Wilson Prep Holds Off Greene Central, 30-28, in Goal-Line Thriller
Wilson Prep Holds Off Greene Central, 30-28, in Goal-Line Thriller
SNOW HILL — Greene Central had a chance to complete a furious second-half comeback Thursday night, driving inside the Wilson Prep 5-yard line in the final minutes, but the defending NCHSAA 1A state champions made one final stand.
Wilson Prep stopped the Rams at the 4-yard line to escape Greene Central with a 30-28 nonconference victory, handing the Rams their first loss of the season. Greene Central fell to 2-1, while Wilson Prep improved to 1-2 with its first victory of the year.
The two-point margin told only part of the story.
Greene Central found itself down 22-8 at halftime before battling back after the break. The Rams scored twice in the third quarter and eventually pulled within striking distance, setting up a final possession with approximately six minutes remaining.
Greene Central drove the length of the field and reached the Wilson Prep 4-yard line, but the Tigers' defense stiffened when it mattered most. Sophomore defensive lineman Zalik Cannady helped lead the goal-line stand that preserved the victory.
The Rams' comeback was necessary in large part because of a devastating play immediately before halftime.
On the final play of the second quarter, Greene Central quarterback Joshua Cetnar dropped back to pass before scrambling as the pocket collapsed. Multiple Wilson Prep defenders converged on Cetnar and drove him backward, forcing a fumble. The Tigers recovered and returned it approximately 65 yards for a defensive touchdown, turning what could have been a chance for Greene Central to cut into the deficit into a 22-8 Wilson Prep halftime advantage.
It proved to be one of the defining plays in a game decided by two points.
Wilson Prep leaned heavily on its running game, piling up 442 rushing yards on 39 carries, an average of 11.3 yards per attempt.
Senior Ny'Dariun Daniels provided the biggest explosive plays, rushing five times for 151 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard run. Senior Tyquan Whitaker added 103 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while senior Malicah Perry rushed eight times for 57 yards. Senior David Porter contributed another 55 yards on eight attempts.
Greene Central's offense was much more balanced statistically, finishing with 242 rushing yards and 61 passing yards.
Sophomore Cody Gaitor led the Rams on the ground with 113 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, averaging 9.4 yards per attempt. Senior Mathew "JoJo" Sanders rushed 15 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns, while Cetnar added 31 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Cetnar completed 7 of 18 passes for 61 yards and was intercepted twice. Sanders caught three passes for 34 yards, and senior Ben Ramsey added two receptions for 28 yards.
Sanders also made his presence felt defensively, recording eight tackles, including seven solo stops. Senior Mason Dillon finished with eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack, while junior Jayden Freeman recorded eight tackles and a tackle for loss.
Wilson Prep's defense was led statistically by Cannady, who produced 12 tackles and four tackles for loss. Porter and junior Brandon Bruno each recorded 10 tackles. The Tigers also intercepted Cetnar twice, with Daniels and senior Bryson McNeil each recording a pick.
For Greene Central, the loss ends an impressive start that included a 49-20 victory over North Lenoir and a 69-0 shutout of Goldsboro. The Rams entered Thursday averaging 59.0 points through their first two games before being pushed to the final possession by the defending state champions.
Wilson Prep's victory also came after a difficult opening stretch. The Tigers entered Snow Hill 0-2 following losses to Clayton and West Craven, but the defending NCHSAA 1A champions found a way to leave with their first win.
Greene Central will look to bounce back when it travels to North Pitt on Sept. 11, while Wilson Prep travels to Northeastern.
