Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Emma McManus. The annual Pop Warner Night welcomed players and volunteers for the game, as well as the Garner Class reunion Classes of 1973 and 1998 to Trojan Stadium tonight and NBC17's Lisa Sullivan, promoting Garner.MyNC.com! Trojan Fans upload your own photos and videos!!
Video of the Mighty Trojan Marching Band halftime performance.
Scheduling note: The JV game at Clayton rained out Thursday will be played Wednesday, Oct. 15th at 6PM.
Thank you Trojan Club supporters:
Dr, Andrew Cook and Dr. Darren Hilburn welcome 