Garner Blanks Harnett Central to Win Conference Championship

WEB CAST.

It's been the same story for the Garner Trojans after each win during their current nine game winning streak, scoring early and often and getting great defensive play. That was the way things worked out for Garner as they defeated Harnett Central 42-0 in the second battle of the Trojans.

Garner (9-2, 7-0) got the ball first and ran the ball down the field on the Harnett Central (7-4, 4-3) defense. On the games opening kick off, AJ Clanton returned the ball 47 yards to put Garner in business and four plays later, Juwan Moye scored on a reverse to put the Trojans up 7-0.

After a three and out by Harnett Central, Garner took over at the Central 40 yard line and Garner moved the ball with the run down the field and on the fifth play of the drive, Lemond Johnson hit Bryan Watkins in the end zone for a 10 yard strike at it was 14-0 Garner.

Once again, Central had to punt the ball away and pinned Garner back deep at their own four yard line. That was no problem as Clanton broke free and rumbled 96 yards and a 21-0 lead for Garner.

Again, Harnett Central punted and the Trojans began a long methodical scoring drive that took over seven minutes off the clock and covered 57 yards and on fourth and goal, Johnson snuck in to make it 28-0 in favor of the home team.

After another Central punt, Garner had great field position at the Central 49 and after three runs, Demetrius Fairley scored from five yards out and Garner took a 35-0 lead into the locker room.

At halftime, the Trojans honored the first class of the Garner High School Hall of Fame as Babara Kelly, Hal Stewart, Anthony Barbour, Pat Watkins and Donald Williams were welcomed into the hall.

When the second half began, both sets of Trojans played the field position game. But, very early in the fourth quarter, Garner put their final touchdown on the board as Fairley scored to make it 42-0.

Harnett Central had one shot at the end zone very late in the fourth quarter, but the top ranked Trojan defense stopped Central on four straight plays inside the two yard line to put an exclamation point on the game and the 42 point Garner win.

With the win, the Trojans are out right conference champions and will be the number one seed from the Greater Neuse River Conference when the state playoffs begin next week.

Garner will be at home next Friday night at 7:30 against Broughton in the first round of the state playoffs!