Eastern Wayne overwhelms rival Goldsboro in statement-opening shutout

Eastern Wayne treated its local rivalry opener like a statement game, and the Warriors made it quickly in a 77-0 shutout of Goldsboro on Friday.

Eastern Wayne, coming off an 8-4 playoff season, led 39-0 after the first quarter, 54-0 at halftime and 77-0 after three quarters. The Warriors improved to 1-0, while Goldsboro fell to 0-1.

Eastern Wayne had won five straight in the series entering the game and was 15-6 against Goldsboro since 2004. The Warriors extended that streak one year after beating the Cougars 54-0.

The game turned in the opening minutes. Goldsboro returned the opening kickoff to midfield, but Eastern Wayne’s defense controlled the line of scrimmage from there. The Warriors spent much of the night in the backfield, while Goldsboro struggled with snaps on the ground and over the quarterback’s head. Two high snaps resulted in safeties.

“I couldn't ask for anything better with a. performance like that,” Eastern Wayne coach Tee Oates said. “We challenged our self last week with a Tarboro team, and gave us this preparation right here to say hey we can do thing the right way.”

Eastern Wayne’s offense was efficient behind junior quarterback Auree Best, who completed all five of his passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Best also rushed once for a 1-yard touchdown.

Best stepped in after the graduation of Izeiah Oates, who threw for 2,310 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushed for 852 yards as a senior last season. Best said at media day he had studied Oates’ throws and film.

“I felt good, super happy and excited going into the game being prepared, mentally prepared setting up my teammates for oppoturnites,” Best said.

Brandon Lark rushed three times for 50 yards and three touchdowns. Cincere Battle added six carries for 49 yards and caught one pass for a 35-yard touchdown. Levi Evans had two catches for 35 yards and a touchdown, and Jeremiah Floyd had one catch for 19 yards and an interception.

“They did great, we been practicing, I expected it and I am super happy the offensive line was able to be successfully, I only got tackled one time,” Best said.

Evans said the performance came from preparation.

“When you been putting work in the offseason and practice, by the time the game comes it becomes a normal. I ran hard and the quarterback is giving me pretty passes,” Evans said.

Eastern Wayne also scored defensively when Zymiere Clark recovered a fumble for a touchdown.

Oates said the Warriors’ defensive effort fit the program’s identity.

“That is something that we always come in each season, last year we kept a lot points off the board, and thats what keeps us in the game... its one of the things where we step up, we break out with family, we gonna back each other up, defensively we swarm!” Oates said.

Goldsboro coach Ronnie McClary said the Cougars have to improve across the board.

“We need to get better every where,” McClary said. “Everything we did wrong is correctlabe, thats the good thing about it the kids never stopped playing but we gotta do a better job executing.”

Goldsboro travels to Greene Central next week after the Rams defeated North Lenoir 49-20 in Week 1. Eastern Wayne plays C.B. Aycock, which opened with a 20-0 shutout of Rosewood.