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If you like smash mouth football, Thursday night was for you. Garner and Clayton played a typical game as both teams lined up in the I-Formation and pounded the football, but Garner would eventually come out on top in one of the best finishes in High School Football.
After playing a scoreless first quarter, both teams got on the board in the second stanza of the game. However, Clayton stuck first on the Trojan defense as Montrelle Sanders rumbled around the left side for the touchdown the PAT was good and the Comets led 7-0.
But Garner wasted little time getting on the board as Freshman Lemond Johnson went under center for the Trojans and after making a few big runs, he would eventually fake the hand off to the running back and flash 86 yards down the sideline to the the game at 7 which would be the halftime score.
The third quarter was more of the same as both teams defense would not give an inch and going to the fourth quarter, the game was tied at seven. Clayton held the ball for the first six minutes of the games final quarter and would convert three separate first downs before quarterback, Mat Reid went in from one yard out to give Clayton a 13-7 lead. The Comets then brought Eric Winkler on to try the PAT, and coming into the kick, Winkler was a perfect 11 for 11 on extra points but this would be his first miss of the season as the kick sailed wide left and Garner still had life.
Garner began their next drive at the Trojan 30 yard line with 1:47 left in the game. Senior quarterback, Cody Woodall then began moving the ball down the field, but it looked like a repeat of last week with Garner facing a third down and ten from midfield, but Woodall found Juwan Moye who picked up the first down, Garner would nickle and dime the ball down field, but was facing a fourth down and one from the Comet 7 yard line with just two seconds left.
So it all came down to one play as Woodall dropped back to pass he looked over the middle and found Brian Watkins in the middle of the end zone who hauled in the low pass and the Trojans had tied the game at 13 with no time on the clock.
Garner then brought on Connor Torruella with no time on the clock to attempt the kick that would win the game for Garner, after a great snap from Alec Hulmes, Torruella's kick sailed through the uprights and Garner defeated Clayton 14-13 to improve to 1-1 in the Conference and 3-3 overall.
It was also a milestone night for the Garner Football Program as Head Coach Nelson Smith picked up his 100th career win and it was also the 200th win for the Program since 1990.
Garner will return home next Friday night as they welcome the Knightdale Knights to town for Homecoming 2009.
Garner Wins Thriller on Final Play to Down Comets
