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Updated 2008 NCHSAA 4AA bracket (after Monday's games, in pdf form)
Senior BG Howell scores from ten yards out in the second overtime as the Trojans advance in NCHSAA 4AA play-offs with the 33-30 win. The Trojan defense was the star of the show, shutting out the vaunted Millbrook offense in the second half. Garner shows the tradition of 25 years as a state power to uphold the honor of the much maligned GNRC, holding Millbrook to a David Brown field in the second extra session before Howell's historic score. Played in a driving rain for much of the game, this one was one for the history books of Trojan Stadium.
The Trojans (8-4) stop a two game skid to the Wildcats after years of dominance though the games have mostly been very close. Millbrook came in confident after thrashing Garner 34-0 to open the season and 9-2 on the year. But its the Trojans who will advance to face #1 seed Jack Britt next Friday. The Wildcats year ends at 9-3.
Michael Brantley and Jeremy Conyers march the Trojans sixty yards to the Wildcat 17 on the opening series. A holding call on Conyers fourth down touchdown run, wipes out the score and Howell's 44 yard field goal attempt is wide left. Millbrook takes over at their own 20. Brian Kass hits Scott Gray for five yards and all-state running back Kuwon Eldridge picks up 20 before the drive stalls. Kass' punt is partially blocked and travels only 11 yards and Garner takes over at their own 42 but quickly go three and out to give Millbrook back the ball.
From their 33, the Wildcats march 67 yards for the score, with Eldridge rumbling 33 on first down and taking it in from eleven yards out. Eldridge picks up 62 yards of the drive and Brown's PAT makes it 7-0. Ian Hunter returns the Wildcat kickoff 25 yards to the Trojan 31. Brantley runs it seven yards before Conyers sweeps right for 29 yards as the first quarter ends. From the Wildcat 33, Conyers covers the remaining distance on two carries to knot the game at 7-7. Trojan momentum carries forward as the Wildcats fumble the kickoff and Garner takes over on the Millbrook 30. Conyers picks up a critical 4th and 1, picking up three to the Wildcat 18. But Malik Fair picks off Howell's pass and returns it into Garner territory at the 42.
The Wildcats take advantage of the short field. Kass hits Michael Thornton for 11 yards and their fourth first down of the half. Eldridge scampers 13 to the Trojan 19 and after Kass keeps it for six, Eldridge scores his second of the night from 13 out to put Millbrook up 14-7. Starting at their own 28, Conyers picks up 9 and Brantley bulls his way up the middle for a big 39 yard gain, but fumbles at the end of the play to turn it back over to the Wildcats. Garner incurs a pesonal foul of the play, so Millbrook starts their drive on the 43 and promptly moves it the 57 yards with Kass taking it in from 15 yards out. Michael Ellis blocks the extra point to keep it at 20-7 where it stays until halftime. Eldridge piles up 110 yards in the half with his two scores.
Millbrook who deferred the opening toss, takes over first in the second half. The Trojans defense shows huge adjustment and on 3rd and 21, Chaz Damon recovers a Wildcat fumble and Garner takes over at the Millbrook 5 yard line. A broken play results in a loss of 5. Howell hits Brandon Byars on a sweet 10 yard crossing route but a procedure call results in a very strange 6 yard penalty back to the 11. Howell scrambles for 3 before the golden opportunity fades with Fair picking off his second of the night in the end zone.
The Trojan defensive line bows up to push the Wildcats back to the one when Kass fumbles but falls on the ball. On third and 29, Connor McLaurin drops Eldridge for just a yard and the Millbrook punts it to their own 39. But Garner fails to take advantage and fail on 4th and five, giving the Wildcats the ball back. . The 'Cats punt of 4th and 31 and Garner started their fourth consective drive Millbrook side of the field, taking over at the 36. Howell hits Conyers on a screen for 5 yards. On a critical 4th and five, Brandon Byars gets open for 10 yards for the Trojans seventh first down of the night. Conyers runs it 4 and Brantley moves it to the seven as the third quarter ends.
