Greene Central’s Hezekiah Pagan had an interception and a 50-yard touchdown catch in Friday’s win over South Lenoir. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

SNOW HILL — Greene Central’s offense had more than just a spark at Homecoming Friday.

Paced by a four-touchdown rushing night by Jaden Tyson and three passing touchdowns from Cole Dawson, the Rams defeated South Lenoir 59-26, more than doubling their highest point total of the season. Greene Central (4-3, 1-2 EC2A) scored 29 in a shutout win over Farmville Central Sept. 20, but five touchdowns over a span of 14 minutes was far too much for the Blue Devils (2-5, 0-3) who were looking to spoil the Homecoming festivities.

“We had a lackluster first half,” Greene Central coach Jay Wilson said. “We went inside, made some crucial adjustments, moved some people around and came out (well) in the second half.

South Lenoir forced a three-and-out on the game’s opening drive and Joseph Cobb ran the ensuing punt return 49 yards to the Greene Central 6. One play later, he scored to put the Blue Devils on top, but on the team’s next possession, a bad snap on a punt led to a safety. South Lenoir recovered a fumble on Greene Central’s next drive, but Lamar Pridgen intercepted a pass three plays later, leading to Tyson’s score to open the second quarter.

South Lenoir took the lead back after Tyson weaved through the Greene Central defense and broke several tackles on the way to a 44-yard touchdown, but Dawson answered with a 28-yard touchdown to Perry Tingen. After Hezekiah Pagan intercepted a pass on the ensuing drive by snatching the ball from the receiver, Tyson put the Rams up 24-12. 

Cobb would get his third touchdown just before the half ended to cut the Rams’ lead to six, but momentum shifted in the third quarter. South Lenoir got the ball to start the second half, but Greene Central recovered the opening kickoff after a fumble. Two plays later, Dawson found Pagan for a 50-yard touchdown.

“The o-line did a great job protecting, so it was easy for me to make the right decision,” Dawson said. 

The Rams picked up two more touchdowns to extend their lead to 45-18 and while Jon Howard’s quarterback sneak gave the Blue Devils life to start the fourth, Tyson and Zyquan Williams scored for the Rams. 

Tyson, in his second full game from junior varsity, said he was thankful for the coaching staff after his 148-yard, four touchdown night.

“(I was) just believing in my coaches, (which) led me to get the opportunity to win,” Tyson said. “The o-line (helped) too.” 

For South Lenoir, coach Jeremy Joyner said the team has to sustain momentum.

“We’ve got to overcome adversity when things don’t go our way, but we’re young and going to learn from it,” Joyner said. “We grew and we’re going to get better because of it.” 

The Blue Devils host Ayden-Grifton Oct. 18 while the Rams travel to face Kinston on the same day.

 Greene Central 59, South Lenoir 26

South Lenoir                       6              12           0              8—26   

Greene Central                 2              22           21           14—59

First Quarter

SL —Joseph Cobb 6 run (run failed), 9:51

GC — Safety, fumbled snap, 4:44

Second Quarter

GC — Jaden Tyson 1 run (Ulises Mora kick), 11:13

SL — Cobb 44 run (run failed), 7:28

GC — Perry Tingen 28 pass from Cole Dawson (Tyson run), 4:19

GC — Tyson 6 run (Mora kick), 1:30

SL — Cobb 12 run (run failed), :13

Third Quarter

GC — Hezekiah Pagan 50 pass from Dawson (Mora kick), 11:01

GC — Tyson 17 run (Mora kick), 8:52

GC — Tingen 19 pass from Dawson (Mora kick), 2:49

Fourth Quarter

SL — Jon Howard 1 run (Cobb run), 11:56

GC — Tyson 37 run (Mora kick), 6:07

GC — Zyquan Williams 14 run (Mora kick), 3:06

                                SL            GC

First Downs        15           18

Rushes-yards     40-186   30-244

Passing                 2-11-2   8-15-1

Passing yards     0              192

Total yards          186         436

Punts-avg.          3-36.7    2-28.5   

Penalties             2-30       14-147

Fumbles-lost      2-1          1-1

Individual Statistics

RUSHING—South Lenoir: Joseph Cobb 18-143, Xavier Mitchell 14-64, Cannon Davis 2-13, Matias Blount 1-0, Carson Stroud 1-0, Jon Howard 3-minus 19, TEAM 1-minus 15. Greene Central: Jaden Tyson 15-148, Khalil Thomas 1-36, Laquarius Murray 7-32, Zyquan Williams 3-26, Hezekiah Pagan 3-2, Cole Dawson 1-0.

PASSING—South Lenoir: Howard 2-11-2 0. Greene Central: Dawson 8-15-1, 192.

RECEIVING—South Lenoir: Cobb 1-1, Stroud 1-minus 1. Greene Central: Zakvil Smith 3-81, Pagan 2-55, Perry Tingen 2-47, Lamar Pridgen 1-9.