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Greene Central rushes for 376 yards, rolls past Ayden-Grifton 49-20

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Greene Central defeats Ayden-Grifton 49-20 after rushing for 376 yards

By Trey Scott | Neuse News Sports

SNOW HILL - A year after being shut out by Ayden-Grifton, Greene Central delivered an emphatic response Friday night.

The Rams rolled up 376 rushing yards and 461 yards of total offense in a 49-20 victory over the Chargers, their second straight win over a team that beat them last season. Greene Central followed last week’s 49-24 win at Kinston with another 49-point performance and a second-half defensive shutout.

The turnaround has been as productive as it has been decisive. Greene Central gained 391 yards against Kinston and another 461 against Ayden-Grifton — 852 yards and 98 points in two games. The Rams had 228 rushing yards against Kinston and 376 Friday, giving them 604 on the ground over that stretch.

The numbers are a sharp contrast to last fall, when Greene Central lost to Kinston, Ayden-Grifton and Farmville Central. Ayden-Grifton blanked the Rams 35-0 in last year’s meeting. Greene Central has now answered two of those defeats, with Farmville Central up next.

Gaitor, Ingram set the pace

Sophomore Cody Gaitor led Friday’s rushing attack with 181 yards on 11 carries, including gains of 69, 50 and 30 yards. Donovan “Don” Ingram added 147 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns, breaking loose for scoring runs of 49 and 21 yards.

That is 328 rushing yards on 22 carries from the two backs alone. Combined with their performances against Kinston — Gaitor’s 123 yards and Ingram’s 91 — the pair have produced 542 rushing yards over the last two games.

JoJo Sanders accounted for three Greene Central touchdowns, scoring twice on the ground and once on a 10-yard reception. Quarterback Josh Cetnar completed five of 10 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown and also scored on a 1-yard run. The Rams finished with five rushing touchdowns, one passing touchdown and a defensive score.

Offensive coordinator Demarcus Whitehurst credited the game plan and the work in front of his running backs.

“We put a game plan together,” Whitehurst said. He added that the offensive line “did a great job tonight.”

Rams slam the door after halftime

Ayden-Grifton stayed within striking distance in the opening half, including an 80-yard kickoff-return touchdown. Greene Central led 28-20 at halftime, but the Chargers never scored again.

The Rams outscored Ayden-Grifton 21-0 after the break. Trey Bynum supplied a major defensive highlight with an interception return for a touchdown. Kaz Farrior added a sack and a fumble recovery.

Ayden-Grifton finished with 194 rushing yards and 73 passing yards, according to the game chart. The Chargers threatened late, reaching the Greene Central 10-yard line on each of their final two possessions, but the Rams kept them out of the end zone.

Defensive coordinator Colin Lee said the Chargers showed looks that had not appeared on film, forcing Greene Central to adjust.

“We told them all week, don’t get complacent,” Lee said. “They did some things that we didn’t really see on film.”

Lee said the defense responded after the break and “really played our style of football.”

One more rematch awaits

The coaching staff knew the danger of overlooking Ayden-Grifton. The game fell between two emotional rivalry matchups — the win at Kinston and next week’s meeting with Farmville Central — making consistent practice intensity a point of emphasis.

Now Greene Central has consecutive 49-point performances, two victories against opponents that beat the Rams last season and one remaining opportunity to complete the three-game turnaround. Farmville Central is next.

Greene Central statistical leaders

  • Cody Gaitor: 11 carries, 181 yards
  • Don Ingram: 11 carries, 147 yards, 2 touchdowns
  • JoJo Sanders: 3 rushing attempts, 38 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns; 3 receptions, 43 yards, 1 receiving touchdown
  • Josh Cetnar: 5-of-10 passing, 85 yards, 1 passing touchdown; 1 rushing touchdown
  • Team: 376 rushing yards, 85 passing yards, 461 total yards

Individual statistics are from the Neuse News Sports game chart.

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