WEB CAST .
After falling behind 20-7, Garner went on a mission to come all the way back and defeat Middle Creek 35-20 at Trojan Stadium and advance to the third round of the state playoffs.
Middle Creek (9-4) went up by seven on their first drive of the game. The Mustangs converted on two separate third downs to keep the dive moving and here also helped when quarterback Garrett Leatham rumbled 26 yards to set up Naylann Lopez for 10 yards and the first score of the game, and the only score of the first quarter.
Garner (11-2) came back in the second quarter to knot the game at seven. After a three and out by the defense, Garner got great field position after the punt and they capitalized. On the first play of the drive, Juwan Moye, got the ball on the end around and ran over a man at the one for the first Trojan score of the game.
However, Middle Creek had an answer as on the ensuing drive, the Mustangs got their running game going as they used a lot of Lopez on the ground as he caped the drive with his second score of the night, this one, from 21 yards out. The Mustangs missed the point after and only had a six point lead. That would be the score at the half.
In the second half, Middle Creek got the ball to start the half and promptly converted a third and 15 with a 48-yard pass play which set up another touchdown run and a 20-7 Mustang lead.
After Garner fumbled on the next drive, Middle Creek recovered, but this time they went for it on fourth and one and the Garner defense held giving the Trojans the football at their own 45.
This time Garner used a lot of AJ Clanton as they marched the ball down the field on the Middle Creek defense and finally it was Clanton into the end zone for the score and a 20-14 lead for Middle Creek.
As the third quarter clock wound down, Garner was still only down by three and following a Mustang punt, the Trojans took over on their 21 yard line with just six seconds left in the quarter. Rather than sit on the ball, Garner went to a trick play. Clanton got the pitch from the quarterback and fired a missile to a wide open Moye who took it all the way for the score and after the Connor Torruella extra point, Garner had a 21-20 lead.
After Middle Creek went three and out, again, Garner had great field position and on the first play of the drive, Clanton took it 58-yards for the score and all of a sudden the Trojans had a 28-20 lead.
Late in the fourth quarter, Garner added another score to put the game out of reach as Moye took it around the end for 36 yards and a 35-20 lead that Middle Creek couldn't overcome.
The Trojans will hit the road next Friday as they travel to Wake Forest-Rolesville for the third round of the state playoffs.
Big Second Half Sends Garner to Round Three
