Garner wins another football conference title, routs Rolesville

Shaking off a double-digit first-quarter deficit, Garner captured its second straight Greater Neuse River Conference title with a 53-18 victory at Rolesville on Friday night.

Collin Eaddy rushed for 240 yards and three touchdowns, and Anthony Stephenson added a pair of first-half touchdown runs for the Trojans (9-2, 6-1 GNRC), who won their sixth straight game after losing its GNRC opener to Southeast Raleigh, 26-20, back in mid-September.

“We’re very proud of these young men,” Garner coach Thurman Leach said. “We grew a lot from a team that wasn’t that good early in the year. This group has come together as a unit.”

Rolesville (6-5, 4-3) led 12-0 late in the first quarter, but Garner then scored on eight of its next nine possessions.

Turning point

On the first play of the second quarter and with Rolesville leading 12-7, Rams quarterback Andrews tossed a gorgeous pass that should have gone for a 37-yard scoring play but the ball was dropped. Rolesville eventually had to punt, and Garner scored on five of its six ensuing possessions to take control before Rolesville would score again.

They said it

“We always talk about adversity, and we’ve battled it all season after losing (some early) games and having to battle our way through conference,” Eaddy said. “We were confident, even though we had some early miscues, that we were the better team. It was just a matter of executing.”

Three who mattered

Collin Eaddy, Garner: The junior running back surpassed the 1,500-yard mark on the season with his 22-carry effort Friday, one that included eight runs of 10 or more yards.

Anthony Stephenson, Garner: The fullback picked up the tough yards inside, running for 65 yards and two touchdowns.

Carnaji Andrews, Rolesville: While the Rams’ running game was stifled for much of the night, Andrews had some good moments in the passing game, completing 19 of 35 passes for 232 yards.

By the numbers

6: Combined turnovers by the two teams, including four by Rolesville.

103: Receiving yards on eight receptions by Rolesville’s Colby Cooper.

110: Rushing yards by Garner’s Kerry Williams, all but 8 in the final quarter, including TD runs of 25 and 56 yards.

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Garner wins another football conference title, routs Rolesville."