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Senior QB BG Howell throws three touchdowns passes, runs one in and boots 7 PAT's and Michael Brantley adds two on the ground at the Trojans roll to a big 49-17 win in the final regular season game. On a night when the Trojans welcome home 2008 Paralympic hero Tucker Dupree from the Class of 2007 and 2006 graduate Kinsie Howell, the reigning Miss Johnston County performs a fantastic national anthem, the Trojan defense stars as well holding the Hawks to just one second half first down. The Trojans enjoyed a spectular pleasant night at Trojan Stadium after an 80 degree afternoon.
A very close 21-17 game at the half turns into a route as Trojans convert three takeaways into 21 points in the early stages of the second half, while holding the Hawks to just 34 yards for the entire second half.
Brantley establishes himself early as a man on a mission, busting a big 34 yard run on Garner's first possession. After he picks up a big 4th and six with an eight yard run up the middle, a Trojan fumble turns the ball over to the Hawks at their own 40. Holly Springs drives the ball to the Trojans 7, with QB Mark Collins picking up 29 yards. But Collins and KJ Herndon are stopped for no gain on consecutive plays and the Hawks settle for a Nick Hohns 24 yard field goal. The Trojans answer with an 80 yard, 7 play drive, with Brantley gallopping 50 yards on 2nd and ten. Jeremy Conyers picks up twelve on the series and Howell caps the drive with a nine yard strike to Josh Brooks to put the Trojans up 7-3.
Collins does it himself on the ensuing series, taking it 69 yards on first down for a 10-7 Hawk lead. Ian Hunter returns the kick off to the 25 but a Garner clipping call, one of just two penalties for the Trojans on the night, starts the series on the drive on the fifteen. Howell hits Hunter on an 8 yard out pattern and again its Brantley with another big run of 52 yards. A Holly Springs face mask moves it to the Hawk 12. Brantley's three yard dive as the first quarter ends, is followed by a Conyers two yard dive to the seven. A Hawk pass interference call moves it half the distance to the goal and Brantley covers the final four yards. Howell's PAT puts the Trojans up for good 14-10.
The Trojan defense, led by Michael Ellis, Connor McLaurin, Chaz Damon and Aston Anglin-Stone, begins to assert themselves with a quick 3 play Holly Springs series, gaining only 4 yards and they punt it back to Garner at their own 36. On third and twelve, Howell scrambles 13 yards to pick up the first down. Howell played tonight's game with a broken hand. The Hawks hit Howell out of bounds that tacks 15 yards to the gain. After Conyers picks up 3, Howell hits a streaking Hunter from 33 yards out with 7:21 to go in the half and Garner is up 21-10. The Hawks use their final series of the half to eat up the remainder of the half, covering 76 yards with Collins scoring his second touchdown and cut the halftime lead to 21-17.
The Hawks first possession of the second half ends with negative four yards and Ronald Moore blocks the punt, recovered by Jeremiah Davis at the Hawk four yard line. Howell sneaks it in from a yard out just 57 seconds later to make it 28-17 Trojans. Moore shines again, picking off a Collins pass on the next Holly Springs drive. A quick 6 play drive covers the 34 yards with Brantley scoring his second of the night from 3 yards out with 3:27 to go in the third period.
The Hawks offense is virtually stymied the entire second half and on 2nd and five, Hawk QB "hands off" to Michael Ellis as he bears down on him for the takeaway. The Trojans strike right away with Howell hitting Hunter again for the 23 yard score five seconds later and the route is on, 42-17. After another series of lost yards, the third period ends with the Hawks having amassed negative 3 yards for the quarter. Cody Woodall leads the second unit offense on the field at the Trojan 32. Forced to punt, Howell hits a beauty which is downed on the Hawk one yard line. Collins stays in at running back but the Hawks bring Ethan Nunn at QB. The change does little to jump start their offense and the Hawks move it only six yards. The snap on the punt is high and Marcos Goldstein passes to Herndon who is nailed on a picture perfect open field tackle by Connor McLaurin short of the first down at the Hawk 10 yard line. Jeremiah Davis scores from two out for the final margin 49-17.
The Trojans will learn of their first round NCHSAA play-off opponent tomorrow as the 4AA bracket is announced at 5PM.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| HS | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - 17 |
| GAR | 7 | 14 | 21 | 7 | - 49 |
SCORING:
HS - Nick Hohns 24 yard field goal
GAR- Josh Brooks 9 yard pass from BG Howell, Howell kick
HS- Mark Collins 69 yard run, Hohns kick
GAR- Michael Brantley 2 yard run, Howell kick
GAR- Ian Hunter 33 yard pass from Howell, Howell kick
HS- Collins 2 yard run, Hohns kick
GAR - Howell 1 yard run, Howell kick
GAR - Brantley 3 yard run, Howell kick
GAR - Hunter 23 yard pass from Howell, Howell kick
GAR - Jeremiah Davis 2 yard run, Howell kick
| GAR | HS | |
|---|---|---|
| Rushes-yards | 35-245 | 37-210 |
| Comp-Att-Yards-Int | 6-11-90-0 | 4-5-21-1 |
| Total Yards | 335 | 231 |
| First downs | 11 | 7 |
| Penalties | 2-15 | 7-59 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
RUSHING: Michael Brantley 9-162 yards, 2TD's; Jeremy Conyers 11-29 yards; BG Howell 2-14 yards, TD; Ian Hunter 1-4 yards; Brandon Parks 5-12 yards; Jeremiah Davis 5-28 yards, TD; Jamal Leach 1-11 yards; KJ Kane 1-(-15) yards
PASSING: Howell 6-11-90 yards, 3 TD's
RECEIVING: Hunter 4-67 yards, 2 TD's; Josh Brooks 1-9 yards, TD; Brantley 1-14 yards
During the first quarter break, the Trojans proclaimed Tucker Dupree Day at Trojan Stadium. Tucker, holder of 23 American swimming records competed in the 2008 Paralympics and set 5 American and 5 Pan American records while setting personal best times in 11 of the 12 events he competed. Tucker was accompanied by his parents Marlene and Chet Dupree.
In addition to honored guest Tucker Dupree and Kinsie Howell and 2006 graduate Richard Medlin, All-CIAA running back for the 8-2 Fayetteville St. Broncos, the Trojans extended a warm birthday greeting to Mr. Earle Purser, long-time supporter and Garner legend!!! Happy birthday Mr. Purser!!
Thank you Trojan Club supporter:
