Turnovers Derail Greene Central in 20-14 Loss to Eastern Wayne
GOLDSBORO — Greene Central’s dominance on both sides of the ball couldn’t prevent a turnover-laden 20-14 loss to Eastern Wayne on Friday night at Eastern Wayne High School. Despite racking up nearly twice as many total yards as their opponent and controlling possession for much of the game, the Rams’ six turnovers allowed the Warriors to escape with a win in front of their home crowd.
The Rams (3-1) entered the contest riding a wave of momentum after three consecutive victories but were without key offensive starters: quarterback Nick Avent and star running back Dejuan Cobb, who had amassed over 300 yards on the ground in the first three games.
“We can’t win like that,” Greene Central head coach Jay Wilson said. “We left probably 28 points on the board with just silly mistakes, bad ball security, and fumbles.”
Even with early struggles, the Rams outgained Eastern Wayne, particularly on the ground. Greene Central rushed for 103 yards on 22 carries in the first half, consistently moving the ball. Cetnar connected on just one of three pass attempts but made it count, delivering a 20-yard touchdown to Sam Avent to give the Rams an early 6-0 lead.
However, Eastern Wayne (2-2) capitalized on Greene Central’s lone first-half fumble, tying the game at 6-6 with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Rakieem Faison. The Warriors managed only 24 rushing yards in the first half, leaning on their passing attack to stay in the game, finishing with 120 passing yards before the break.
Greene Central’s defense remained stout, allowing Eastern Wayne to rush for only 64 yards total, but the Warriors made the most of their opportunities.
The second half saw the Rams lose their grip on the game—literally and figuratively. Greene Central turned the ball over four times in the final two quarters, including two fumbles and two interceptions, allowing Eastern Wayne to steal momentum despite gaining just 60 total yards in the second half.
“We shot ourselves in the foot too many times to be successful tonight, and we still had an opportunity at the end,” Coach Wilson added. “Eastern Wayne came out and had a great game plan, but we played into it with all the turnovers.”
Early in the third quarter, Mez Coppedge blocked an Eastern Wayne punt, setting the Rams up deep in the red zone. But two plays later, a fumble gave the ball right back to the Warriors who would score on the drive.
Greene Central’s defense remained unrelenting, with Ahzavion Strong’s late interception giving the Rams another chance. But a subsequent fumble once again gave Eastern Wayne a short field, and the Warriors capitalized with another touchdown to extend their lead to 20-6 with just under three minutes to play.
Refusing to quit, the Rams responded immediately. Cetnar launched a 55-yard touchdown pass to Christian Tavarez, cutting the deficit to 20-14 with time running out. Tavarez, who finished with 79 receiving yards, was a key target for Cetnar, who ended the night 5 of 10 for 99 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The Rams' defense forced Eastern Wayne into a crucial third down with 1:40 remaining. Rather than running the clock out, the Warriors elected to pass, and it backfired when quarterback Izeiah Oats fumbled while scrambling. Greene Central recovered, giving the Rams one last chance to steal the win.
However, Greene Central’s final drive stalled, and the Warriors managed to escape with a victory despite being held to just **40 rushing yards and 20 passing yards** in the second half.
“We are 0-0 now,” Wilson said of the start of conference play, with a road game against North Pitt looming. “3-1 is for the media, but now we are back to square one. The second part of our season is here, and we’ve got six games to do what we do and make the playoffs.”
Despite the loss, Greene Central proved they can compete even without key players. If they can clean up their ball security, they will be a force to reckon with as the Rams enter the most critical stretch of their season.
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**Game Summary:**
- **Final Score:** Eastern Wayne 20, Greene Central 14
- **Key Stats:**
- Greene Central: 6 turnovers (4 fumbles, 2 interceptions)
- Eastern Wayne: 172 total yards (140 passing, 64 rushing), only **60 yards in the second half**
- Greene Central: 170 rushing yards on 35 carries
- Passing: Josh Cetnar 5 of 10, 99 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
- Christian Tavarez: 3 catches for 79 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble
- Blocked punt by Mez Coppedge
**Next Game:** Greene Central at North Pitt (conference opener)
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