By Cliff Lusk

Goshen Eagle fans saw a new football team take on New Brockton on the road – one that more than doubled the Gamecock’s total rushing but still came up short on the scoreboard.

The Eagles fell 19-13 in their second road trip of the season, rushing for 338 yards and 82 in the air, freshman quarterback Ramsey Rigby completing 13, with one interception. Steven Macias nailed two field goals – one from 40 yards, the other from 33, plus a point after, leading the Eagles scoring slate.

A rough start from the opening kickoff, when the Eagles fumbled the return gave the Gamecocks possession on the Eagle 27 yard-line. Four plays later, New Brockton’s Johnny Silas found the end zone on a three-yard scamper after just 1:32 of possession. Four minutes later, the Gamecocks posted another six on the board.

The Eagles answered when JaMarius MacIntyre busted a 32-yard touchdown from a rugby-like scrum. At the final buzzer, MacIntyre was the Eagles’ leading rusher with 104 yards on two carries. Senior Deangelo Orum, the Eagles utility ball carrier, had 10 carries for 63, and Carlton Bean had four carries for 63 yards.

But really, the game hinged on a youthful team and inexperience. The Eagles racked up more than 75 yards in penalties, stalling drives on two occasions that could have amounted to points.

“We made too many mistakes,” said head coach Bart Snyder. “It’s inexperience. Our first series, we drive the ball down and have 30 yards of penalties that just can’t be explained.”

“But we’re a much improved team and our guys played with heart. We’re coming together and we’ll get some things going our way,” he said.

Those things did not go Goshen’s way in New Brockton. While the defense gave up two quick scores in the first quarter, and another in waning moments of the first half, it all but shut the Gamecock’s running game down in the second half. A handful of quarterback sacks, a blocked field goal attempt and incomplete passes from outside the pocket and into double coverage didn’t help the Eagles either.

 

“Tonight the breaks didn’t go our way. We’re going start getting those breaks our way one day. I’m proud of my players and coaches; I have to get things going on my end now,” he said.