The Trojans owns the 4th quarter, capping the drive with Conyers diving in from a yard out at 9:20. But Howell's PAT is wide, cutting lead to 20-13. On the ensuring kick, Scott Gray is nailed and Terrell Sanders picks it up to dash 23 yards for the tying score for a 20-20 game a mere 8 seconds later. Smelling blood the Garner defense forces another Wildcat quick out, with Aston Anglin-Stone pressures Kass to an incomplete pass on third and 5. Jeremiah Davis blocks the Kass punt and Garner starts another drive in Millbrook territory, at the 42. But again, the terrific field possession goes for naught and the Wildcats take over at their own 20 after Howell's 37 yard punt. Eldridge is able give Millbrook breathing room, dashing 60 yards but the Trojans defense stiffens and Millbrook elects to go for the first down from the Trojan 11 rather than kick the potential game-winning field goal. Kass is stopped on 4th and three and Garner takes over at the nine with 1:42 to go in the game.
The Trojans go conservative, failing to pick up a first down and Millbrook has a shot in regulation after Howell's 48 yard punt. From their own 39, Kass is picked off by Dominque Mathis with just 0:31 to go in regulation. The Trojans are content to head into overtime.
Millbrook wins the toss but defers to go on defense first. Michael Brantley makes them pay, taking it in from 10 yards out to put the Trojans up for the first time all night 27-20. The Wildcats answer converting on 4th and 3 to knot the game at the end of the first extra period 27-27. On the second OT, Eldridge picks up three but a high snap goes over Kass' head and Kel Johnson, who has numerous tackles on the evening, forces an incompletion and Millbrook settles for a 38 yard David Brown field for a 30-27 Millbrook lead.
It all comes down to the Trojans final possession. Howell misses on first down pass but on 2nd and ten, takes the snap and dashes 10 yards on the draw, and the Senior leader sends the very wet, very cold Trojan Stadium faithful into pandemonium and ready to head to Fayetteville next Friday night!!! Trojans win 33-30!!
Directions to Jack Britt High School
(pictures courtesy of The Garner Citizen News & Times and Ken Hall Photography)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | F | |
| MBK | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | -30 |
| GAR | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 6 | - 33 |
SCORING:
MBK: Kuwon Eldridge 11 yard run, David Brown kick
GAR: Jeremy Conyers 25 yard run, BG Howell kick
MBK: Eldridge 13 yard run, Brown kick
MBK: Brian Kass 14 yard run, kick blocked
GAR: Conyers 1 yard run, kick failed
GAR: Terrell Sanders 23 yard fumble return, Howell kick
GAR: Michael Brantley 10 yard run, Howell kick
MBK: Kass 3 yard run, Brown kick
MBK: Brown 38 yard FG
GAR: Howell 10 yard run
| GAR | MBK | |
|---|---|---|
| Rushes-yards | 43-234 | 42-259 |
| Comp-Att-Yards-Int | 5-11-21-1 | 4-6-35-1 |
| Total Yards | 255 | 294 |
| First downs | 8 | 12 |
| Penalties | 3-31 | 6-54 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
RUSHING: GAR—Michael Brantley 17-128 TD; Jeremy Conyers 21-100 TD; BG Howell 4-8 TD; Josh Brooks 1-(-2) ; MBK—Kuwon Eldridge 22-224, Scott Gray 1-0, Brian Kass 19-35;
PASSING: GAR—BG Howell 5-11-21-1; MBK—Kass 4-6-35-1;
RECEIVING: GAR—Brandon Byars 1-10, Conyers 2-11, Ian Hunter 1-2; MBK—S.Gray 1-5, Nick .Murad 1-9, M.Thornton 2-21;
The Trojans welcomed 850 "The Buzz" for their broadcast of Drew Smith and Brian Kennedy. We certainly appreciate their attendance and their service to high school football.
Thank you Trojan Club supporter:
