Garner crushes Knightdale football, makes statement victory for the GNRC chase

Garner demonstrated Friday why other high schools prefer not to schedule homecoming on dates when the Trojans come to town.

The Trojans overwhelmed Knightdale on the road, 45-7, an outcome that broke part of a three-way tie for first place in the Greater Neuse River 4A. Garner improved to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in the GNRC, keeping even with West Johnston. The loss dropped the Knights to 6-3, 3-2.

Knightdale’s lone score came on the first play from scrimmage, with Jaelen Williams taking a sweep 64 yards up the gut and Chase Hagemann adding the kick.

But then it became the Collin Eaddy show. The Trojans running back rushed for touchdowns on three consecutive possessions and caught a fourth TD on a 21-yard pass from junior quarterback Braxton Brokenborough to set Garner up 28-7 just a minute into the second quarter.

Eaddy’s final three touchdowns came on drives that began in Knightdale territory – including one on the Knightdale 1 after a punt gone awry.

Turning point

Eaddy answered the Knights’ opening score with consecutive scoring runs of 9, 5 and 1 yards. Then, with Knightdale quarterback Andre Willis looking to make something happen on the final play of the first half, he was picked off by Garner safety D.J. Harris, who returned the ball 65 yards leading to a 35-7 advantage at the half.

They said it

“I didn’t know how well we were going to play, but I’m just hats off to our kids that they played well tonight,” said Garner coach Thurman Leach. “That big interception at halftime, that was an unbelievable catch, and an unbelievable run. And defensively, up front is four seniors and they do a good job of leading this football team.”

Three who mattered

Collin Eaddy, Garner: The junior accounted for four touchdowns on 99 total yards of offense.

Brodie West, Garner: The senior quarterback had a clean night for the Trojans, going 5 for 6 for 68 yards passing.

Offensive line, Garner: The O-line made the jobs of RBs Eaddy, Kerry Williams (89 yards) and Anthony Stephenson (55 yards) look easy.

By the numbers

3: Consecutive touches on which Eaddy scored rushing touchdowns in the first quarter.

22: The distance of Stephenson’s TD run in the third quarter and Noah Giroux’s field goal in the fourth.

36: Knightdale’s total yardage on offense in the first half.

74: Eaddy’s total running yards for the game, all in the first half.

This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 10:50 PM with the headline "Garner crushes Knightdale football, makes statement victory for the GNRC chase."