WEB CAST.
After falling behind by a quick touchdown, Garner responded with 42 unanswered points and cruised past Knightdale, 42-7 win at Trojan Stadium to remain atop the Greater Neuse River Conference.
Knightdale (6-2, 4-1) scored on its first possession of the game as Marquavious Johnson busted off a 75-yard touchdown run up the middle for an early lead.
However, that proved to be the loan highlight of the night for the Knights as Garner (9-0, 5-0) answered on the ensuing possession as Tyler Hinton capped a 13 play drive to make it 7-6 after the extra point was blocked.
The Trojan offense struck again on its next touch of the football as Vince Jefferies found daylight down the seem and busted off a 28 yard run and a 12-7 lead for Garner after a two-point conversion attempt failed. On the ensuing Knights possession, backed up deep in its own end Knightdale elected to punt the football. However, Rae Britton had other ideas as he blocked his second punt of the year, out of the end zone and a 14-7 lead for Garner early in the second stanza.
Following a free kick from Knightdale, it took the Trojans just three plays to score again as Jefferies hit Armani Lanier for a 26 yard touchdown pass and a 21-7 advantage for the blue and gold.
Garner punched it in one more time before the half expired as Jefferies found Lanier for the second time in the game and the ninth time this season for a 63 yard score and a 27-7 halftime advantage.
During the break, the homecoming court was announced (finally). Congratulations to Julius Barnes who was named Prince, Lydia Milhouse was named princess. Wigi Ramous was crowned king and Ty Maultsby was named homecoming queen.
Back to the game, he second half began with the Trojans owning possession of the football and wasted no time getting back on the board. Once again it was a 13 play drive for the Trojans that milked the clock and thwarted the hopes of the Knights as Jefferies hit Terry Gilman for his third touchdown pass of the night and a 35-7 lead.
Garner's final score of the evening came late in the third quarter and again, it was the Trojan special teams that made the play.
Facing a fourth down from their own five yard line Taylor Betts was forced to punt again and just like the first half, Britton swatted the football away and after a few bounces it was recovered in the end zone by Tre Perry for the final score of the night.
The 42-7 victory for the Trojans is the 29th straight regular season victory for Garner, the longest active streak in 4A.
Garner returns to action next week when the welcome Southeast Raleigh to Trojan Stadium, it will be hall of fame night as the 2013 class of the Garner Hall of Fame will be introduced. Kick-off is slated for 7:00
