After years of covering Johnston County high school football, I finally got to cover an overtime game.
Technically, Corinth Holders never led its game with Fuquay-Varina — until the Pirates won it in overtime with a daring two-point conversion call, 22-21.
Despite the world’s worst cellphone connection, we had the game on JoCo Sports. You can listen here, and note that the finish is around 2:45.
Side note: If you hear talk of a cellphone tower going up near the school, get on board with that. It’s brutal out there trying to go an internet broadcast on alleged LTE.
It took a one-yard Jaylon Holder touchdown plunge with about three minutes left, followed by Zeon Ware’s two-point conversion run (behind Holder’s lead block), to tie the game at 14. Then, after Fuquay-Varina scored in the first half of the overtime session, Corinth Holders faced fourth and goal from the 12.
David Jarman found Jamal Newsome in single coverage in the left corner of the end zone, and Newsome high-pointed the football for the score. Then, when an extra point would have forced another overtime session, Pirates’ coach Carl Smith sent out the offense for the two-point try.
For the first time all night, the Pirates ran the option. Jarman faked a handoff to Holder, took a couple of steps down the line to his right and pitched the ball to Ware. Ware then cut back to his left and dove into the end zone for the game-winning conversion.
The Pirates are 6-1, and in the hunt for one of the top seeds out of the Greater Neuse River 4A:
The top two are also Johnston County-based, as Cleveland and Clayton continued perfect starts to the campaign.
The Rams took down Willow Spring, 42-12, behind 357 passing yards and five combined scores from Jackson Byrd.
Cleveland will seek its 50th consecutive regular-season win this week, as the JoCo Sports Game of the Week rolls into Polenta Road for the Rams’ date with Southeast Raleigh. Pregame is at 7:10 on Friday night, and you can catch it right here.
Clayton also breezed to a league win, with a 40-6 decision against South Garner.
Clayton hosts Corinth Holders this week in what should be quite the showdown.
Quad County 3A
Tyler Williams made his return from an ankle injury, and South Johnston celebrated with a 42-20 win over last-place Southern Wayne. As you can see below, the Trojans have some work to do to get back toward the top of the conference standings.
They can start that journey this week at home against Hunt.
Meanwhile, West Johnston held off a stubborn Smithfield-Selma, 28-24, to stay a game back of C.B. Aycock.
Speaking of the Falcons, they host West Johnston Thursday night at 7. Should be fun.
Neuse 6
North Johnston quarterback Kaleb Pone continues to post eye-popping numbers.
In the Panthers’ 52-30 win over Beddingfield, the junior threw for 93 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 201 yards and three more touchdowns. Traquin Watson added 66 rushing yards and couple of scores for North, which is tied for first atop the standings.
The Panthers, winners of four straight, will host Goldsboro this week before the JoCo Sports Game of the Week makes it way over to Kenly for the game against Eastern Wayne on Oct. 25.
Meanwhile, Princeton started slowly before racing past Goldsboro, 38-30. In fact, Princeton didn’t allow a second-half point while piling up 350 rushing yards and all five touchdowns in the contest.
The streaky Bulldogs visit Spring Creek this week.
More thursday night football
Our friends from American Leadership Academy (5-1) will be back in action at winless East Columbus on Thursday night.