Sep 4, 2008
Garner
In Garner’s first home game, the Trojans (2-1) did little right, falling to Millbrook in shutout fashion.
But in their next one they did little wrong and blew out Riverside 68-31.
There wasn’t much the Pirates could do with Garner all night long as the Trojans (2-1) scored early, often and at will.
Trojans quarterback B.G. Howell hooked up with Ian Hunter three times for touchdowns and tossed two more scores to Josh Brooks in the first half alone.
Garner jumped out to a 34-0 lead after the first quarter and held a 54-7 advantage over Riverside after halftime.
After the opening-week embarrassment against Millbrook and nearly squandering a 25-7 lead to Middle Creek, the dominant performance was something that Trojan coach Nelson Smith said he had been wanting to see for some time.
“That was probably one of the better first halves we’ve played in the last 10 years,” Smith said. “We just hope we can keep this thing going now. We’ve been spurting, hitting and missing here the past two weeks. It’s a good feeling especially after that whooping we took against Millbrook.”
After modest beginnings so far this year, a 68-point outburst wasn’t exactly what Smith envisioned coming into this match-up. He said his team had come a long way from opening night.
“To be honest with you it wasn’t [what I expected],” Smith said. “We didn’t have but three starters coming back [coming into this year] and I know it had a lot to do with the first game because we had 18 first-time starters and they were nervous.
“Heck, this is my 29th year and I’m still nervous when I walk out because I don’t quite know what to expect. … I’d never thought we’d have a game like this. Nope, not that many points.”
Conversely, it’s been a much rougher start to the season for Riverside. The Pirates (0-2) have been outscored 139-45 on the year.
Three Pirates touchdowns came by way of the Andrew Evans-Ray Lipscomb connection. Evans also added a three-yard scamper in the fourth.
Garner’s Howell ran for a score and tossed five more on 10 for 13 passing for 291 yards – all coming in the first half. All 10 of those first-half passes went to either Hunter (six catches, 193 yards) and Brooks (four catches, 98 yards).
“That was my third start,” Howell said. “And you can’t ask for a better start than that.”
For the rest of the contest, the Trojans were content to run the ball and eat up clock. Even then, Jeremiah Davis broke loose on one of his two touchdown runs.
Jamal Leach also came into the game late and took his first carry 70 yards for another touchdown.
Defensive back James Skillern also got into the Trojans scoring act, returning an interception for a touchdown and punctuating the Trojan rout at the end of the first half.
As far as Smith is concerned, the night couldn’t have gone much better for Garner.
“I’m happy for the kids and I’m happy for the assistant coaches because the kids and the coaches have really been working hard,” Smith said. “I just hope it keeps going and going.”
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