By Clif Lusk
The Troy Messenger

The Goshen Eagles took the Pride of the Purple and Gold’s super-hero halftime show to heart in their 42-14 homecoming win over Central Hayneville.

The G-Men showed up at the Eagles Nest to keep the Lion’s five-year losing streak alive.

In a first-half performance that put more yardage in the books than each of their previous games, the Lions had trouble keeping possession of the ball, and in the second half penetrated the Eagle side of the field only twice.

The Eagles posted 289 yards rushing – 218 came in the first half – and freshman quarterback Ramsey Rigby was 3 for 6 for 39 yards in the air with one touchdown on a hookup with senior running back Rashad Rodgers and one interception.

“They were hard to move, but our offense was more in tune and blocked downfield,” said head coach Bart Snyder. “We made good contact in the second half, except for the letdown with a 100-yard touchdown on a bad snap.”

That 100-yard run came from Central’s No. 34 Stafford after the Eagle defense backed the Lions to their own 14 yard-line following a Delaney Allen sack for a loss of 18 yards with just two minutes to go in the third quarter. Picking up a bad punt snap, Stafford scrambled from a host of Eagles on the goal line.

“We were there to make the play,” Snyder said, “but we have to develop more discipline to make those plays.”

In all, the Goshen defense seemed to be on. Sophomore Tyler Phillips led the defense with 8 tackles and 3 assists. Close on his heels was Rodgers, who posted 6 tackles, 3 assists and one deflected pass. Junior defensive back Stevie Rodgers went 4 tackles and 3 assists for the night.

Terrainno Griffin, the sophomore linebacker, would be the root of two of Central’s four turnovers with a fumble caused, one fumble recovery and an interception.

The scoring started midway through the first quarter when junior Anthony Rogers punched in from 13 yards out for his first of two touchdowns.

Central’s Jeremy James made it to the 15 yard-line on the kickoff return, and three plays later set up a 52-yard carry by Stafford. The Lions failed on the two-point conversion after an illegal motion penalty. The one-point lead for the Eagles would be enough spark.

Freshman Derrius Kite, who carried four times for 49 yards, pushed in a touchdown with under two minutes left in the first quarter.

Kite and Anthony Rogers were joined by senior Rhett Lolly, junior Deangelo Orum and senior Rashad Rogers, who found pay dirt on a Ramsey pass in the scoring.

Lolly’s late third-quarter TD came on a 1-yard carry after he picked up two carries from the 12. A fumbled snap by the Lions had given the Eagles possession on the Lion 34 yard-line and a 15-yard Orum carry.

Similar scenarios played out time and time again for the Eagles in the second half.

Senior back Carlton Bean led the rushers, carrying 10 times for 75 yards, and the Eagles helped themselves with only six flags for 40 yards.

“I’m proud of my seniors this week,” Snyder said. “They played hard and have stuck with us. I want them to savor this win because on Monday we’re concentrating on a very tough Highland Home team. We still have a lot of work to do to beat the Squadron next week.”