Garner takes out South Garner in high school football rivalry game of the week
By Staff Report
Garner's Aroson Randle (1) celebrates his touchdown against South Garner with running back Austin Williams (26). The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025
Steven Worthy
While the high school football playoffs expanded this season as the NC High School Athletic Association went from four classifications of schools to eight, the criteria to qualify for the playoffs also changed, and merely winning a conference title is no longer a guarantee of a top seed.
To that end, every game against every team with a win matters in the new formula that measures not only a team’s own wins and losses, but those of their opponents as well.
Add in the spice of a local crosstown rivalry, and Garner-South Garner on Friday night was a doozy — dominated by the visiting team’s defense.
The Garner Trojans established their offense early, posting a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter, and their defense did the rest in a 29-3 win in enemy territory over the South Garner Titans.
Garner running back Tayden McPhatter (21) runs for the long touchdown against South Garner during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner got on the board first with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns, and the Trojans held the home-standing Titans to just a field goal in the opening frame.
That score held until halftime, as well, as both defenses remained locked in.
Garner broke through with another score in the opening minutes of the third quarter on a 50-yard scamper on the Trojans’ first drive of the half, and added the final score in the waning minutes of the fourth on a catch-and-run and subsequent two-point conversion to cap the scoring.
Garner returns to the field next Friday for its final home game of the regular season when the Trojans host Clayton.
South Garner also finishes its 2025 home slate next week with a game against Fuquay-Varina.
Garner running back Tayden McPhatter (21) runs for the long touchdown against South Garner during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner running back Tayden McPhatter (21) runs for yardage past South Garner cornerback Caleb Sykes (1) during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner defensive end Ebenezer Ewetade (24) takes part in pre-game drills before his team's contest against Garner. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner defensive end Ebenezer Ewetade (24) takes part in pre-game drills before his team's contest against Garner. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner's Caleb Sykes (1) runs for yardage against Garner during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner Chase Hardy (8) reacts to a play against Garner during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner defensive end Ebenezer Ewetade (24) battles Garner running back Amir Wallace (4) during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner quarterback Christian Ormandy (15) runs for the touchdown against South Garner during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner quarterback Christian Ormandy (15) celebrates his touchdown against South Garner with teammates during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner defensive end Ebenezer Ewetade (24) rushes past Garner defensive back Tristian Freeman (20) during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner linebacker's Jimi Sonaiya (10) and Armez Phelps (15) tackle Garner running back Amir Wallace (4) during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner running back Tayden McPhatter (21) runs for the touchdown against South Garner's Caleb Sykes (1) during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner quarterback Chase Hardy (8) runs and looks for an opening against Garner during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner linebacker Joseph Cappelletti (36) sacks South Garner quarterback Chase Hardy (8) during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner quarterback Chase Hardy (8) sprints for the first down against Garner during the second half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner defensive end Tristian Freeman (20) grapples South Garner quarterback Chase Hardy (8) after he gains the first down during the second half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner quarterback Chase Hardy (8) looks to pass downfield against Garner during the second half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner quarterback Chase Hardy (8) recovers the loose ball ahead of Garner linebacker Isaiah McFadden (25) during the second half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner defensive end Ebenezer Ewetade (24) contends with Garner linebacker Raheem Ross (50) dureing the second half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner running back Austin Williams (26) runs for yardage past South Garner's Kenneth Cruz (34) and Dezmere Johnson (53) during the first half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner quarterback Chase Hardy (8) is grappled by Garner's Ja'cori Covington (22) during the second half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
South Garner quarterback Chase Hardy (8) is tackled by Garner's Ja'cori Covington (22) and Levi Archible (24) during the second half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner running back Austin Williams (26) celebrates his touchdown against South Garner's with wide receiver Aidan Gore (9) late in the second half. The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
Garner's Aroson Randle (1) celebrates his touchdown against South Garner with running back Austin Williams (26). The South Garner Titans and the Garner Trojans met in a conference football game in Raleigh, N.C. October 17, 2025 Steven Worthy
This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM.
