Garner 28, Smithfield-Selma 7

By Keith Cramer
Correspondent

GARNER — One team is trying to get in sync, the other is just trying to get healthy.
Garner’s defense was in step to start the second half forcing two turnovers and pinning Smithfield-Selma Senior deep in its zone after some bad snaps. The Trojan offense used the short field to its advantage giving Garner a 28-7 win over SSS in Greater Neuse 4A conference play Friday night.
Garner (5-3, 3-1), replacing three key Seniors from last year, has played well of late.
“I’m really proud of our play the last three weeks,” head coach Nelson Smith said.
Fullback Michael Brantley had two rushing touchdowns in the second half and tailback Jeremy Conyers added another as the Trojans scored 22 unanswered points after the Spartans posted a 7-6 halftime lead.
On the first play from scrimmage to start the third quarter, Trojans’ Terrence Jones recovered a SSS fumble at the Spartan 26-yard line. Five plays later Brantley rushed up the middle for the score. The two-point conversion gave the Trojans a 14-7 lead.
The Spartans (4-4, 1-3) never got back on track, totaling only 55 yards of offense from scrimmage in the second half.
“I think our depth showed in the second half,” Spartan head coach Anthony Barbour said.
Despite missing a number of starters to injury, the Spartans effectively moved the ball on the ground and controlled the game clock, in the first half.
After Garner’s Ian Hunter’s 13-yard TD run in the first quarter, the Spartans answered on Anthony Rouse’s 6-yard keeper for the score capping a 13-play drive that took 7:29.
SSS returned to the Trojan red-zone on its next possession  but two straight sacks by the Garner defense ended the half setting the tone for the third quarter.
    SSS    GAR
Rushes-yards    44-164    32-144
Comp-Att-yards    1-5-20    5-13-65
SSS    0    7    0    0    —    7
GAR    6    0    15    7    —    28
SCORING SUMMARY
GAR—I.Hunter 13 run (kick failed); SSS—A.Rouse 6 run (H.Johnson kick); GAR—M.Brantley 5 run (J.Brooks pass from B.Howell); GAR—J.Conyers 1 run (B.Howell kick); GAR—M.Brantley 5 run (B.Howell kick)
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: SSS—D.Bunn 13-47, H.Johnson 1-8, J.Jones 16-59, C.Moore 2-6, D.Parker 2-9, A.Rouse 6-(-30), J.Snead 9-59; GAR—M.Brantley 10-46, J.Conyers 13-61, J.Davis 1-15, B.Howell 3-9, I.Hunter 2-17, B.Parks 1-3.
Passing: SSS—A.Rouse 1-5-20-0; GAR—B.Howell 4-12-63-1, C.Woodall 1-1-2-0.
Receiving: SSS—J.Jones 1-20; GAR—J.Brooks 2-36, J.Conyers 1-16, I.Hunter 1-11, B.Parks 1-2.