WEB CAST.
It was built as a game of big plays and on Friday night at John Baker Stadium, the contest was all that and more as Garner out punched Southeast Raleigh 41-34 to earn the Greater Neuse River Conference Championship.
Southeast Raleigh (7-2, 5-1) stuck on the first play from scrimmage as David Washington hit Quentin Atkinson for a 86 yard touchdown and the Bulldogs were off to the races up 7-0.
Garner (10-0, 6-0) answered right back on the ensuing kick-off as Anthony Tucker returned the kick back 90 yards to make it 7-6 after a missed extra point.
The Bulldogs answered right back with a five play scoring drive than ended on a flea flicker as Tristan Walker pitched to Washington who hit Atkinson again for the score and a 13-6 lead for the home team which is how the first quarter ended.
Early in the second, Garner pulled to within one as Demetrius Fairley rumbled into the end zone to make it 13-12 Southeast. The Bulldogs answered on the next drive with another big play as Washington hit Walker for the 20-12 lead.
Late in the first half, Garner found the answer. Backed up on their own 10 yard line, the Trojans went to the air as Vince Jefferies found Anthony Tucker for a 90-yard completion to pull Garner to within two. The Trojans elected to go for two and connected as Moye found Brayden Sims in the back of the end zone to send the game to a 20-20 tie at the break.
Garner came out swinging in the second half, on the first play from scrimmage, Moye rambled 53-yards to pay dirt and the first lead of the night for the Trojans at 26-20.
Yet again, the Bulldogs answered as Washington hit Ramel Tedder for a touchdown and the Bulldogs regained a one point lead. On the next drive, Garner salted the clock with an 12 play drive that took over five minutes off the clock and ended with another touchdown run from Fairley and after another two-point try, made it 34-27 Trojans.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Southeast answered with a pass to Tedder and knotted the game at 34.
Garner had one more score in them as the moved the ball down the field on the ensuing drive. After runs of 25 and 26 yards from Fairley and Moye, it was Fairley who capped the drive with a four yard run and a 41-34 lead for the Trojans.
On their final drive, Southeast Raleigh faced a fourth down and 32 and on the play, Gavin Wilson and Jeremine Bologiongo sacked Washington to end the game and preserve the 41-34 win for the Trojans.
Garner will conclude their regular season next week when the return to Trojan Stadium and welcome Harnett Central to town. Kick-off is slated for 7:30.
Trojans out last Bulldogs
